1 Corinthians 4
4
The Faithful Manager
1A person should think of us in this way: as servants#Jn 18:36 of Christ and managers#Lk 16:1 of the mysteries of God.#1Co 2:7 2In this regard, it is required that managers be found faithful.#Nm 12:7 3It is of little#Mt 5:19 importance to me that I should be judged#1Co 2:14 by you or by any human court.#4:3 Lit a human day In fact, I don’t even judge myself. 4For I am not conscious of anything against myself, but I am not justified#Ac 13:39 by this. It is the Lord who judges me. 5So 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 and sisters,#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 meaning of the saying: “Nothing beyond what is written.” The purpose is that none of you will be arrogant, favoring 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, both to angels and to people. 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 scum of the earth, like everyone’s garbage.#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 may have countless instructors in Christ, but you don’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 child in the Lord. He will remind you about my ways in Christ Jesus, just as I teach everywhere in every church.
18Now some are arrogant, 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 find out not the talk, but the power of those who are arrogant. 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
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© 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
1 Corinthians 4
4
The Apostles’ Ministry
1 One#tn Here ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo") is both indefinite and general, “one”; “a person” (BDAG 81 s.v. 4.a.γ). should think about us this way – as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Now what is sought in stewards is that one be found faithful. 3 So for me, it is a minor matter that I am judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not acquitted because of this. The one who judges me is the Lord. 5 So then, do not judge anything before the time. Wait until the Lord comes. He will#tn Grk “time, until the Lord comes, who will bring to light.” bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the motives of hearts. Then each will receive recognition#tn Or “praise.” from God.
6 I have applied these things to myself and Apollos because of you, brothers and sisters,#tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:10. so that through us you may learn “not to go beyond what is written,” so that none of you will be puffed up in favor of the one against the other. 7 For who concedes you any superiority? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you boast as though you did not? 8 Already you are satisfied! Already you are rich! You have become kings without us! I wish you had become kings so that we could reign with you! 9 For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to die, because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to people. 10 We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, we are dishonored! 11 To the present hour we are hungry and thirsty, poorly clothed, brutally treated, and without a roof over our heads. 12 We do hard work, toiling with our own hands. When we are verbally abused, we respond with a blessing, when persecuted, we endure, 13 when people lie about us, we answer in a friendly manner. We are the world’s dirt and scum, even now.
A Father’s Warning
14 I am not writing these things to shame you, but to correct you as my dear children. 15 For though you may have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, because I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16 I encourage you, then, be imitators of me. 17 For this reason, I have sent Timothy to you, who is my dear and faithful son in the Lord. He will remind you of my ways in Christ,#tc ‡ Several important mss read ᾿Ιησοῦ (Ihsou, “Jesus”) after Χριστῷ (Cristw, “Christ”) in v. 17 (so Ì46 א C D1 33 1739 al). Western mss have κυρίῳ ᾿Ιησοῦ (kuriw Ihsou, “Lord Jesus”; D* F G), while several significant mss, as well as the majority, have only Χριστῷ here (A B D2 Ψ Ï sa). Once ᾿Ιησοῦ got into the text, it would continue to be copied. There is however no easy explanation for the word lacking in so many witnesses. Thus the shorter reading appears to be original. NA27 includes ᾿Ιησοῦ in brackets, indicating doubt as to its authenticity. as I teach them everywhere in every church. 18 Some have become arrogant,#tn Grk “puffed up”; “inflated.” as if I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord is willing, and I will find out not only the talk of these arrogant people, but also their power. 20 For the kingdom of God is demonstrated not in idle talk but with power. 21 What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline#tn Grk “rod.” Context indicates that this rod will be used for disciplinary purposes.sn Paul is using the term rod in this context to refer to his apostolic authority to discipline those who have become arrogant in the Corinthian church and have attempted to undermine his ministry (cf. 4:18-19). or with love and a spirit of gentleness?
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