#1 Corinthians 4

[raz-b-rose]

1 Corinthians 4: 1-5 Part 1

"This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful." (v. 1-2)

That first word servants is hupéretés and it was commonly used for sailors, bellow deck rowers specifically. So in this context is means "a subordinate executing official orders and operating under direct and specific orders"

That second word, stewards is oikonomos and it means household manager. Specifically "a slave that was released from forced/legal servitude"

Now putting this together we get "Others should logically conclude that we are a subordinate of Christ, executing His direct commands and freed from our bondage to sin, and mange His household through the mysteries revealed to us by the Holy Spirit.

What Paul was telling the Corinth church here was

They were directly under Christ's commands via His word. Paul had already in chapter 3 said "stop declaring your loyalty to me and Apollos, its to Christ"

They were freed from sin! They were no longer slaves to themselves, but free to loyally follow God. As he follows up in verse 2 "Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful"

And I love that word required because it means "to search" Why use that word for required? Because we can only receive understanding of the Mysteries of God if we actively and faithfully search them out!

There is a finality to our faithfulness.

"But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you, or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time., before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in the darkness and will disclose the purpose of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God." (v3-5)

As the rest of the chapter continues in verses 3-5 Paul says that they can't, let alone a human court, judge him or rather examine him, let alone himself. That it is the Lord who judges, examines or as the Greek used this word, to forensically examine. For this can mean God testing us via difficult trails.

So what this section of his letter is saying is that only God can truly discern the heart, because we deceive ourselves into thinking we aren't sinning but we are, and God "will disclose the purpose of the heart" (v5b)

God has taken into account our sinful hearts, the purpose for which we do things, before the history of this world was established and made a plan for it (Jesus) and through this refining examination for our Father we will receive His approval (cross reverence Matthew 25:23)

There is so much to take from just these five verses and how they relate to the previous chapters. You can tell Paul is building into something great because he is laying the foundation of reminding the Corinthians about who they are, who they serve, and their role in this relationship.

We can use these same reminders. The Holy Spirit helps us to understand Gods word and we are to faithfully search Him out and ask Him questions. God has accounted for our sins, but we still need to choose to repent, because He also accounted for our free will. We need to listen closely for our directions from above and execute them without hesitation. And we need to live as we are, no longer slaves to sin and death, but serving the one who bought our freedom faithfully.

[reedreadsgreek]

1 Corinthians 4, Reed's Version

Think of us, your leaders, as public servants under Christ, guardians tasked with disclosing God’s secret wisdom. Because of this, any minister must be found trustworthy in God’s sight. So I don’t care in the least if I’m criticized, either by you or by any other human agency. In fact, I don’t even give weight to my own self-evaluation, since it’s imperfect. My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t mean I’m innocent, since it’s the Lord who judges me. So then, as for you, stop condemning others. When Jesus comes back, he’s the one who will bring to light everything hidden in darkness and expose the inner thoughts of every heart. Then each person will receive their due commendation from God. 

My friends, I have shown you how these lessons pertain to me and Apollos, so you can apply the principles to others. Then you’ll learn from us what the saying means, “Do not add to the gospel,” and you won’t get an inflated ego over following a certain leader instead of another. Do human leaders elevate you, or does God? Did you get where you are on your own, or is it by the grace of God? So why do you brag? Apparently you’ve come to your kingdom! You sit like fat, rich kings and queens — leaving us behind! O how I can’t wait for you to actually reign like kings and queens — and us too! — in the new creation. But as it is, it seems like God is putting us apostles on display like the lowest of all criminals sentenced to death by lions in the arena for the whole world, heaven and earth alike, to gawk at. But while our Christian walk is simple, yours is so sophisticated! We are easily beaten, you are unstoppable! We are despised, you are esteemed! All these years we have gone hungry and thirsty in threadbare clothes, mistreated and homeless, exhausted with manual labor. We are kind even when we’re verbally abused, we are cheerful even when we’re being harrassed, we extend friendship even to those who slander us. Even now we’re treated worse than degenerates, like the scum of the earth. 

