Bible Commentaries
1 Corinthians 4

Verse 1

man . App-123 .

so . This emphasizes the "as" which follows.

account = reckon. Greek. logizomai.

ministers . App-190 .

Christ . App-98 .

stewards . Greek. oikonomos. Occurs ten times. Always translated "steward", except Romans 16:23 and Galatians 1:4 , Galatians 1:2 . See Luke 16:1 .

mysteries . Greek. musterion. App-193 . To Paul were committed various secrets. See 1 Corinthians 15:51 .Romans 11:25 . 2 Thessalonians 2:7 . 1 Timothy 3:9 , 1 Timothy 3:16 .

God . App-98 .

Verse 2

Moreover = For the rest. Same as "besides" (1 Corinthians 1:16 ).

required = sought.

in = among. App-104 .

that = in order that. Greek. hina .

a man = one. App-123 .

faithful . App-150 .

Verse 3

with = for.

a very small = the least.

judged = examined. App-122 .

of = by. App-104 .

man's judgment . Literally man's day. The day in which man is examining, and "judging", and God is silent.

man's . Greek. anthropinos, as in 1 Corinthians 2:4 , 1 Corinthians 2:13 .

yea, &c . = I do not even (Greek. oude) judge.

Verse 4

know = am conscious of. Greek. sunoida. See Acts 5:2

nothing . Greek. oudeis.

by = against. No preposition.

not . App-105 .

hereby = in (Greek. e n) this.

justified . App-191 .

the Lord . App-98 .

Verse 5

judge . App-122 .

nothing = not (Greek. me. App-105 ) anything (Greek. tis) .

before . App-104 .

time = season. t

he Lord . App-98 .

bring to light . Greek. photizo. See Luke 11:36

make manifest . App-106 .

counsels . Greek. boule. App-102 .

shall every, &c . Literally praise shall be to each one.

of = from. App-104 .

Verse 6

I have in a figure transferred . Greek. metaschematizo. Elsewhere translated "transform", 2 Corinthians 11:13 , 2 Corinthians 11:14 , 2 Corinthians 11:15 ; and "change", Philippians 1:3 , Philippians 1:21 .

to = unto. App-104 .

for your sakes = on account of (Greek. dia. App-104 . 1 Corinthians 4:2 ) you.

above . App-104 .

is = has been.

no one . . . one . Literally ye be not (Greek. me) puffed up, one on behalf of (Greek. huper. App-104 .) the one.

puffed up . Greek. phusioo. Elsewhere , 1 Corinthians 4:18-19 ; 1 Corinthians 5:2 ; 1Co 8:1 ; 1 Corinthians 13:4 . Co 1 Corinthians 1:2 , 1 Corinthians 1:18 .

against . App-104 .

another = the other. App-124 .

Verse 7

maketh . . . to differ . App-122 . Note the change from plural in 1 Corinthians 4:6 to the singular here.

if . App-118 .

glory = boast, as in 1 Corinthians 1:29 .

as if thou hadst not = as not (Greek. me) having.

Verse 8

Now = Already. Notice the Figure of speech Amplificatio ( App-6 ).

are full = have been filled. Greek. koremnumi. See Acts 27:38 .

without = apart from. This is an instance of Irony ( App-6 ).

would to God . Greek. ophelon, from opheilo, to owe. Used to express a wish; also in 2 Corinthians 11:1 .Galatians 1:5 , Galatians 1:12 .Revelation 3:15 .

reign with . Greek. sumbasileuo. Only here and 2 Timothy 2:12 .

Verse 9

hath . Omit.

set forth . Greek. apodeiknumi. See Acts 2:22 .

apostles . App-189 .

last . They were the successors of the prophets in this. Acts 7:52 .

appointed to death . Greek. epithanatios. Only here.

spectacle . Greek. theatron. In Acts 19:29 , Acts 19:31 , it means the place. It was also used for the actors, and the spectators.

unto = to.

world . Greek. kosmos. App-129 .

and = both.

Verse 10

fools . Greek. moros, as in 1 Corinthians 1:25 , 1 Corinthians 1:27 .

honourable . Greek. endoxos. Elsewhere translated "gorgeously", Luke 7:25 , and "glorious" in Luke 13:17 . Ephesians 5:27 .

despised . Greek. atimos. Elsewhere, 1 Corinthians 12:23 .Matthew 13:57 . Mark 6:4 .

Verse 11

Even unto = Up to, or until. Greek. achri.

this = the.

present . Greek. arti = now.

are naked = are scantily clothed. Greek. gumneteuo. Only here.

are buffeted . Greek. kolaphizo. Here, Matthew 26:67 . Mark 14:65 . 2 Corinthians 12:7 . 1 Peter 2:20 .

have no certain dwellingplace . Greek. astateo = to be a wanderer. Only here.

Verse 12

working, &c . See Acts 18:3 ; Acts 20:34 . 1Th 2:9 . 2 Thessalonians 3:8 .

reviled . Greek. loidoreo. See John 9:28 .

Verse 13

defamed . Greek. blasphemeo. But some texts read dusphemeo.

intreat . App-134 .

filth = sweepings. Greek. perikatharma. Only here.

offscouring . Greek. peripsema. Only here.

unto this day . Literally until now. Greek. heos arti .

Verse 14

I write, &c . Literally Not as putting you to shame do I write these thing.

shame . Greek. entrepo. Occurs elsewhere, Matthew 21:37 . Mark 12:6 . Luke 18:2 , Luke 18:4 ; Luk 20:13 . 2 Thessalonians 3:14 .Titus 2:8 . Hebrews 12:9 , all in middle sense, meaning "to feel shame", and so "to reverence", as in the Gospels.

beloved . App-135 .

sons = children. App-108 .

warn . Greek. noutheteo. See Acts 20:31 .

Verse 15

thought = if. App-118 . b

have = should have.

instructers . Greek. paidagogos. Only here and Galatians 1:3 , Galatians 1:24 , Gal 1:25 .

Christ Jesus . App-98 .

have begotten = begat. Greek. gennao. Compare Philemon 1:10 .

gospel . App-140 .

Verse 16

Wherefore = On account of ( App-104 . 1 Corinthians 4:2 ) this.

beseech . Greek. parakaleo, as in 1 Corinthians 4:13 .

be = become.

followers = imitators. Greek. mimetes. Elsewhere, 1 Corinthians 11:1 . Eph 5:1 . 1 Thessalonians 1:6 ; 1 Thessalonians 2:14 . Heb 6:12 . 1 Peter 3:13 .

Verse 17

For this cause = On account of (Greek. dia. App-104 . 1 Corinthians 4:2 ) this.

sent . App-174 .

Timotheus . See 1 Corinthians 16:10 .

bring you into remembrance = remind you. Greek. anamimnesko. Elsewhere, Mark 11:21 ; Mark 14:72 . 2Co 7:15 . 2 Timothy 1:6 . Hebrews 10:32 .

which be . Omit.

as = even as.

church . App-186 .

Verse 18

some . App-124 .

would not come = were not coming.

to = unto. App-104 .

Verse 19

shortly = quickly.

if . App-118 .

will . Greek. thelo. App-102 .

know . i.e. find out and expose. App-132 .

speech = word. App-121 .

power . App-172 .

Verse 20

kingdom of God . App-114 . No verb in the sentence. Supply "is established". Figure of speech Ellipsis. App-6 .

word . Greek. logos as in 1 Corinthians 4:19 .

Verse 21

unto . Greek. pr o s , as in verses: 1 Corinthians 4:18-19 . This verse is an example of Figure of speech Anocoenosis . App-6 .

with = in. Greek. en, as in 1 Corinthians 4:2 . Compare Luke 22:49 , where en is translated "with".

rod . Greek. rabdos. Translated four times "staff", twice "sceptre" (Hebrews 1:8 ). Compare Revelation 2:27 ; Revelation 12:5 ; Revelation 19:15 . See also 2 Samuel 7:14 .Psalms 2:9 .

love . App-135 .

spirit . App-101 .

meekness . Greek. prautes. Compare App-127 . Occurs elsewhere, 2 Corinthians 10:1 .Galatians 1:5 , Galatians 1:23 ; Galatians 6:1 .Ephesians 4:2; 2 Chronicles 3:122 Chronicles 3:12 . 1Ti 6:11 . 2 Timothy 2:25 .Titus 3:2 .James 1:21 .James 3:13 . 1 Peter 3:15 .