The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:1-5
Judgments, human and Divine, respecting ministers. read more
哥林多前書 4:1-2 Cunpts
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:1-5
"The ministers of Christ." The Corinthians were to be delivered from their tendency to glory in men, by being taught to regard them as a part of their heritage. All teachers were for their use, not the particular one whom they chose as their party leader. Besides, a right view of the ministerial office should prevent all boasting in men. I. HOW MINISTERS ARE TO BE REGARDED . They are: 1. Servants of Christ. They are not "lords over God's heritage" ( 1 Peter 5:3 ), the... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:1-7
A true and a false estimate of genuine ministers of the gospel "Let a man so account of us as of the ministers of Christ," etc. Here we have— I. A TRUE ESTIMATE of genuine ministers of the gospel. 1. They are servants of Christ. "Let a man so account of us as of the ministers of Christ." There are some who regard ministers of the gospel as servants of their Church. The Churches guarantee their stipend, and they require that their dogmas shall be propounded and their laws... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:1-7
Ministers as stewards. The idea of the ministry as a Divine institution, set apart as a peculiar calling and charged with an infinite trust, cannot as yet relax its hold on St. Paul's mind. Tenacity of a great truth is not altogether a matter of our volition. At first the will has much to do in directing attention to a truth and keeping it fixed; but in no long time, if the man has trained himself to reflect, and, above all, if he is an earnest man, the truth recurs by some process of self... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:2
Moreover . The true reading ( א , A, B, C, D, F) is ὧδε κοιπὸν , here, moreover; i.e. "on this earth." It may be required of him as a minister that he should be faithful, but if, being faithful, he is misjudged and depreciated, his appeal lies to a truer and loftier tribunal. It is required. This is the reading of א , A, C, D. Other manuscripts have "ye require;" but the sound of the two words in Hellenistic Greek would have been almost indistinguishable. That a man be found... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:2
Faithful stewardship. This is a principle approved alike of God and man. Stewardship implies responsibility, and responsibility demands faithfulness. The principle is applicable specially to the ministry of the Word. No responsibility like that of those who are called to keep watch and guard over the mysteries of God, to minister in Christ's Name the richest treasures of his grace. Note St. Paul's own profound sense of his responsibility. It was a comparatively "small thing" to him to be... read more
Albert Barnes
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Corinthians 4:1
Let a man - Let all; let this be the estimate formed of us by each one of you.So account of us - So think of us, the apostles.As the ministers of Christ - As the servants of Christ. Let them form a true estimate of us and our office - not as the head of a faction; not as designing to form parties, but as unitedly and entirely the servants of Christ; see 1 Corinthians 3:5.And stewards - Stewards were those who presided over the affairs of a family, and made provision for it, etc.; see the note... read more
Albert Barnes
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Corinthians 4:2
Moreover ... - The fidelity required of stewards seems to be adverted to here, in order to show that the apostles acted from a higher principle than a desire to please man, or to be regarded as at the head of a party; and they ought so to esteem them as bound, like all stewards, to be faithful to the master whom they served.It is required ... - It is expected of them; it is the “main” or “leading” thing in their office. Eminently in that office fidelity is required as an indispensable and... read more
Joseph Benson
Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Corinthians 4:1
1 Corinthians 4:1. Let a man, &c. Having warned the believers at Corinth against entertaining an undue esteem for their own ministers, he now proceeds to show them in what light they ought to view all true ministers of Christ: and lest, from what was advanced in the preceding chapters concerning the inspiration of the apostles by the Holy Spirit, these Corinthians should imagine that Paul claimed to himself and his brethren an authority not derived from Christ, he here tells them that... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:1-2
The Christian teacher a steward. The apostle here intimates what are right thoughts for Christian people to cherish concerning their teachers, tie uses two words, "ministers," "stewards," the former of which is familiar, the latter needs some explanation. A minister is "one who serves," and no more honourable thought can be attached to the Christian teacher than that he serves Christ among his people, and serves the people for Christ's sake. Our Lord himself said, "I am among you as he... read more