Bible Commentaries
1 Corinthians 4

Verse 1

1 1Co 4:1. servant and a steward is an agent. Paul wished that he and his companions should be accounted only in that light.

Verse 2

2 1Co 4:2. A steward or agent is supposed to be honest in handling the affairs of his master, for which he would not deserve any special thanks.

Verse 3

3 1Co 4:3. Paul was the agent of the Lord, and it was to Him that he would have to answer. Man might approve of his conduct, but that would be a very small thing, for human judges might pass favorably on his case while the Lord would not.

Verse 4

4 1Co 4:4. Even though Paul could think of nothing in himself that was wrong if measured by the wisdom of man, yet that alone would not satisfy him, for the Lord was the one who was to have the final word as to his standing.

Verse 5

5 1Co 4:5. Judge nothing as to the merits of human accomplishments by human standards of wisdom or philosophy. The Lord will come in judgment someday, and then all will be given due reward for any virtue they possessed, whether their brethren appreciated it or not.

Verse 6

6 1Co 4:6. The words figure transferred are from METASCHEMATIZO, and Thayer's definition is, "to change the figure of, to transform." He then explains the definition at this passage to mean, "to shape one's discourse so as to transfer to one's self what holds true of the whole class to which one belongs, i.e. so as to illustrate by what one says of himself what holds true of all." The reader may refer to what is said about this verse at chapter 1:12. The four persons named were not really the ones over whom the Corinthians were contending. Paul now explains that he was using the names by way of illustration, in order• that, they would "see the point" without having their resentment aroused against being personally criticized. The men over whom all these contentions were being waged were right there in the congregation. That is why Paul uses the language that no one of you be puffed up for one against another. This proves beyond a doubt that the trouble was over men who belonged to the congregation in Corinth. None of the men named in chapter 1:12 even lived in that city, hence the contention was not over them. Furthermore, the name of Christ is included with the ones over whom they were contending. It is inconceivable that in their partisan strife, one of them would say he was for any teacher as against Christ. No, the men who were the objects of the trouble were those in the congregation with spiritual gifts. The possession of those powers was considered of such importance that it had split the congregation up into groups, not formally but in sentiment, the various sets adhering to the particular gifted man whose gift happened to strike them as the most important. It must be observed that not every member of a congregation would be possessed with a gift, but only a sufficient proportion to accomplish the Lord's plans. This contention over the spiritual gifts was so serious that Paul devoted three chapters-12, 13 and 14--to the subject, which will be commented upon when we come to them in this work. This long note will not be repeated in full, hence the reader should mark it for convenient reference when occasion arises.

Verse 7

7 1Co 4:7. The meaning of this verse will be clear• when considered in light of the preceding one. The word another has been supplied by the translators, so that neither the first nor third personal pronoun is used by the apostle. The entire argument applies to the men of the Corinthian congregation. What least thou that thou didst not receive? This refers to the various gifts that were possessed by members, who were puffed up with pride over such attainments; and it was made worse by the contentions of the groups in the congregation that were arraying themselves as partisans in behalf of their respective "heroes." Paul is rebuking them for this pride by the question just stated. Those gifts were not anything that had been accomplished by them, for they had received them as direct bestowments through the Spirit and hence they had nothing of which to boast, much less to suffer the congregation to be divided up into contentious groups over it.

Verse 8

8 1Co 4:8. Full is from KORENNUMI which Thayer defines, "to satiate, sate, satisfy." Rich is from PLOUTEO and Thayer's definition is, "to be richly supplied." These are such excellent conditions that Paul would surely not seriously attribute them to these brethren after having just given them such a severe rebuke for their pride over gifts that had been bestowed upon them through no personal merit. The only conclusion, then, that we can reach, is that he used it in irony as a further reproof of them for their pride over the gifts. Reigned as kings without us (the apostles). Some more irony, referring to their feeling of self-sufficiency, to the extent that they did not feel the need of apostolic help. Would to God ye did reign is a serious phrase, expressing the unselfishness of the apostle. He would have rejoiced had the Corinthians been as strong as they felt, for in that case he also could share in the accomplishment, seeing he was the one who put them into the work to begin with.

