1 Corinthians 4:3-6:11 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:1-6

Here, I. The apostle challenges the respect due to him on account of his character and office, in which many among them had at least very much failed: Let a man so account of us as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God (1 Cor. 4:1), though possibly others might have valued them too highly, by setting him up as the head of a party, and professing to be his disciples. In our opinion of ministers, as well as all other things, we should be careful to avoid extremes.... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Corinthians 4:1-5

4:1-5 Let a man then so think of us as the servants of Christ and stewards of the secrets which God reveals to his own people. In ordinary everyday life, that a man should be found faithful, is a quality required in stewards. To me it matters very little that I should be judged by you or by any human day. No--I do not even judge myself. For, supposing that I am conscious of no fault, yet I am not acquitted because of that. He who judges me is the Lord. So then, make a practice of passing no... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:3

But with me it is a very small thing ,.... It stood for little or nothing, was of no account with him, what judgment and censures were passed on him by men with regard to his faithfulness in the ministry not even by the Corinthians themselves: that I should be judged of you ; not that the apostle declined, or despised the judgment of a church of Christ, rightly disposed, and met together in the fear of God, to try prove, and judge of his ministry, and his fidelity in it; but he made no... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 4:3

It is a very small thing that I should be judged of you - Those who preferred Apollos or Kephas before St. Paul, would of course give their reasons for this preference; and these might, in many instances, be very unfavourable to his character as a man, a Christian, or an apostle; of this he was regardless, as he sought not his own glory, but the glory of God in the salvation of their souls. Or of man's judgment - Η ὑπο ανθρωπινης ἡμερας , literally, or of man's day: but ανθρωπινη... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 4:3

Verse 3 3.But with me it is a very small thing It remained that he should bring before their view his faithfulness, that the Corinthians might judge of him from this, but, as their judgment was corrupted, he throws it aside and appeals to the judgment-seat of Christ. The Corinthians erred in this, that they looked with amazement at foreign masks, and gave no heed to the true and proper marks of distinction. (214) He, accordingly, declares with great confidence, that he despises a perverted and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:1-5

Judgments, human and Divine, respecting ministers. read more

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

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:1-6

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Corinthians 4:1-5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 4:3

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 4:3

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:1-5

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:1-5

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:1-7

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:1-7

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:3

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