Clashing Of The Two Logic Systems

You have inquired of our thoughts on the verses surrounding 1 Cor. 4:20 and, specifically, any Hebraic insights within “…not in word but in power…,” in terms of the Church today.

Your devotional has done a decent job of laying the historical context of Chapter 4. The situation the Apostle Paul is describing as he writes to the body of believers in Corinth addresses the detractors that have come in to discount what Paul has taught through the leading and Spirit of Elohim. These detractors were of eloquent speech and of Greek mindset and logic (labeled as the “puffed up,” from v. 18). Paul was the Hebrew, and therefore of Hebraic mindset and logic. Whenever these two logic systems clash, and they often do throughout the Biblical record, there is enmity.

Paul had been teaching the truth of Elohim’s written word in establishing church bodies throughout Asia Minor and the Eastern Mediterranean Basin, using the logic system of the Hebrew culture, not the Greek culture. The Biblical text we have today, and the “Old Testament, so-called” text he had then, was inspired and penned via Hebrew logic (the logic of Elohim Himself), not Greek logic. Paul’s detractors often were of Greek, Gnostic persuasions and logic. In the Greek mind set “truth” was believed to be found in those who were of grand oratory skills and charismatic presentation, until… someone came along with even grander oratory skills and even more charismatic persuasion. In other words, in the Greek, Hellenistic world of Paul’s day truth was a moving target, ever changing. But in Elohim’s instructions (Torah and Tanakh) truth never changes, is never out of date, and is stable and reliable for all time. This is why the New Testament, so-called, cannot be correctly understood unless discerned from a Hebrew logic perspective. It depends on the foundation of the Old Testament, so-called. And, the New Testament, so-called, , was inspired and written by those authors looking through their window of Hebrew logic, to largely Hebrew recipients, having the same logic.

So, what is Paul saying to the body of believers in Corinth?

1. Avoid worldly wisdom (see, e.g., Chapter 3, vs. 18-23).

2. Recognize who are the servants of the most high Elohim, for it is they who are the stewards of Elohim’s written word of truth (see Chapter 4, vs.1-5).

3. Those who live and move outside (the “puffed up” ones) of the truth of Elohim’s Word, are outside of the truth of what has been written to all of humanity (see Chapter 4, vs. 6-7).

4. In the world’s eyes, the “puffed up” ones are appealing to the flesh, but the ones (Paul and the Apostles) who profess the truth of Elohim’s Word of truth are viewed as the weak, the dishonored and fools (see Chapter 4, vs. 8-13).

5. Look at those who suffer for the truth (Paul, et al.), not at those who revel in the comforts of self-serving gain of the mainstream (see Chapter 4, vs. 9-13).

6. Imitate our teaching, which is of Elohim, not of man (see Chapter 4, vs. 14-17).

7. If Elohim wills, I (Paul) will come to you not with mere words of the world, but with the power of the Word of Elohim, lived out before you by our sacrifices for the truth. For the kingdom of Elohim is not in man’s words, but in the power of Elohim’s Word of truth lived out before you, even if self-sacrifice is involved (see Chapter 4, vs. 19-21).

In terms of No. 7, above, it is extremely important to understand that in the two logic systems of Paul’s day, the Greek mind set was only intellect based, not requiring any action. One’s words did not have to match one’s actions. Intellectual assent was all that was required. Mankind is wired such that actions come from the heart, not mere intellect.

Unfortunately, the Greek mind set has infiltrated the western world to a large extent – including the Church. There is little heart commitment, only intellectual assent to principles often not even fully understood. The Hebrew mind set, the one which has driven the instructions we find in the Biblical record, mandates that as true believers, our words and our actions must align one with the other. If not, then we discredit our Maker and His Word. If we are discrediting His written Word via disobedience to it, then the power it contains will not flow through us in the form of action. Instead, the power is withdrawn from the circumstances we are involved in at that moment – not because of any failure in the power of His Word, but because we have failed to be used as a vessel to allow it to go forth. Stated another way, the truth of Elohim’s Word can enter through the portal of our mind (intellect) if we allow it to do so. But acknowledgment of the Word’s instructions must move from the mind to the heart (via the leading of the Holy Spirit). When this is done the result is action applied to Kingdom business. I submit this is the distinction that Paul wanted the body of believers at Corinth to see between his teaching and that of his detractors.