What other scriptures emphasize the difference between divine command and apostolic advice? Setting the Scene with 1 Corinthians 7:6 “Now I say this as a concession, not as a command.” Paul signals that what follows is Spirit-guided counsel, yet distinguishable from a direct command of the Lord. Same Chapter, Same Pattern Paul keeps toggling between divine imperatives and pastoral guidance: • 1 Corinthians 7:10 – “To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord)…” • 1 Corinthians 7:12 – “To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord)…” • 1 Corinthians 7:25 – “Concerning virgins, I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment…” • 1 Corinthians 7:40 – “In my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is—and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.” These statements—side-by-side—clarify that apostolic advice carries spiritual weight yet differs in authority from Christ’s explicit commands. Other Pauline Passages That Mark the Boundary • 2 Corinthians 8:8 – “I am not making a command, but testing the sincerity of your love…” • 2 Corinthians 11:17 – “In this confident boasting, I am not speaking as the Lord would, but as a fool.” • Philemon 8-9 – “Although in Christ I am bold enough to command you to do what is proper, yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal…” • Philemon 14 – “I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your goodness would not be by compulsion but of your own free will.” The Jerusalem Council as a Model • Acts 15:28-29 – “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following essentials…” The apostles distinguish Spirit-borne essentials (“must abstain”) from additional preferences they choose not to impose. Echoes in Wisdom Literature While Mosaic law speaks in commands, Proverbs offers divinely inspired counsel: • Proverbs 1:8 – “Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.” Instruction remains authoritative, yet it invites willing reception rather than legislative force. Why the Distinction Matters • Protects the supremacy of Christ’s explicit teachings. • Honors apostolic authority without equating every pastoral suggestion with divine law. • Encourages mature believers to weigh Spirit-inspired counsel and voluntarily obey from the heart. Living It Out Embrace the Lord’s commands with unquestioning obedience. Receive apostolic advice with eager humility, discerning how to apply it faithfully in today’s circumstances. |
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