The Epistles · Chapter 4 of 16

1 Corinthians 4

Paul asks to be regarded as a servant of Christ and steward of God's mysteries, required only to be faithful. He refuses human judgment and his own, leaving the verdict to the Lord who will expose all hidden things when He comes. He rebukes the Corinthians' pride by contrasting their comfort with the apostles' sufferings, reminding them all they have was received. As a father, he warns and appeals to them to imitate him.

What happens in 1 Corinthians 4

Paul asks the Corinthians to regard him and his fellow workers as servants of Christ and stewards of God's mysteries, of whom the one thing required is faithfulness. He cares little for their judgment or any human court, and does not even judge himself, for the Lord is his judge. So they should judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes to bring hidden things to light. He punctures their arrogance by asking what they have that they did not receive, and why they boast as if they had not.

With sharp irony he contrasts their supposed richness with the apostles' hunger, homelessness, labor, and reviling, made a spectacle to the world, fools for Christ's sake. Yet he writes to warn them as beloved children, for though they have many instructors they have few fathers, having begotten them through the gospel. He urges them to imitate him and promises to come, asking whether with a rod or in love.

1 Corinthians 4 in context

Paul concludes the section on divisions by reframing how the Corinthians should view their leaders and themselves. Having called ministers servants and builders, he now calls them stewards accountable to Christ alone.

He confronts the Corinthians' spiritual pride directly, using irony and his fatherly authority, and signals the transition toward the specific problems he will address in the rest of the letter.

Main themes of 1 Corinthians 4

1 Corinthians 4 (KJV)

1Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. 3But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. 4For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. 5Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. 6And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another. 7For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? 8Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you. 9For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. 10We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. 11Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; 12And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: 13Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day. 14I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. 15For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. 17For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church. 18Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you. 19But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. 20For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. 21What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?

Verses to carry from 1 Corinthians 4

“Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”1 Corinthians 4:2

“Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.”1 Corinthians 4:5

“For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.”1 Corinthians 4:15

Reflection

It is easy to live for the verdict of others or the flattering verdict of ourselves. Paul frees us from both by pointing to the Lord who will one day expose all hidden things with perfect clarity. Ask whether your labor is content to be simply faithful, and remember that everything you have was first received.

A prayer from 1 Corinthians 4