1 Corinthians 4:1

1Co 4:1-21. True View of Ministers: The Judgment Is Not to Be Forestalled; Meanwhile the Apostles' Low State Contrasts with the Corinthians' Party Pride, Not That Paul Would Shame Them, but as a Father Warn Them; for Which End He Sent Timothy, and Will Soon Come Himself. 1. account ... us--Paul and Apollos. ministers of Christ--not heads of the Church in whom ye are severally to glory (1Co 1:12); the headship belongs to Christ alone; we are but His servants ministering to you (1Co 1:13; 3:5, 22). stewards--(Lu 12:42; 1Pe 4:10). Not the depositories of grace, but dispensers of it ("rightly dividing" or dispensing it), so far as God gives us it, to others. The chazan, or "overseer," in the synagogue answered to the bishop or "angel" of the Church, who called seven of the synagogue to read the law every sabbath, and oversaw them. The parnasin of the synagogue, like the ancient "deacon" of the Church, took care of the poor (Ac 6:1-7) and subsequently preached in subordination to the presbyters or bishops, as Stephen and Philip did. The Church is not the appendage to the priesthood; but the minister is the steward of God to the Church. Man shrinks from too close contact with God; hence he willingly puts a priesthood between, and would serve God by deputy. The pagan (like the modern Romish) priest was rather to conceal than to explain "the mysteries of God." The minister's office is to "preach" (literally, "proclaim as a herald," Mt 10:27) the deep truths of God ("mysteries," heavenly truths, only known by revelation), so far as they have been revealed, and so far as his hearers are disposed to receive them. Josephus says that the Jewish religion made known to all the people the mysteries of their religion, while the pagans concealed from all but the "initiated" few, the mysteries of theirs.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

1st Corinthians CHAPTER 4

THIS chapter is a continuation of the subject discussed in those which go before, and of the argument which closes the last chapter. The proper division would have been at verse 6. The design of the first six verses is to show the real estimate in which the apostles ought to be held as the ministers of religion. The remainder of the chapter (1Cor 4:7-21) is occupied in setting forth further the claims of the apostles to their respect in contradistinction from the false teachers, and in reproving the spirit of vain boasting and confidence among the Corinthians. Paul 1Cor 4:7 reproves their boasting by assuring them that they had no ground for it, since all that they possessed had been given to them by God. In 1Cor 4:8, he reproves the same spirit with cutting irony, as if they claimed to be eminently wise. Still further to reprove them, he alludes to his own self-denials and sufferings, as contrasted with their ease, and safety, and enjoyment, 1Cor 4:9-14. He then shows that his labours and self-denials, in their behalf, laid the foundation for his speaking to them with authority as a father, 1Cor 4:15,16. And to show them that he claimed that authority over them as the founder of their church, and that he was not afraid to discharge his duty towards them, he informs them that he had sent Timothy to look into their affairs, 1Cor 4:17, and that himself would soon follow; and assures them that he had power to come to them with the severity of Christian discipline, and that it depended on their conduct whether he should come with a rod, or with the spirit of meekness and love, 1Cor 4:21.

Verse 1. Let a man. Let all; let this be the estimate formed of us by each one of you.

So account of us. So think of us, the apostles.

As of the ministers of Christ. As the servants of Christ. Let them form a true estimate of us and our office--not as the head of a faction; not as designing to form parties, but as unitedly and entirely the servants of Christ. See 1Cor 3:5.

And stewards. Stewards were those who presided over the affairs of a family, and made provision for it, etc. Lk 16:1. It was an office of much responsibility; and the apostle by using the term here seems to have designed to elevate those whom he seemed to have depreciated in 1Cor 3:5.

Of the mysteries of God. Of the gospel. 1Cor 2:7. The office of steward was to provide those things which were necessary for the use of a family. And so the office of a minister of the gospel, and a steward of its mysteries, is to dispense such instructions, guidance, counsel, etc., as may be requisite to build up the church of Christ; to make known those sublime truths which are contained in the gospel, but which had not been made known before the revelation of Jesus Christ, and which are, therefore, called mysteries. It is implied in this verse,

(1.) that the office of a minister is one that is subordinate to Christ--they are his servants.

(2.) That those in the office should not attempt to be the head of sect or party in the church.

(3.) That the office is honourable, as that of a steward is. And,

(4.) that Christians should endeavour to form and cherish just ideas of ministers; to give them their true honour; but not to overrate their importance.

(*) "mysteries" "revealed truths"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Introduction

Ministers should be esteemed by their flocks as the stewards of God, whose duty and interest it is to be faithful, 1Cor 4:1, 1Cor 4:2. Precipitate and premature judgments condemned, 1Cor 4:3-5. The apostle's caution to give the Corinthians no offense, 1Cor 4:6. We have no good but what we receive from God, 1Cor 4:7. The worldly mindedness of the Corinthians, 1Cor 4:8. The enumeration of the hardships, trials, and sufferings of the apostles, 1Cor 4:9-13. For what purpose St. Paul mentions these things, 1Cor 4:14-16. He promises to send Timothy to them, 1Cor 4:17. And to come himself shortly, to examine and correct the abuses that had crept in among them, 1Cor 4:18-21. Verse 1 Let a man so account of us - This is a continuation of the subject in the preceding chapter; and should not have been divided from it. The fourth chapter would have begun better at 1Cor 4:6, and the third should have ended with the fifth verse (1Cor 4:5). As of the ministers of Christ - Ως ὑπηρετας Χριστου. The word ὑπηρετης means an under-rower, or one, who, in the trireme, quadrireme, or quinquereme galleys, rowed in one of the undermost benches; but it means also, as used by the Greek writers, any inferior officer or assistant. By the term here the apostle shows the Corinthians that, far from being heads and chiefs, he and his fellow apostles considered themselves only as inferior officers, employed under Christ from whom alone they received their appointment their work, and their recompense. Stewards of the mysteries of God - Και οικονομους μυστηριων Θεου, Economists of the Divine mysteries. See the explanation of the word steward in the note on Mat 24:45, (note); Luk 8:3, (note); Luk 12:42, (note) The steward, or oikonomos, was the master's deputy in regulating the concerns of the family, providing food for the household, seeing it served out at the proper times and seasons, and in proper quantities. He received all the cash, expended what was necessary for the support of the family, and kept exact accounts, which he was obliged at certain times to lay before the master. The mysteries, the doctrines of God, relative to the salvation of the world by the passion and death of Christ; and the inspiration, illumination, and purification of the soul by the Spirit of Christ, constituted a principal part of the Divine treasure intrusted to the hands of the stewards by their heavenly Master; as the food that was to be dispensed at proper times, seasons, and in proper proportions to the children and domestics of the Church, which is the house of God.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Apostles were no more than servants of Christ, but they were not to be undervalued. They had a great trust, and for that reason, had an honourable office. Paul had a just concern for his own reputation, but he knew that he who chiefly aimed to please men, would not prove himself a faithful servant of Christ. It is a comfort that men are not to be our final judges. And it is not judging well of ourselves, or justifying ourselves, that will prove us safe and happy. Our own judgment is not to be depended upon as to our faithfulness, any more than our own works for our justification. There is a day coming, that will bring men's secret sins into open day, and discover the secrets of their hearts. Then every slandered believer will be justified, and every faithful servant approved and rewarded. The word of God is the best rule by which to judge as to men. Pride commonly is at the bottom of quarrels. Self-conceit contributes to produce undue esteem of our teachers, as well as of ourselves. We shall not be puffed up for one against another, if we remember that all are instruments, employed by God, and endowed by him with various talents.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain