1 Corinthians Chapter 4

“Let a man so account of us, etc.] Though the apostle had before said that he, and other ministers of the Gospel, were not any thing with respect to God, and, with regard to the churches, were theirs, for their use and advantage; yet they were not to be trampled upon, and treated with contempt, but to be known, esteemed, and honoured for their works’ sake, and in their respective places, stations, and characters; and though they were but men, yet were not to be considered as private men, and in a private capacity, but as in public office, and as public preachers of the word; and though they were not to be regarded…”

“TRUE VIEW OF MINISTERS: THE JUDGMENT IS NOT TO BE FORESTALLED; MEANWHILE THE APOSTLES' LOW STATE CONTRASTS WITH THE CORINTHIANS' PARTY PRIDE, NOT THAT PAUL WOULD SHAME THEM, BUT AS A FATHER WARN THEM; FOR WHICH END HE SENT TIMOTHY, AND WILL SOON COME HIMSELF. (1Co. 4:1-21) account . . . us--Paul and Apollos. ministers of Christ--not heads of the Church in whom ye are severally to glory (Co1 1:12); the headship belongs to Christ alone; we are but His servants ministering to you (Co1 1:13; Co1 3:5, Co1 3:22). stewards-- (Luk 12:42; Pe1 4:10). Not the depositories of grace, but dispensers of it ("rightly dividing"…”

“Let a man - Let all; let this be the estimate formed of us by each one of you. So account of us - So think of us, the apostles. As the ministers of Christ - As the servants of Christ. Let them form a true estimate of us and our office - not as the head of a faction; not as designing to form parties, but as unitedly and entirely the servants of Christ; see 1 Corinthians 3:5. And stewards - Stewards were those who presided over the affairs of a family, and made provision for it, etc.; see the note at Luke 16:1. It was an office of much responsibility; and the apostle by using the term here seems to have designed to…”

“Let a man account us, as servants of Christ - The original word properly signifies such servants as laboured at the oar in rowing vessels; and, accordingly, intimates the pains which every faithful minister takes in his Lord's work. O God, where are these ministers to be found? Lord, thou knowest. And stewards of the mysteries of God - Dispenseth of the mysterious truths of the gospel. 1 Corinthians 4:3”

“4:1-5 Paul emphasizes his faithfulness and the genuineness of his motives as an apostle of Christ. But only God can judge the heart. 4:1 Paul and Apollos should not be viewed as leaders competing for a following, but as mere servants of Christ who have been put in charge of explaining God’s mysteries. They were stewards entrusted with administration of the master’s business (as in Luke 12:42); their whole life was devoted to their master’s concerns, not to their own. • God’s mysteries: See study note on 1 Cor 2:7.”

“account: Co1 4:13; Co2 12:6 the ministers: Co1 3:5, Co1 9:16-18; Mat 24:45; Co2 4:5, Co2 6:4, Co2 11:23; Col 1:25; Ti1 3:6 and stewards: Luk 12:42, Luk 16:1-3; Tit 1:7; Pe1 4:10 mysteries: Co1 2:7; Mat 13:11; Mar 4:11; Luk 8:10; Rom 16:25; Eph 1:9, Eph 3:3-9, Eph 6:19; Col 1:26, Col 1:27, Col 2:2, Col 4:3; Ti1 3:9, Ti1 3:16 1 Corinthians 4:2”