How Does a Catholic Read: 1Corinthians 4:6

A while ago I had the idea to canvas some of my non-Catholic friends and ask, "What verses of the New Testament do you think Catholics simply don't get? You look at it and think, 'Are Catholics unaware of this verse? What do they do with this?'"

Today I wanted to cover one last verse which relates to Sola Scriptura.  That passage is 1Corinthians 4:6.  Just as before, we're going to examine the passage, apply it to the Sola Scriptura controversy... and answer the question:

"What the heck does a Catholic do with 1Corinthians 4:6?"

The Passage In Question:

First a little background.

The first letter to the Corinthian was written by Saint Paul to the misbehaving community of Corinth.  Paul uses the letter to rebuke them for all kinds of things they were doing wrong. 

In the first three chapters Paul addresses their problem of disunity.  He condemns their practice of dividing themselves based on who baptized them.  He also commands them to stop propping themselves up as superior to one another - judging one another.

So Paul begins chapter four by saying he doesn't judge anybody - not even himself.  And then he concludes:

"I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another." - 1 Corinthians 4:6

Now, some people will use the part where Paul says "not to go beyond what is written" as a proof-text for Sola Scriptura.  The assertion is Paul was trying to tell Christians they should always constrain themselves to the data contained in written Scripture.

But is that what it really means?


What Scope?

Here is the first question we need to ask:

What was the intended scope of this phrase?

The Sola-Scriptura interpretation of the phrase "learn not to go beyond what is written" applies a very large scope.  It proposes that Paul is giving a universal principle of how we're supposed to receive knowledge of Christian doctrine.

However, there are a couple problems with this interpretation:

The Rest of the Sentence:

First, it doesn't seem to match with the second half of the sentence.   Paul says the Corinthians should "not go beyond what is written" ... so they won't be at enmity with one another.

Well... how exactly does restraining one's source of Christian doctrine to written texts prevent people from being divided against one another?  What if the people divide up based on varying interpretations of those texts?

Context:

The second problem is the lack of context.

Nowhere in the preceding chapters does Paul excoriate the Corinthians for listening to doctrines outside the Scriptures.   He gets on them about lawsuits, morality, and divisions... but never for following extra-Biblical doctrines. 

So if Paul was intending to use the first half of the sentence in question to teach Sola Scriptura... it was something coming out of the blue.  Now, Paul does sometimes do that... so it isn't out of the question.  But still, it shouldn't be our first assumption.

Other Passages:

The last problem is the witness of other Scriptures which would contradict the Sola Scriptura interpretation.  Namely, in other letters Paul specifically tells his audience to obey teachings which are not in written form:

"So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter." - 2 Thessalonians 2:15

A Catholic Reading Thereof:

So how does a Catholic read 1 Corinthians 4:6?

Well, I would look back to the end of the previous chapter.  Paul just got done quoting some Old Testament scripture concerning humility:

"Let no one deceive himself. If any one among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, 'He catches the wise in their craftiness,' and again, 'The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.'  So let no one boast of men."  - 1 Corinthians 3:18-21

So when Paul says, "Do not go beyond what is written, so you will not be puffed up against one another", he is likely saying:

"Do not go beyond those writings I just cited concerning humility, so you won't be at enmity with each other."

... and that seems to fit much better into the context of the letter and the New Testament as a whole.

That's how we read it.

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For more, check out the other passages:

• Revelation 22:18
• 2 Timothy 3:16