For years I have wondered why most out there fail to notice the irony and biting sarcasm Paul uses when reproving the Corinthians… and wonder I do… am I the only one who notices it?
And is the reason most do not notice it when reading through Corinthians, that their line of thinking could still well be firmly entrenched in tge status quo of denominationalism, like that of the Pope, Joel Osteen…
He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing. [English Standard Version]
If you keep being stubborn after many warnings, you will suddenly discover you have gone too far. [Contemporary English Version]
A person often rebuked who becomes obstinate will suddenly be broken beyond remedy. [New American Standard Bible]
The man that with a stiff neck despiseth him that reproveth him, shall suddenly be destroyed: and health shall not follow him. [Douay-Rheims Bible]
If you get more stubborn every time you are corrected, one day you will be crushed and never recover. [Good News Translation]
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rebuke: towkechah 8433 (Hebrew) reproof, correction, chasten; verbal confrontation that both exposes wrong and appeals for change. Scripture treats it as a gracious gift rather than a mere censure since it aims at restoration, and considers it indispensable to the fear of the Lord and the pursuit of wisdom, both indicting and extending mercy. One who offers rebuke must be holy enough to confront sin, yet loving enough to restore in grace.
stubborn: qashah 7185 (Hebrew) to be hard, severe, difficult, fierce, stiff-necked; OT verses touch on the social realm of harsh speech or rule, and the spiritual realm of hardened hearts against God, tracing a theology of resistance to the Lord, the consequences of oppressive leadership and the call to repentance and softness of heart. When a person’s heart is hardened, Scripture never portrays it as mechanical coercion; rather, the Lord judicially confirms existing rebellion to demonstrate His strength and power over the world systems, and His mercy, grace, and love to any who turn in trusting humility and repentance to Him. Such verses warn leaders that harshness alienates subjects and invites divine censure, while teaching His people dependence on Him.
destroy: shabar 7665 (Hebrew) broken, shattered, crushed, smashed; the fracturing of something formerly whole – objects, bodies, nations, covenants, or hearts–from pottery to pride, offering connections to judgment, repentance, and deliverance. Scripture confirms that when facing divine judgment, political power is no match for the God Who breaks, while mercy is shown to inward humility and shattered pride becomes soil for renewal and divine acceptance, restoring wholeness through Christ’s brokenness on the cross.
1 It was told Joab, “Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.” 2 So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people, for the people heard that day, “The king is grieving for his son.” 3 And the people stole into the city that day as people steal in who are ashamed when they flee in battle. 4 The king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, “O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!” 5 Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, “You have today covered with shame the faces of all your servants, who have this day saved your life and the lives of your sons and your daughters and the lives of your wives and your concubines, 6 because you love those who hate you and hate those who love you. For you have made it clear today that commanders and servants are nothing to you, for today I know that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then you would be pleased. 7 Now therefore arise, go out and speak kindly to your servants, for I swear by the Lord, if you do not go, not a man will stay with you this night, and this will be worse for you than all the evil that has come upon you from your youth until now.” 8 Then the king arose and took his seat in the gate. And the people were all told, “Behold, the king is sitting in the gate.” And all the people came before the king.
Now Israel had fled every man to his own home.
— 2 Samuel 19:1-8 | English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Cross References: 1 Samuel 4:10; 2 Samuel 3:39; 2 Samuel 15:2; 2 Samuel 15:30; 2 Samuel 15:33; 2 Samuel 18:5; 2 Samuel 18:14; 2 Samuel 19:13; Proverbs 14:28
Notes: In 2 Samuel 19:1-8, David’s grief over his son Absalom’s death overshadows his triumphant return, causing him to hide and mourn. His commander, Joab, rebukes him, forcing David to change his appearance and publicly greet his soldiers, which turns the people’s gloom into renewed loyalty. The passage shows the conflict between David’s personal sorrow and his public duty as a king.
The order of Paul’s epistles flow in the following order: Doctrine ➡️ Reproof ➡️ Correction, but this cycle no longer holds true after Thessalonians as the Saints have been raptured and can no longer be reproved.
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
(2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Thus saith the Lord to Ephesus,
And thus he speaks to some of us;
Amidst my churches, lo, I stand,
And hold the pastors in my hand.
Thy works, to me, are fully known,
Thy patience, and thy toil, I own;
Thy views of gospel truth are clear,
Nor canst thou other doctrine bear.
Yet I must blame while I approve,
Where is thy first, thy fervent love?
Dost thou forget my love to thee,
That thine is grown so faint to me?
Recall to mind the happy days
When thou wast filled with joy and praise;
Repent, thy former works renew,
Then I’ll restore thy comforts too.
Return at once, when I reprove,
Lest I thy candlestick remove;
And thou, too late, thy loss lament;
I warn before I strike, Repent.
Hearken to what the Spirit saith,
To him that overcomes by faith;
The fruit of life’s unfading tree,
In paradise his food shall be.
Proverbs 3:11-12 advises not to despise the Lord’s discipline or become weary of His reproof, as it reflects His love and care, similar to a father’s guidance for his son. This passage emphasizes the importance of accepting correction as a means of growth and wisdom.
My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights. (ESV)
1 And the Word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy. And say to those who prophesy out of their own hearts, ‘Hear the Word of the LORD: 3 Thus says the Lord GOD, “Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing! 4 O Israel, your prophets are like the foxes in the ruins. 5 You have not gone up into the breach, nor built the wall for the house of Israel, that it might stand in the battle in the day of the LORD. 6 They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, ‘The LORD says. ’ And the LORD has not sent them; but they hoped to confirm their word. 7 Did you not see a vain vision, and speak a lying divination? When you say, 'The LORD says;’ although I have not spoken.”
8 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “Because you have spoken vanity and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you,” says the Lord GOD. 9 “And My hand shall be against the prophets who see vanity and who divine a lie. They shall not be in the assembly of My people, nor shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter into the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord GOD. 10 Because, even because they have seduced My people, saying, 'Peace;’ and there was no peace–and when anyone builds a weak wall they cover it with whitewash. 11 Say to those who cover it with whitewash, that it shall fall; there will be a flooding rain; and you, O great hailstones, shall fall, and a stormy wind will break forth. 12 And, behold, when the wall has fallen, shall it not be said to you, 'Where is the whitewash with which you have covered it?’ ” 13 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “I will cause a stormy wind to break forth in My fury. And there shall be a flooding rain in My anger, and hailstones in fury to destroy it. 14 And I will break down the wall that you have covered with whitewash, and bring it down to the ground; yea, I will expose its foundation. And it shall fall, and you shall be destroyed in her midst; and you shall know that I am the LORD. 15 And I will fulfill My wrath on the wall and on those who covered it with whitewash. And I will say to you, 'The wall is no more;’ and, 'Those who whitewashed it are no more–that is, 16 The prophets of Israel who prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and who see visions of peace for her, when there is no peace,’” says the LORD.’
17 And likewise you, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people, who prophesy out of their own hearts. And prophesy against them, 18 And say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, “Woe to the women who sew magic charms on their sleeves, and make long veils for the head of every woman of stature, to hunt souls! Will you hunt down the lives of My people but preserve your own? 19 And you have profaned Me among My people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to kill the souls that should not die; and to save alive the souls that should not live, by your lying to My people who listen to lies.”
20 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am against your armbands with which you are hunting the souls, as birds. And I will tear them from your arms, and I will set free the people whom you hunt as birds. 21 Also I will tear your long veils and deliver My people out of your hand, and they shall no more be in your hand to be hunted. And you shall know that I am the LORD. 22 Because with lies you have saddened the heart of the righteous, whom I have not made sad; and have made the hands of the wicked strong, so that he should not turn from his wicked way, that his life may be saved; 23 Therefore you shall see no more vanity, and you shall not divine any divination. And I will deliver My people out of your hands; and you shall know that I am the LORD.”
