The Word “Glory” in 1 Corinthians

The word “glory (pride)” was used 4 times in 1 Corinthians, and the
word “proud” was used 6 times. By reading the passages that these
words were mentioned, we can tell that Corinthian church had some
issues related to pride in Paul’s days. So by sending this letter,
Paul taught them not to be proud and warned them about the problems
that they had in the church. So what exactly was these problems? And
what was the solution that Paul gave them?

The Salvation and Election

In chapter 1, the word “glory (pride)” was used in the context about
the salvation and election. One of the reasons that God chose the
foolish and not the wise was for us that we will not be proud of
ourselves about being saved and elected. We were saved by His grace
and by the will of God and not for our own wisdom. Paul referred
himself as the apostle of Christ Jesus that was called by the will of
God. And we were saved by His grace alone as well. So there is no way
that we can be proud of our salvation.

People Who Gloried Themselves

People of Corinthian church were also elected only by the will of God
and received the salvation, but they had pride issues among them.
Because as Paul mentioned in the letter, there were some people who
differed themselves from other people and claimed self as the wise.
And not only that they gloried themselves but they did not deal with
this issue in the church. So Paul had to send them this letter to deal
with the problem of pride.

To Serve Faithfully as the Servants

Paul taught them not to consider themselves wiser than others, but to
become wise in Christ. Because this feeling can lead them into wrong
glory and pride. But instead, they were taught to serve God faithfully
as His servants. To be faithful is the complete opposite of being
proud of themselves. So Paul taught them how to live faithfully and
humbly as the servants of Christ by giving an example of himself.

The Proud People in the Corinthian Church

Paul wished that he could visit Corinthian church to meet his brothers
face to face and to encourage them. But some people in the church were
puffed up that they thought that he will not come. Even though they
knew that their church has a terrible sin of the flesh among them,
they gloried and did not deal with this sins. So Paul warned and
admonished them with harsh words to deal with their sins with justice
and to keep their church holy and faithful (5:8).

Love and Pride

Many things are written about love in chapter 13, and by reading it,
the point that love and pride are complete opposite things becomes
clear. “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is
not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not
irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but
rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things.”. Paul taught the church to have
true love among them instead of pride and to do everything with love.
This is how Christians should live and not with pride like Corinthian
church did. There is no worth of doing good if we do it for our glory
and our pride.

To Pursue Love

So Paul taught and encourage them to pursue love. To pursue love means
to build the church by their faithful work. Whether they prophesize or
speak in tongue, Paul taught them to do them for love of God and to
build the church. This is the brotherly love of Christians and it’s
the contrary of pride and glory.