ws, i. e. by -what I have said of Apollos and myself, not to thinJc above that which is written. That is, not to estimate ministers above the scriptural standard. As Paul had been treating of this subject, above that lohich is written^ might seem naturally to refer to what he himself had just written. But as the phrase always elsewhere refers to the Old Testament, which were the writings recognized as of divine authority, such is probably the reference here. He does not appeal to any one passage, but to the doctrine taught in the Scriptures concern- ing ministers of religion. The Corinthians were not to think of their ministers more highly than the Bible authorized them to think. Comp. Jer. 9, 23, 24. The particle (tm), rendered that^ has its ordinary force, in order that^ although the follow- ing verb (<^u(novo-^€,) is in the indicative, a combination which occurs nowhere else except in Gal. 4, 17. The connection is with the preceding clause, ' That ye may learn to think cor- rectly, in order that^ &g.
That no one be puffed up for one against another j' literal- ly, that ye be not puff ed up one for one against another. This admits of two interpretations. It may mean, ' That ye be not inflated one on account of one teacher, and against another.' The Corinthians were proud of their connection one Tvith one teacher, and another with another. And this led to the strifes and divisions which existed among them. Paul taught them that ministers were servants, in order that they might not thus contend about them. This, although it gives a good sense, is neither consistent with the structure of the passage nor with what follows. The meaning is, ' Be not puffed up one above another,' (cts ymk^ rov ei^os), comp. in the Greek 1 Thess. 5, 11. The followers of Apollos exalted themselves over those of Paul, and those of Paul over those of Cephas. One exalted himself above another and against him. He not only thought himself better than his brother, but assumed a hostile attitude towards him. This view is confirmed by the next verse, which is directed against the self-conceit of the Corinthians and not against their zeal for their teachers.
7. Eor who maketh thee to differ (from another) ? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive ? Now if thou didst receive (it), why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received (it) ?
Who maketh thee to differ f This may mean either, ' Who