— Ezekiel 13 | A Faithful Version (AFV)
The Holy Bible, A Faithful Version Copyright © 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011 York Publishing Company
Cross References: Exodus 2:3; 1 Samuel 9:7; 1 Kings 13:18; Job 38:22; Psalm 91:3; Psalm 106:23; Song of Solomon 2:15; Isaiah 1:10; Isaiah 28:15; Isaiah 30:10; Isaiah 57:21; Jeremiah 6:15; Jeremiah 23:1; Jeremiah 23:14; Jeremiah 5:31; Ezekiel 2:3; Ezekiel 12:28; Luke 2:36; Luke 10:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:3; 2 Peter 2:14; Revelation 11:19
God’s Way Through: Embracing God’s Reproof for Personal Growth
THE WORD: “Turn you at My reproof: behold, I will pour out My Spirit unto you, I will make known My words unto you.” Proverbs 1:23
THE POINT: Reproof can be a good thing, especially if it comes from the Lord. He is the gentle Shepherd who is committed to leading you in the path of righteousness. He wants the best for you; His way is…
God’s Way Through: Embracing God’s Reproof for Personal Growth
He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing. [English Standard Version]
If you keep being stubborn after many warnings, you will suddenly discover you have gone too far. [Contemporary English Version]
A person often rebuked who becomes obstinate will suddenly be broken beyond remedy. [New American Standard Bible]
The man that with a stiff neck despiseth him that reproveth him, shall suddenly be destroyed: and health shall not follow him. [Douay-Rheims Bible]
If you get more stubborn every time you are corrected, one day you will be crushed and never recover. [Good News Translation]
In 2Tim.3:16, Paul encourages Timothy to use the scriptures as a powerful tool in his ministry.
Teaching (what you need to know): Impartation of knowledge and understanding of God’s Word. Teaching guides one in the principles and doctrines of the truth, enabling learning and growth in the faith.
Reproof (behaviour; does it match the doctrine?): The act of correcting or pointing out errors in…
1 Ephraim chases the wind
and pursues the east wind all day long;
he multiplies lies and violence;
he makes a covenant with Assyria
and sends olive oil to Egypt.
2 The LORD also brings a charge against Judah.
He will punish Jacob according to his ways
and repay him according to his deeds.
3 In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel,
and in his vigor he wrestled with God.
4 Yes, he struggled with the angel and prevailed;
he wept and sought His favor;
he found Him at Bethel
and spoke with Him there —
5 the LORD is the God of Hosts—
the LORD is His name of renown.
6 But you must return to your God,
maintaining love and justice,
and always waiting on your God.
7 A merchant loves to defraud
with dishonest scales in his hands.
8 And Ephraim boasts: “How rich I have become!
I have found wealth for myself.
In all my labors, they can find in me
no iniquity that is sinful.”
9 But I am the LORD your God
ever since the land of Egypt.
I will again make you dwell in tents,
as in the days of the appointed feast.
10 I spoke through the prophets
and multiplied their visions;
I gave parables through the prophets.
11 Is there iniquity in Gilead?
They will surely come to nothing.
Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal?
Indeed, their altars will be heaps of stones
in the furrows of the field.
12 Jacob fled to the land of Aram
and Israel worked for a wife—
for a wife he tended sheep.
13 But by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt,
and by a prophet he was preserved.
14 Ephraim has provoked bitter anger,
so his Lord will leave his bloodguilt upon him
and repay him for his contempt.
— Hosea 12 | Majority Standard Bible (MSB)
The Majority Standard Bible is in the public domain.
Cross References: Genesis 25:26; Genesis 28:5; Genesis 28:13; Genesis 29:18; Henesis 29:20; Genesis 32:24; Genesis 32:36; Genesis 32:28; Genesis 41:6; Exodus 3:15; Exodus 14:19; Leviticus 23:42; Numbers 12:8; 2 Kings 17:7; 2 Kings 17:13; Psalm 30:4; Psalm 62:10; Proverbs 11:1; Jeremiah 2:36; Jeremiah 7:25; Lamentations 5:6; Ezekiel 18:10; Ezekiel 18:30; Ezekiel 28:5; Hosea 2:15; Hosea 4:1; Hosea 4:9; Hosea 4:15; Hosea 6:1; Hosea 6:8; Amos 8:5; Revelation 3:17
Those of us who are Pauline in doctrine are often accused of “throwing 95% of the Bible away”, yet 2 Timothy 3:16 itself is Pauline.
