1 Corinthians 4:1 - Exposition

Let a man so account of us. Since it is inevitable that Christians should form some estimate of the position of their ministers, he proceeds to tell them what that estimate should be. Ministers are not to be unduly magnified, for their position is subordinate; they are not to be unduly depreciated, for if they are faithful they may appeal from frivolous human prejudices and careless depreciations to that only Judge and Master before whom they stand or fall. Ministers ; here huperetas; in 1 Corinthians 3:5 diakonous. They are huperetai (in its derivation "under rowers") in their relation to Christ; diakonoi in their relation to men. Of Christ; and therefore responsible to Him. Stewards ; dispensers, subordinate distributors. These "agents" were higher slaves ( Luke 16:1-8 ). Of the mysteries of God . The word "mysteries" means truths once hidden but now revealed; as in Luke 8:10 , "Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God." In later patristic usage the word means "sacraments;" but St. Paul has expressly said ( 1 Corinthians 1:17 ) that his mission was to preach the gospel, not primarily to administer the sacraments. (For descriptions of the work of a minister according to St. Paul's lofty ideal, see the pastoral Epistles, and 1 Thessalonians 2:7-11 ; Colossians 1:25-29 ; Acts 20:18-21 , Acts 20:24-28 . St. Peter's is given in 1 Peter 4:10 , 1 Peter 4:11 ; 1 Peter 5:2-4 .) A minister is not to be estimated as a supernatural teacher, or a civil autocrat, or an infallible critic, but as an ambassador from Christ, who reveals to the "initiated" that which they could not otherwise know.