1 Corinthians 4
21 verses
Ministers of Christ are stewards of God's mysteries, and the requirement for stewards is faithfulness, not vindication by others. Paul declares his indifference to human judgment (the Corinthians' judgment, the judgment of earthly courts) and even to his own conscience as a standard, since only the Lord judges him and will illuminate what is hidden in darkness and reveal the purposes of hearts. He warns against pronouncing judgment before the time. The apostles represent the final place in the procession: the last of all, a spectacle to the world, angels and humans, fools for Christ's sake while the Corinthians fancy themselves wise, weak while they are strong, dishonored while they are honored, hungry, thirsty, poorly clothed, beaten, homeless, laboring with their own hands. Yet Paul does not shame them when he writes this; rather, he exhorts them as beloved children, having countless guardians in Christ but only one father in the gospel. He sends Timothy as his representative to remind them of his ways, and warns that he will come to them soon with his rod or in love and a spirit of gentleness—the choice is theirs.
VERSES IN THIS CHAPTER
1
Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
0 1Open verse page →
2
Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
0 9Open verse page →
3
But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.
0 0Open verse page →
4
For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
0 0Open verse page →
5
Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
0 0Open verse page →
6
And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.
0 0Open verse page →
God is faithful in every circumstance.. God meets us exactly where we are — broken, uncertain, yet chosen. What a remind...
7
For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
1 0Open verse page →
8
Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.
0 0Open verse page →
9
For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.
0 0Open verse page →
I think this is a call to trust beyond what we can see. God is faithful in every circumstance.. God is faithful in every...
10
We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.
1 0Open verse page →
11
Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
0 3Open verse page →
12
And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
0 0Open verse page →
13
Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.
0 0Open verse page →
14
I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.
0 0Open verse page →
15
For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
0 0Open verse page →
16
Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
0 0Open verse page →
My grandmother used to quote this verse every morning. The thread of covenant runs through every book of the Bible.. God...
17
For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.
1 0Open verse page →
18
Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.
0 1Open verse page →
19
But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.
0 0Open verse page →
20
For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
0 0Open verse page →
21
What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?
0 0Open verse page →
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
No notes on this chapter yet. Be the first to write one!