<p>4:6 <i>Now these things, brothers, I have applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes</i>- The letter opened with a lament that the church had split into factions, after Paul and Apollos. Presumably the reference here is to the mention he has made of Apollos and himself a few verses earlier in 3:22: &quot;Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours&quot;. He may mean that he has addressed the issue of following men by quoting Apollos and himself as examples of those who were being followed- even though they themselves did not want it. The implication might be that there were others whom he could name but didn't wish to, &quot;for your sakes&quot;.</p><p><i>That from us you might learn not to go beyond the things which are written</i>- The example of Paul and Apollos was of being leaders who did not want a personal cult following. The presence of the article &quot;the&quot; after &quot;learn&quot; requires us to read this as: &quot;That you might learn the 'Not beyond the things which are written'&quot;. &quot;Written&quot; translates <i>grapho</i>, the writings, or, the Scriptures. 'Not beyond the writings' was a Rabbinic expression, and Paul is saying that the Corinthians would see it exemplified in the demeanour of Apollos and himself. The Corinthians were to learn from their example not to go beyond respect of leaders and fall into cult following. 'The things written' would in this context therefore refer to things written against following leaders into a cult situation; and that is what Paul has been writing about so far in the letter. The things written which must not be 'gone beyond', just as the Rabbis were not supposed to 'go beyond the inspired writings', would therefore refer to what Paul has just written under inspiration. So whilst turning down any personal cult following, he is also making clear that what he is writing is inspired and should be treated with as much respect as the OT Scriptures.</p><p><i>So that none of you get puffed up, one against the other- </i>As noted earlier on this verse, the inspired message so far given was to stop such following of leaders in a divisive, cult-like sense. 1 Corinthians contains many warnings against being &quot;puffed up&quot; (1 Cor. 4:6,8,19; 5:2,6; 13:4). These warnings often come in the context of statements about the Lordship of Jesus, or about the sacrifice of Jesus, the Passover lamb. The fact He is our Lord and died as He did means that we must live Passover lives without the leaven of pride and being puffed up about leading brethren etc. Perceiving <i>His </i>greatness will mean that we will not seek to follow men.</p>