Verse 9

9 1Co 4:9. The apostles really possessed qualifications far beyond all that the Corinthians could rightfully claim, yet Paul was not being puffed up over it. Instead, he wanted them to know that those very peculiar attainments caused the apostles to be placed in an unpleasant position before both angels and men. Last means as to personal advantage, the thing of which the Corinthians were boasting. In spite of all their worth-while gifts, the apostles were exposed to the ridicule and persecutions of the world. Spectacle is from THEATRON, which Thayer defines, "a public show; a man who is exhibited to be gazed at and made sport of." The illustration is drawn from the Roman practice of the public theatre. When the main show was over, certain men who had been doomed to die, were brought forth into the arena for the "final act"; their clothing was removed and their bodies were exposed to the beasts to devour, for the entertainment of the audience. Thus Paul says the apostles were exposed as it were appointed to death.

Verse 10

0 1Co 4:10. See the notes on verse 8 where the language is used with a similar meaning to that here. In their own estimation the Corinthians were wise, strong, and honorable. The apostles were making no pretensions to greatness, but were submissive to the humiliation resulting from the unpopular work of preaching the Gospel.

Verse 13

3 1Co 4:13. Being defamed, we entreat. This does not contradict the preceding verse. Paul never made any unofficial or personal retort against those who tried to injure his good name, but that did not prevent him from taking the necessary legal steps for his protection. That is what he did when he "appealed unto Caesar" (Act 25:11).

Verse 14

4 1Co 4:14. The Corinthian brethren were entitled to being shamed, but that was not Paul's motive in writing as he did. His purpose was to induce them to correct their selfish ways, and hoped to do so by calling their attention to his own experiences. Sometimes the example of a loving father will make more of an impression on his sons than will his direct instructions.

Verse 15

5 1Co 4:15. There might be no limit to the number of persons who could instruct others, but since a man can be begotten once only, there can be only one person to lead him into primary obedience by making him know what he must believe in order to become a child of God. Paul had done this for the Corinthian brethren, and it is in that sense that he says I have begotten you through the Gospel.

Verse 16

6 1Co 4:16. Thayer defines the original for follower as "an imitator." A son would do well to imitate the example set by a righteous father. If the Corinthians would do that in regard to the life of Paul, they would cease to be puffed up over the comparatively small matter of spiritual gifts.

Verse 17

7 1Co 4:17. Son is used figuratively,, and Thayer explains the original in this and many other passages to mean, "just as in Hebrew, Syriac, Arabic, Persia, so in the N. T., pupils or disciples are called children of their teacher, because the latter by their instruction nourish the minds of their pupils and mould their characters." In chapter 16:10, 11 is a statement of Timotheus' journey to Corinth, but he had not reached the city when Paul wrote this statement; the apostle wished to have a welcome in readiness for him when he arrived. Paul was not seeking any personal praise for his work, but wished the Corinthians to have the testimony of Timotheus (Timothy) that he was doing all his teaching as Christ would have it done.

Verse 18

8 1Co 4:18. Puffed up means to "be proud" or act in a boastful manner. The ones who were having that feeling were not especially eager for Paul to come, lest he chastise them orally and severely for their contentious behavior. When they learned that Timothy was coming instead of Paul at that time, they triumphantly asserted that the apostle was not coming.

Verse 20

0 1Co 4:20. Not in word (only), for many loud and boistrous talkers have come into the world, but their real power or efficiency has been exposed as a sham.

Verse 21

1 1Co 4:21. This verse is a challenge for them to make the necessary changes in their conduct that would put them in a condition to receive the apostle's approval, and thus receive his spirit of meekness instead of the rod of chastisement.