1 Corinthians 4

1 mysteries. See note on Matt. xiii. 11. Our authority is merely ministerial, to dispense “the mysteries of God.” These are not the sacraments, but the newly revealed truths of the gospel: cp. Luke viii. 10.

2. Moreover it is required, etc.** The meaning of the original is best brought out in Conybeare and Howson: “Inquiry is made into a steward’s conduct, in order that he may be proved faithful.” Vers. 3-5 are added partly as a warning against over-hasty judgement of ministers, either in praise or in blame.

3 man’s judgement. Lit., “a human day,” i.e., of judgement. “The refusal of the apostle to submit himself to human judgement was in no priestly arrogance, but in profound humility. Not because he was above judgement, or infallible, but because he was to be judged before a tribunal far more awful than that of Corinthian society. Fidelity, the chief excellence in a steward, is precisely that which men cannot judge. They can only judge of gifts” (Robertson).

4. For I know nothing by myself.** An old English phrase, meaning, “I am conscious to myself of nothing amiss,” of no unfaithfulness in my stewardship. Yet it does not follow that I am guiltless in the sight of the Lord. He is the only infallible Judge. And therefore it is not for you to judge, but to await His revelations and awards at His coming (5).

5 the hidden things of darkness. The things that are hidden in darkness.

praise. Rather, “the praise,” i.e., that which is his due.

6. I have in a figure transferred.** Rather, simply, “I have transferred”; i.e., My remarks apply to all your religious teachers; but, to avoid offence, I have used Apollos and myself to represent the whole.

that no one of you be puffed up, etc. Rather, “that ye be not puffed up, one of you on behalf of the one [teacher] against the other.” If you—your teachers, your party, yourselves—were superior to others, this would be a reason, not for pride, but for gratitude to God who made you so (7).

8. Now ye are full, etc.** “Ye are already (so early in your religious history) full,” etc. An ironical castigation of their self-conceit.

ye have reigned as kings without us. That is, We who have trained you hoped to present you as our joy in that day: but you, it seems, have become kings already!

and I would to God ye did reign. Rather, “I would indeed that ye did reign; for then we might have some share in the glory.”

9 last, as it were appointed to death, etc. Last and lowest; men condemned to death; brought out (like gladiators in the amphitheatre) to be gazed upon by all, both by sympathising angels, and by men disdainful like yourselves, who count us the fools, yourselves the wise—us the weak, yourselves the strong (10).

10. We are fools, etc.** The irony here reaches its climax; but soon passes to solemn earnest.

11 naked. “Ill-clad.”

12 working with our own hands. See ix. 1-18; Acts xviii. 3; xx. 34, and notes.

being reviled, we bless, etc. We not only endure, but speak kindly to those who attack us: cp. Matt. xv. 44; Luke vi. 27.

13 as the filth of the earth. Lit., “as the refuse of the world.” This is the climax of disgrace and contempt: cp. Lam. iii. 45.

16 followers of me. Rather, “imitators of me.”

17. For this cause, etc.** Timothy had already set out for Corinth (Acts xix. 22), but would not arrive until after the receipt of the Epistle (see xvi. 10).

18 as though I would not come to you. Boasting that I dare not come, and therefore send Timothy.

19 the speech. Rather, “the words,” as in the next verse. I will test what they say by what they can do in God’s service; for real Christianity (the reign of God established in man) is marked by spiritual energy, rather than loud profession.