1 Corinthians 4:6
“Now these things, brothers, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that in us you might learn not to think beyond the things which are written, that none of you be puffed up against one another.”
What does 1 Corinthians 4:6 mean?
Paul is addressing a problem in the Corinthian church where people were dividing into competing camps, some loyal to Paul and others to Apollos (another respected teacher). Rather than naming the actual conflict directly, Paul uses himself and Apollos as examples to make a larger point: don't go beyond what Scripture actually says when evaluating leaders and teachers. The warning "not to be puffed up against one another" means Paul wants them to stop inflating some teachers while diminishing others based on personal preference or loyalty. He's asking them to stick to what's clearly written in God's Word as their measuring stick, rather than adding their own opinions and pride into the mix. It's a gentle but firm reminder that elevating one human leader over another, or creating divisions based on favorites, pulls the church apart and puts our trust in the wrong place.