Paul had no wish to come among the Corinthians only to find himself bound to act in severity by reason of sin and grave disorder still being found in their midst. Hence he had waited until he had news of the effect of the earlier epistle he had written to them. He hoped for better things. It was not that he assumed dominion over their faith, but rather that he was just a “helper,” or “fellow-worker,” in order that they might be delivered and rejoice.

The chapter closes with the words, “by faith ye stand.” This is a fact that we ought very much to lay to heart. If he had assumed dominion over their faith in any matter, their faith in that respect would have ceased to be. He would have merely ordered them to do certain things (quite right things, doubtless) and they would have done them, not as an exercise of faith, but mechanically. There would have been no faith in their actions, but just mechanical action as an outward shell. And then one day they would have scandalized everyone by collapsing.

There are plenty of Christians today who would much like to live their lives on somebody else’s faith. They would like to be told what to do. Let somebody else have the exercise, and solve the problem! They will be good and obedient and do as they are told. But this does not work; it will end disastrously. It is by faith we stand, not by somebody else’s faith. By somebody else’s faith we fall. And furthermore, it is not good for this “somebody else” either. Such forceful individuals begin to love having dominion over the faith of their brethren, and so becoming little popes. Consequently, it ends disastrously for them.