I’m not writing all this to embarrass you; I’m just giving you some gentle parental correction, as my own dear children. No matter how many Christian instructors you have, you’ll never have another father. And in Christ Jesus, by preaching his good news, I became a father to you. And so I beg you, imitate my example. This is why I’m sending Timothy, my dear Christian son, to stay with you a while. He is faithful to the Lord and by his behavior and speech he’ll model my way of life for you, which is the same as I conduct myself in every other church. But some of you have become inflated with self-importance, thinking that I’m never coming back. No, I’m coming back soon (if the Lord allows) and I’ll find out if there’s any substance behind their words. Talk is cheap; but where God reigns, His power is at work. So it’s up to you; I’d rather correct you lovingly and gently, if you’re willing, but I’m ready to be harsh if necessary.

[biblebloodhound]

Addressing the Divisions Amongst Us (1 Corinthians 4:8-13)

Christ died to bring unity, not division.

Are you already satisfied? Are you now rich? Have you become kings while we are still nobodies? I wish you were kings. Then we could have a share in your kingdom. It seems to me that God has put us apostles in the worst possible place. We are like prisoners on their way to death. Angels and the people of this world just laugh at us. Because of Christ we are thought of as fools, but Christ has…

[karlkapri]

[bloom-with-grace-and-faith]

[andallshallbewell]

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Love Is…

4 Love is patient and is kind; love does not envy. Love does not brag, is not proud, 5 does not behave itself inappropriately, does not seek its own way, is not irritable, does not keep a record of wrongs; 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will be done away with. Where there are tongues, they will cease. Where there is knowledge, it will be done away with. — 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 | New Heart English Bible (NHEB) The New Heart English Bible is in the public domain. Cross References: Proverbs 10:12; Proverbs 17:9; Jeremiah 40:16; Matthew 18:13; Mark 9:23; Acts 7:9; Acts 13:1; 1 Corinthians 8:2; 1 Corinthians 9:12; 1 Corinthians 10:24; 1 Corinthians 10:33; 1 Corinthians 12:10; 1 Corinthians 13:1-2; 2 Thessalonians 2:12; 2 John 1:4

[walkswithmyfather]

James 1:12-16 (NIV). [12] “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. [13] When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; [14] but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. [15] Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. [16] Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters.”

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV). “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

James 4:7 (NLT). “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

“Defend Against Temptation” By In Touch Ministries:

“Temptation comes to all; the wise prepare for it.”

“When we struggle with temptation, understanding how it works can be helpful. Every sin originates as a thought (James 1:14-15). If we hold on to the thought, it becomes a fantasy—the chance to imagine what pursuing that notion would be like, without actually doing so. Fantasies can easily become entangled with our emotions. This creates a desire, which brings us to the point where a choice must be made. And we must either consent to the sin or refuse. This process is quite dangerous, as the progression from thought to choice can be almost instantaneous.

Wise believers determine ahead of time to resist temptation. They build the defense before the offense happens. There are two cornerstones to a good defense: the recognition that God’s in control and the commitment to obey Him (1 Corinthians 10:13; James 4:7).

We can further fortify our defense when temptation actually comes. Satan has a way of spotlighting the pleasure of sin until it’s all we see. But with prayerful effort, we can retrain our focus to take in the bigger picture: Is this choice a violation of God’s Word? What are the consequences?

No one can resist temptation perfectly—we’ll all continue to struggle with sin. But the more we meditate on Scripture and communicate with God, the stronger our defense will be.”

[Photo thanks to Josh Applegate at Unsplash]

[wiirocku]

1 Corinthians 4:2 (NLT) - Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful.

[jesus-is-lord-and-savior]

This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

(1 Corinthians 4:1, ESV)

[cast-you-dxwn]

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.”

[boydholbrookfanpage]

Boyd Holbrook as The Corinthian | The Sandman (2022) | S1 Ep 9 - [ Pt 1 of 4 ]

"I have to go to a work thing. It's a convention." -The Corinthian

[reedreadsgreek]

1 Corinthians 4:20–21

20 οὐ γὰρ ἐν λόγῳ ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ ἀλλʼ ἐν δυνάμει. 21 τί θέλετε; ἐν ῥάβδῳ ἔλθω πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἢ ἐν ἀγάπῃ πνεύματί τε πραΰτητος 

My translation: 

20 for not in word is the kingdom of God but in power. 21 What do you will? Shall I come to you with a staff or with love and a breath of gentleness? 

Notes:

4:20 

The οὐ ... ἀλλά construction modifies an implied verb such as ἐστιν whose subject is ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ. What the preposition ἐν means depends on what verb is supplied (NASB: “does not consist in”; NIV, HCSB: “is not a matter of”; NET: “is not demonstrated in”; NRSV: “depends on”); we may simply take ἐν λόγῳ and ἐν δυνάμει to denote reference/respect. δύναμις here ‘derives its meaning from its contrast with λόγος, talk. Its central point is therefore the ability to carry a deed through effectively’ (NIGTC). 

4:21 

The interrogative pronoun τί is the direct object of the present θέλετε (from θέλω), literally, “What do you want?” (NET, HCSB). θέλετε may be rendered “prefer” when followed by a pair of alternatives (so NIV, NIGTC). 

The 2nd aorist subjunctive ἔλθω (from ἔρχομαι) is deliberative (“Shall I come ...”). The verb is modified by the spatial prepositional phrase πρὸς ὑμᾶς. 

ἡ ῥάβδος (12x) is, “rod, staff”, from ῥαπίζω (2x) “I strike with a rod” (cf. τό ῥάπισμα, 3x, “a strike, blow”). “Rod” connotes punishment (made explicit by NIV, NET: “a rod of discipline”). The preposition ἐν with ῥάβδῳ after ἔρχομαι above denotes accompaniment (“come with a rod”; Zerwick §116 calls this use ‘sociative’). 

The disjunctive conjunction ἢ (“or”) contrasts two possible manners in which Paul may conduct himself when he arrives again in Corinth. 

The prepositional phrase ἐν ἀγάπῃ again denotes accompaniment.  ἡ πραΰτης (11x) is, “gentleness” (most translations). The genitive πραΰτητος modifying πνεύματί (lit. “a spirit of gentleness”) is attributive (“a gentle spirit”, NIV). The postpositive conjunction τε introduces a second object of the preposition ἐν above.

[biblebloodhound]

Imitate the Right Use of Power (1 Corinthians 4:14-20)

Power is a lot like sex. Everyone wants it, but not everyone respects it and uses it well.

I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children. Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. Therefore I urge you to imitate me. For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus,…

[wordsoftheheartandsoul]

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT

[soaringeaglesingingjoy]

Pursue what matters most

In the book of Romans, Paul begs Christians to give their entire lives over to God because God sacrificed everything for them. Jesus gave up His life so that we could experience His unending love and grace. We cheapen His gifts if we refuse to align our lives with the way Jesus lived.

But we give our lives to God by making Him the one thing we pursue above anything else.

So here are 5 steps you can practice—right now—to help you put God first.

Give thanks

“We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks, for your name is near. We recount your wondrous deeds.”

Psalms 75:1 ESV

Right now, take a moment to thank God for what He’s already done for you. Reflect on His faithfulness, and recount the stories you have seen and heard of His wonderful power.

Spend 5 minutes in silence

“Abide in me, and I in you.”

John 15:4 ESV

Abiding in Jesus starts with stillness. So right now, pause, take a deep breath, and give anything concerning you over to God. Spend 5 minutes centering your heart on the One who matters most.

Remember Whose you are

“You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.”

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV

God loves you. The price He paid for you cost Him everything. So remind yourself of Whose you are, and reflect on some of the things God says about you.

Meditate on God’s Word

“Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.”

Psalms 119:97 ESV

One of the best ways to find out how Jesus wants you to live is by spending time in Scripture. As you do, ask God to speak to you through His Word about what His will is.

Focus on what is excellent

“…If there is any excellence … think about these things.”

Philippians 4:8 ESV

You have been given the mind of Christ. If you’re not sure what you should think about, try asking yourself: What is praiseworthy? What thoughts and actions would honor God?

Make a list of whatever comes to mind, and pursue those things.

By practicing these steps every day, you can create habits that will help you pursue intimacy with God every day, and put Him first above everything else.