1 Corinthians 4
4
1So think of us as Christ's servants given the responsibility for “the mysteries of God.”#4:1. Again, in the NT mysteries are the revealed truths of God. 2More than this, those who have such responsibilities are required to be trustworthy. 3Personally it hardly matters to me if you or anyone else judges me—in fact I don't even judge myself. 4I don't know of anything I've done wrong, but that doesn't make me morally right. It's the Lord who judges me. 5So don't judge anything before the right time—when the Lord comes. He will bring to light all the darkest secrets that are hidden, and he will reveal people's motives. God will give everyone whatever praise they deserve.
6Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied this to Apollos and myself as an example for you. That way you will learn not to go beyond what has been written, and not in arrogance prefer one over the other.#4:6. The meaning of original is debated. This is shown in the many differences in translations. 7Who made you so special? What do you have that you weren't given? Since you were given it, why do you proudly claim you weren't? 8You think you have all you need. You think you're so wealthy. You think you're kings already, and don't need us.#4:8. Literally, “without us.” I wish you were really ruling as kings, so we could rule with you! 9The way I see it, God has put us apostles on display as the last in the line, condemned to die. We have been made a public show before the entire universe, to angels and to human beings. 10We're Christ's fools, but you are so wise in Christ! We're the weak ones, but you are so strong! You have the glory, but we are despised!#4:10. From the context Paul appears to be speaking rather ironically. 11Right up till now we're hungry and thirsty. We have no clothes. We're badly beaten up, and we have no place to call home. 12We struggle on doing manual work. When people curse us, we bless them. When they persecute us, we put up with it. 13When they insult us, we respond with kindness. Even now we are treated like dirt, the worst trash in the whole world.
14I'm not writing like this to make you feel ashamed, but to caution you as my children whom I love so much. 15Even though you may have thousands of Christian instructors, you don't have many fathers—it was in Christ Jesus that I became your father when I shared the good news with you. 16So I'm pleading with you to imitate me!
17That's why I sent Timothy to you, my trustworthy son in the Lord whom I love so much. He will remind you about the way I follow Christ, just as I always teach in every church I visit. 18Some among you have become arrogant, thinking I wouldn't bother coming to see you. 19But I am coming to visit you soon, if that's what the Lord wants. Then I'll find out what these arrogant people are saying, and what kind of power they have. 20For the kingdom of God is not about mere words, but about power. 21So what do you want? Shall I come with a stick to beat you, or in love and a gentle spirit?
Currently Selected:
1 Corinthians 4: FBV
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Dr. Jonathan Gallagher. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Unported License. Version 4.3. For corrections send email to jonathangallagherfbv@gmail.com
1 Corinthians 4
4
The Faithful Manager
1A person should consider us in this way: as servants # Jn 18:36 of Christ and managers # Lk 16:1 of God’s mysteries. # 1Co 2:7 2In this regard, it is expected of managers that each one of them be found faithful. # Nm 12:7 3It is of little # Mt 5:19 importance to me that I should be evaluated # 1Co 2:14 by you or by any human court. # Lit a human day In fact, I don’t even evaluate myself. 4For I am not conscious of anything against myself, but I am not justified # Ac 13:39 by this. The One who evaluates me is the Lord. 5Therefore don’t judge # Lk 6:37 anything prematurely, before the Lord comes, # Mk 8:38; 1Pt 5:6 who will both bring to light what is hidden in darkness and reveal the intentions of the hearts. And then praise will come to each one from God. # 2Co 10:18
The Apostles’ Example of Humility
6Now, brothers, # Ac 9:30 I have applied these things to myself and Apollos # Ti 3:13 for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the saying: “Nothing beyond what is written.” # The words in quotation marks could = the OT, a Jewish maxim, or a popular proverb. The purpose is that none of you will be inflated with pride in favor of one person over another. 7For who makes you so superior? What do you have that you didn’t receive? If, in fact, you did receive it, why do you boast as if you hadn’t received it? 8You are already full! You are already rich! You have begun to reign as kings without us — and I wish you did reign, so that we could also reign with you! 9For I think God has displayed us, the apostles, in last place, like men condemned to die: We have become a spectacle to the world and to angels and to men. 10We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ! # 1Pt 5:14 We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! 11Up to the present hour we are both hungry and thirsty; we are poorly clothed, roughly treated, homeless; 12we labor, working # 2Jn 8 with our own hands. # Ac 18:3 When we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13when we are slandered, we respond graciously. Even now, we are like the world’s garbage, like the dirt everyone scrapes off their sandals. # Is 64:6; Lm 3:45
Paul’s Fatherly Care
14I’m not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my dear children. # 1Th 2:11; Phm 1 15For you can have 10,000 instructors in Christ, but you can’t have many fathers. For I became your father # Gl 4:19; Phm 10 in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 17This is why I have sent # 2Co 9:3; Eph 6:21-22; Col 4:7-8; Phm 12 Timothy to you. He is my dearly loved and faithful # Nm 12:7 son in the Lord. He will remind you about my ways in Christ Jesus, just as I teach everywhere in every church. 18Now some are inflated with pride, as though I were not coming to you. 19But I will come to you soon, # Ac 19:21; 1Co 16:5; 2Co 1:15-16 if the Lord wills, and I will know not the talk but the power of those who are inflated with pride. 20For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. 21What do you want? Should I come to you with a rod, # 2Co 1:23; 2:1,3; 12:20-21; 13:2,10 or in love and a spirit of gentleness? # Jms 3:13
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
© 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved.