哥林多前書 4:1-4 CUNPTS

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

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

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

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:1-7

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:2

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:2

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:3

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:3-5

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:3-5

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:3-5

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:4

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

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Corinthians 4:2

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