2 Timothy 3:16 – Authorised Version All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
But Paul himself used all scripture to teach others. Why?
1 Corinthians 10:11 –…
1
“My eye has certainly seen all of this!
My ear has heard and understood it.
2
After all, I know it as well as you do.
I am not inferior to you.
3
However, I want to speak to the Almighty,
and I wish to argue my case in front of God.
4
But you are smearing me with lies.
All of you are worthless physicians.
5
I wish you would keep silent.
For you, that would be wisdom.
6
Please listen to my argument,
and pay attention to my plea.
Your Wisdom Misrepresents God
7
“Will you talk wickedly for God
and talk deceitfully on his behalf?
8
Will you favor him
as if you were arguing in court on God’s behalf?
9
Will it go well when he cross-examines you?
Will you try to trick him as one mortal tricks another?
10
Will he really defend you
if you secretly favor ⌞him⌟?
11
Doesn’t his majesty terrify you?
Doesn’t the fear of him fall upon you?
12
“Your recollections are worthless proverbs.
Your answers are absolutely useless.
13
Be quiet, because I want to speak.
Let whatever may happen to me happen!
14
I am biting off more than I can chew
and taking my life in my own hands.
15
If God would kill me, I would have no hope left.
Nevertheless, I will defend my behavior to his face.
16
This also will be my salvation
because no godless person could face him.
17
“Listen carefully to my words.
Hear my declaration.
18
I have prepared my case.
I know that I will be declared righteous.
19
Who can make a case against me?
If someone could, I’d be silent and die.
20
“Please don’t do two things to me
so that I won’t have to hide from you:
21
Stop oppressing me.
Don’t let your terror frighten me.
22
Then call, and I’ll answer.
Otherwise, I’ll speak, and you’ll answer me.
23
How many crimes and sins have I committed?
Make me aware of my disobedience and my sin.
24
Why do you hide your face from me and consider me your enemy?
25
Are you trying to make a fluttering leaf tremble
or trying to chase dry husks?
26
You write down bitter accusations against me.
You make me suffer for the sins of my youth.
27
You put my feet in shackles.
You follow my trail by engraving marks on the soles of my feet.
28
I am like worn-out wineskins,
like moth-eaten clothes.
— Job 13 | God’s Word Translation (GWT)
The Holy Bible, GOD’S WORD® Translation Copyright 1995 by God’s Word to the Nations. All rights reserved.
Cross References: Leviticus 19:15; Leviticus 26:36; Judges 12:3; Nehemiah 6:8; Job 5:8; Job 6:29; Job 7:6; Job 7:21; Job 8:13; Job 9:16; Job 9:18; Job 9:34; Job 12:9; Job 12:16; Job 21:5; Job 23:4; Job 29:1; Job 31:23; Job 32:21; Job 33:1; Job 33:11; Psalm 13:1; Isaiah 50:8; Ezekiel 20:22; Galatians 6:7; James 5:2
Let us look at our lives in the light of this experience [in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10] and see whether we gladly glory in weakness, whether we take pleasure, as Paul did, in injuries, in necessities, in distresses. Yes, let us ask whether we have learned to regard a reproof, just or unjust, a reproach from friend or enemy, an injury, or trouble, or difficulty into which others bring us, as above all an opportunity of proving how Jesus is all to us, how our own pleasure or honor are nothing, and how humiliation is in very truth what we take pleasure in. It is indeed blessed, the deep happiness of heaven, to be so free from self that whatever is said of us or done to us is lost and swallowed up in the thought that Jesus is all.
A foolish physician he is, and a most unfaithful friend, that will let a sick man die for fear of troubling him; and cruel wretches are we to our friends, that will rather suffer them to go quietly to hell, then we will anger them, or hazard our reputation with them.
Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? - GALATIANS Chapter 4 vs. 16 KJV New Testament
Reproof | True Bible Preaching by Pastor Anderson
He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: But he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.
