1 Corinthianschapter 4

A.Stewards Answer to One Judge, and Not Yetvv. 1-5

1 So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 3 I care very little, however, if I am judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 My conscience is clear, but that does not vindicate me. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

B.Kings on Thrones, Apostles in the Arenavv. 6-13

6 Brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written. Then you will not take pride in one man over another. 7 For who makes you so superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? 8 Already you have all you want. Already you have become rich. Without us, you have become kings. How I wish you really were kings, so that we might be kings with you! 9 For it seems to me that God has displayed us apostles at the end of the procession, like prisoners appointed for death. We have become a spectacle to the whole world, to angels as well as to men. 10 We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are dishonored. 11 To this very hour we are hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clothed, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. 12 We work hard with our own hands. When we are vilified, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13 when we are slandered, we answer gently. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.

C.Your Father Is Coming — With a Rod or in Love?vv. 14-21

14 I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children. 15 Even if you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 17 That is why I have sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which is exactly what I teach everywhere in every church. 18 Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only what these arrogant people are saying, but what power they have. 20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. 21 Which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and with a gentle spirit?

← Back: 1 Corinthians 3 Continue: 1 Corinthians 5 →

Chapter summary

Paul answers the judgments of the Corinthian faction.

Read the rest, the context and the outline ▾Show less ▴

Paul answers the judgments of the Corinthian faction. It is a small thing to be judged of them; the Lord alone judges. The apostles are made a spectacle unto the world, a show for angels and men. Ye are full, ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us. Paul sends Timothy to remind them of his ways in Christ. He will come shortly. Shall it be with a rod or in love and meekness? Calvin reads the chapter as the apostolic cross in contrast to the Corinthian enthronement.

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary, John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament and John Calvin, Commentaries.

Context

Epistle · Paul — 1 Corinthians overview

A. 1–5 Stewards Answer to One Judge, and Not Yet
B. 6–13 Kings on Thrones, Apostles in the Arena
C. 14–21 Your Father Is Coming — With a Rod or in Love?

Top cross-references8 chapters ▾

2 Corinthians 134 verses
- 2 Corinthians 13:1This is the third time I am coming to you. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”
- 2 Corinthians 13:2I already warned you the second time I was with you. So now in my absence I warn those who sinned earlier and everyone else: If I return, I will not spare anyone,
- 2 Corinthians 13:9In fact, we rejoice when we are weak but you are strong, and our prayer is for your perfection.
- 2 Corinthians 13:10This is why I write these things while absent, so that when I am present I will not need to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.
- Read 2 Corinthians 13 →
1 Corinthians 32 verses
- 1 Corinthians 3:10By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one must be careful how he builds.
- 1 Corinthians 3:13his workmanship will be evident, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will prove the quality of each man’s work.
- Read 1 Corinthians 3 →
2 Corinthians 112 verses
- 2 Corinthians 11:4For if someone comes and proclaims a Jesus other than the One we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit than the One you received, or a different gospel than the one you accepted, you put up with it way too easily.
- 2 Corinthians 11:23Are they servants of Christ? I am speaking like I am out of my mind, but I am so much more: in harder labor, in more imprisonments, in worse beatings, in frequent danger of death.
- Read 2 Corinthians 11 →
2 Corinthians 122 verses
- 2 Corinthians 12:6Even if I wanted to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me,
- 2 Corinthians 12:19Have you been thinking all along that we were making a defense to you? We speak before God in Christ, and all of this, beloved, is to build you up.
- Read 2 Corinthians 12 →

4 more chapters this one speaks with

Romans 82 verses
- Romans 8:35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
- Romans 8:36As it is written: “For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
- Read Romans 8 →
1 Corinthians 22 verses
- 1 Corinthians 2:3I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.
- 1 Corinthians 2:4My message and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,
- Read 1 Corinthians 2 →
1 Thessalonians 22 verses
- 1 Thessalonians 2:7On the contrary, we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother caring for her children.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:11For you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children—
- Read 1 Thessalonians 2 →
1 Peter 41 verse
- 1 Peter 4:10As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another.
- Read 1 Peter 4 →

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.