Ταῦτα δέ, ἀδελφοί, μετεσχημάτισα εἰς ἐμαυτὸν καὶ Ἀπολλὼ δι’ ὑμᾶς, ἵνα ἐν ἡμῖν μάθητε τὸ μὴ ὑπὲρ ὃ γέγραπται φρονεῖν, ἵνα μὴ εἷς ὑπὲρ τοῦ ἑνὸς φυσιοῦσθε κατὰ τοῦ ἑτέρου. (1 Corinthians 4:6)
Now these things, brothers, I have applied to myself and to Apollos for your sake, so that in us you may learn not to think beyond what has been written, so that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another.
The Rhetoric of Self-Application
The opening phrase Ταῦτα δέ, ἀδελφοί (“Now these things, brothers”) introduces a shift of tone from argument to pastoral appeal. Paul, writing in the first person, employs a rhetorical strategy known as metaschēmatismos—the “adapting of form” or “transposition” of an idea. The verb μετεσχημάτισα (“I have applied” or “I have transformed”) reveals deliberate self-reference. Rather than condemning others directly, Paul channels his correction through himself and Apollos. This maneuver disarms defensiveness and models the humility he wishes to see in the Corinthian community. The syntax εἰς ἐμαυτὸν καὶ Ἀπολλὼ creates an inclusio of apostleship: both names serve as exempla for behavior. The grammar underscores that Paul’s appeal is not abstract moralism but lived demonstration. It is as if he says, “Look at how we hold ourselves within the boundaries of Scripture; learn from that pattern.”
Learning Within the Limits of Scripture
The clause ἵνα ἐν ἡμῖν μάθητε τὸ μὴ ὑπὲρ ὃ γέγραπται φρονεῖν is grammatically dense and spiritually piercing. The twofold use of ἵνα (“so that”) introduces the purpose and the ethical outcome of Paul’s teaching. The infinitive construction τὸ μὴ ὑπὲρ ὃ γέγραπται φρονεῖν literally means “the not to think beyond what has been written.” The phrase ὑπὲρ ὃ (“beyond what”) conveys the image of intellectual or moral transgression—crossing the line set by Scripture. The aorist perfect γέγραπται (“it has been written”) anchors authority in the permanence of divine text. Paul’s verb φρονεῖν (“to think,” “to have an attitude”) shows that the issue is not ignorance but arrogance. The syntax itself mirrors a spiritual posture: restraint. It is a call to confine the mind within the grammar of revelation. Theological reflection here turns grammatical—the limits of a clause become the limits of pride.
The Danger of Inflated Allegiances
The final clause ἵνα μὴ εἷς ὑπὲρ τοῦ ἑνὸς φυσιοῦσθε κατὰ τοῦ ἑτέρου addresses the social pathology that follows when boundaries of humility are ignored. The verb φυσιοῦσθε (“you are puffed up”) captures the grotesque image of spiritual inflation. It is a vivid middle/passive form implying a state of being filled with one’s own air. The preposition ὑπὲρ again appears, now not of transcendence but of partiality—“in favor of one against another.” The syntax thus forms a mirror structure: to think “beyond” (ὑπὲρ ὃ) the written word results in being puffed up “for” (ὑπὲρ τοῦ ἑνὸς) a human teacher. Paul’s grammatical repetition enacts his warning: exceeding the scriptural measure leads inevitably to division. Even the particles of his Greek construct the moral universe he describes. The humility of apostleship contrasts sharply with the pride of factions.
Table of Lexical Nuances
| Greek Term | Lexical Root | Semantic Range | Exegetical Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| μετεσχημάτισα | μετασχηματίζω | to change form, to apply figuratively | Indicates Paul’s rhetorical self-application for didactic effect. |
| φρονεῖν | φρονέω | to think, to have a mindset | Conveys ethical reasoning, not mere cognition; attitude shaped by Scripture. |
| φυσιοῦσθε | φυσιόω | to inflate, to make proud | Metaphor of swelling pride, opposite of Christlike humility. |
Where Form Meets Faith
This verse stands as a miniature theology of intellectual humility. Paul weaves grammar and ethics into one seamless act of worship. To “not think beyond what has been written” is not to suppress reason but to anchor it in revelation. In this construction, syntax becomes discipleship: the subject must remain within the clause God has authored. When thought exceeds text, division inflates community. When thought submits to what is written, love edifies. Thus the apostle’s sentence, meticulously balanced and rhetorically refined, becomes both command and confession. In Paul’s pen, linguistic restraint blossoms into spiritual wisdom, a living reminder that exegesis itself must bow before the boundaries of divine speech.
