The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:1-5
Judgments, human and Divine, respecting ministers. read more
哥林多前書 4:3-5 Rcuvts
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 4:3
But . The Corinthians might have expected that the conclusion of St. Paul's remarks would be a recognition of their right to sit in judgment on his faithfulness; but it is, on the contrary, an expression of his complete indifference to their shallow and unfair estimate, and an appeal to the approval of his own conscience and to the judgment of the Lord. It is a very small thing; literally, it is for the least. That I should be judged of you; rather, that I should be examined by you (... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:3-5
Judgment, human, and Divine. No man can work entirely with reference to his own labours and his own opinion of them. We all need to live under the sense that others are taking some notice of what we do; and with most there is danger of attaching exaggerated importance to human criticism. But it is well for us to cherish the feeling of the nearness and the supervision of the omniscient Searcher of hearts. In this passage St. Paul represents the effect which both human and Divine judgment... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:3-5
Human and Divine judgments. I. REFLECT THAT HUMAN JUDGMENT IS FALLIBLE . It is needful to remember this. Many laugh at "infallibility" when it affects a pope at Rome, but are much disposed to believe in it when it affects a pope at home. We should not forget that 1. To take heed how we pronounce final judgments. There are some things about which we should not judge at all, as altogether transcending our powers and province. About many things we are compelled to form... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:3-5
A threefold judgment of the Christian teacher. The thought of the apostle is evidently occupied with the disposition of the Corinthians to form judgments for and against different Christian teachers, and to make parties by their preference for one over another. There seems to have been a critical habit, which was applied to the work of each minister; and such a habit is always found seriously to injure the work of our ministers, and fatally to influence that openness and receptivity of... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:4
I know nothing by myself; rather, nothing against myself. The phrase of the Authorized Version originally meant this, but is now obsolete in this sense. "I am sorry that each fault can be proved by the queen," says Cranmer to Henry VIII . It is like the Latin Nil conscire sibi. The same phrase occurs in the LXX . of Job 27:6 . St. Paul says, "The verdict of my own conscience acquits me of all intentional unfaithfulness;" but this is insufficient, because God sees with clearer eyes... read more
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John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 4:5
Verse 5 5.Therefore judge nothing before the time From this conclusion it is manifest, that Paul did not mean to reprove every kind of judgment without exception, but only what is hasty and rash, without examination of the case. For the Corinthians did not mark with unjaundiced eye the character of each individual, but, blinded by ambition, groundlessly extolled one and depreciated another, and took upon themselves to mark out the dignity of each individual beyond what is lawful for men. Let us... read more