Learn from Apollos and myself in order that you may not become inflated with pride. The presence of rival camps in the Corinthian community had given rise to unhealthy competition that threatened the existence of the community as a Church. It had reached a point where talents and gifts (of the Holy Spirit) were being used as reasons not only for boasting but also for humiliating those who were not as gifted or as talented. It was a situation that drew a sharp and quick criticism from Paul: “ So you think you are better human persons (kings) than the rest because of God-given talents? Are these not of God? Have you not received the talents as gifts? If you have, then why are you boasting? Learn from Apollos and myself: we are equally gifted, but we do not go parading our talents. We do not even want special treatment because of our talents. For if we did, we would not be going hungry or living as scums of the earth (Apollos was a young Jewish scholar from Alexandria, Paul was a trained Pharisee). We let go of our entitlement because of you. You ought to have done the same for one another.”
Paul appeals to the Corinthians to let the diversity that is present in the community to be used as a basis for service and not division or pride. Had they used their talents to enrich one another, they would have become real kings, kings that Paul would have been proud of (4:8c). Had they served one another in love, they would have become kings such as Christ is-a servant king.