1 Corinthians 4:6-7

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 4:6

Brethren . The occasional use of this and similar expressions ("beloved," etc.) often serves to strengthen an appeal, or, as here, to soften the sternness of a rebuke. I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos. The meaning seems to be that St. Paul has prominently transferred to himself and to Apollos, or rather to the parties who chose their names as watchwords, the proof as to the sin and futility of partisanship which applied equally well to the parties which ranged... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:6

Differences according to grace received. One can but be struck with the prudence and delicacy of the apostle in not mentioning the actual names of the party leaders at Corinth, but illustrating his principle from such more prominent names as his own, that of St. Peter, and that of Apollos. He avoids any charge of personality; and names only the greater leaders, that the Corinthians might learn not to be puffed up for any minister. All teachers are but men, and all are to be esteemed for... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:6-13

Contrast between the inflated self sufficiency of the Corinthians and the earthly humiliation of the apostles. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:6-13

Against self conceit. Party spirit leads to the undue exaltation of men. The head of a faction becomes a hero in the eyes of those that belong to it. Two evil consequences follow—pride, self sufficiency, conceit, on the one hand; undue depreciation of others and boasting against them, on the other hand. Against this hateful spirit the apostle has already presented a variety of arguments; and while speaking chiefly of himself and Apollos, he has in reality been teaching us how to regard all... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:7

Who maketh thee to differ? literally, Who distinguisheth thee? He means that this glorification and depreciation of rival views and rival teachers sprang from unwarrantable arrogance. It involved a claim to superiority, and a right to sit in judgment, which they did not possess. That thou didst not receive? Even supposing that you have some special gift, it is a gift, not a merit, and therefore it is a boon for which to be thankful, not a pre-eminence of which to boast. "Satan, I... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:7

All is of grace. Paul's quick, impulsive mind here flashes out into indignation at the spectacle of partisanship and schism in the Corinthian Church. They who lay great stress upon individual human teachers and ministers are in danger of forgetting, perhaps already have forgotten, two things, viz. I. WE MAY TAKE CREDIT TO OURSELVES ONLY FOR OUR WANTS AND FOR OUR CAPACITY . Why should any man be proud, when he remembers that he was born a helpless babe; that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:7

Our indebtedness to God. I. REFLECT UPON THE FACT . Are apt to forget it altogether. So anomaly is often presented of our quarrelling over "possessions" which do not belong to us, and boasting of that to which we have no title. The air we breathe, the world we dwell upon, our food, clothing, and shelter, our "prosperity" as we fondly call it,—these things are lent to us by God. So also our powers—yea, our very existence is not of ourselves, but of God. If we were to have taken... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Corinthians 4:6

And these things - The things which I have written respecting religious teachers 1 Corinthians 2:5-6, 1 Corinthians 2:12, and the impropriety of forming sects called after their names.I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos - The word used here μετεσχημάτισα meteschēmatisa denotes, properly, to put on another form or figure; “to change” (Philippians 3:21, “who shall change our vile body”); to “transform” (2 Corinthians 11:13, “transforming themselves into the apostles of... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Corinthians 4:7

For who maketh ... - This verse contains a reason for what Paul had just said; and the reason is, that all that any of them possessed had been derived from God, and no endowments whatever, which they had, could be laid as the foundation for self-congratulation and boasting. The apostle here doubtless has in his eye the teachers in the church of Corinth, and intends to show them that there was no occasion of pride or to assume pre-eminence. As all that they possessed had been given of God, it... read more

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