1 Corinthians 4:3-6:11

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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Corinthians 4:3

But with me - In my estimate; in regard to myself. That is, I esteem it a matter of no concern. Since I am responsible as a steward to my master only, it is a matter of small concern what men think of me, provided I have his approbation. Paul was not insensible to the good opinion of people. He did not despise their favor or court limit contempt. But this was not the principal thing which he regarded; and we have here a noble elevation of purpose and of aim, which shows how direct was his... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Corinthians 4:2-5

1 Corinthians 4:2-5. Moreover As for what remains to be done in the discharge of this office; it is required of stewards Since they also, as well as lower servants in the family, are subject to account; that a man be found faithful That he act according to his commission, and neither withhold any privilege, or any part of God’s will from the people; nor deliver his own notions as the will of God, nor take more authority upon him than God has given him; as also that he discover and... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:1-21

Attitudes towards God’s servants (4:1-21)What the Corinthians think about the servants of God is not important. God is the one who gives his servants their work and they are responsible to him, not to anyone else (4:1-2). Paul is not concerned about the Corinthians’ assessment of him. Even Paul himself cannot properly assess how true his service has been. He may not know of any failure in his service, but that does not mean he is faultless. The only judgment that matters is the one that will... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Corinthians 4:3

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. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 4:3

But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment; yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing against myself; yet am I hereby not justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.In this and the following verse, Paul considers the three tribunals of judgment, these being: (1) conscience, (2) the court of public opinion, and (3) the Lord the righteous judge of all people. The supremacy of that court of last resort is dramatically affirmed.The... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 Corinthians 4:3

1 Corinthians 4:3. I judge not mine own self— That is, "not so as if my case were to be finally determined by my own apprehensions concerning it." read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Corinthians 4:3

3. it is a very small thing—literally, "it amounts to a very small matter"; not that I despise your judgment, but as compared with God's, it almost comes to nothing. judged . . . of man's judgment—literally, "man's day," contrasted with the day (1 Corinthians 3:13) of the Lord (1 Corinthians 4:5; 1 Thessalonians 5:4). "The day of man" is here put before us as a person [WAHL]. All days previous to the day of the Lord are man's days. EMESTI translates the thrice recurring Greek for "judged . . .... read more

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