1 Corinthians 4:4

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 4:4

For I know nothing by myself - There is evidently here an ellipsis to be supplied, and it is well supplied by Grotius, Rosenmuller, Calvin, etc. “I am not conscious of evil, or unfaithfulness to myself; that is, in my ministerial life.” It is well remarked by Calvin, that Paul does not here refer to the whole of his life, but only to his apostleship. And the sense is, “I am conscious of integrity in this office. My own mind does not condemn me of ambition or unfaithfulness. Others may accuse... 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 4:4

know = am conscious of. Greek. sunoida. See Acts 5:2 nothing . Greek. oudeis. by = against. No preposition. not . App-105 . hereby = in (Greek. e n) this. justified . App-191 . the Lord . App-98 . read more

Thomas Coke

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

1 Corinthians 4:4. For I know nothing by myself— "For, though I bless God that I am not conscious to myself of any designed neglect of my office, or unfaithfulness in my trust, yet am I not hereby justified." This seems a gentle, but a very affecting insinuation, that his opponents, confident as they might seem in their own integrity and safety, would do well to take greater heed that they were not imposed upon by the deceitfulness of their own hearts. See Locke and Doddridge. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

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

4. by myself—Translate, "I am conscious to myself of no (ministerial) unfaithfulness." BENGEL explains the Greek compound, "to decide in judgments on one in relation to others," not simply to judge. am I not hereby justified—Therefore conscience is not an infallible guide. Paul did not consider his so. This verse is directly against the judicial power claimed by the priests of Rome. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Corinthians 4:1-5

Judging God’s servants 4:1-5"The first paragraph (1 Corinthians 4:1-5) leads the way by making an application of the servant model and showing how that relates to their treatment of him [Paul]. He changes images from farm to household and insists that he is God’s servant, not theirs; and they are not allowed to judge another’s servant. While on the theme of judgment, he gently broadens the perspective to remind them again of the future judgment that all must experience." [Note: Ibid., p. 156.] read more

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