Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
But with me (emoi de). The ethical dative of personal relation and interest, "as I look at my own case." Cf. Philippians 1:21.
It is a very small thing (eiv elaxiston estin). This predicate use of eiv is like the Hebrew, but it occurs also in the papyri. The superlative elaxiston is elative, very little, not the true superlative, least. "It counts for very little with me."
That I should be judged of you (ina uf umwn anakriqw). Same use of ina as in verse I Corinthians 4:2. For the verb (first aorist passive subjunctive of anakrinw) see on I Corinthians 2:14 f. Paul does not despise public opinion, but he denies "the competency of the tribunal" in Corinth (Robertson and Plummer) to pass on his credentials with Christ as his Lord.
Or of man's judgement (h upo anqrwpinhv hmerav). Or "by human day," in contrast to the Lord's Day (der Tag) in I Corinthians 3:13. "That is the tribunal which the Apostle recognizes; a human tribunal he does not care to satisfy" (Robertson and Plummer).
Yea, I judge not mine own self (all oude emauton anakrinw). Alla here is confirmatory, not adversative. "I have often wondered how it is that every man sets less value on his own opinion of himself than on the opinion of others" (M. Aurelius, xii. 4. Translated by Robertson and Plummer). Paul does not even set himself up as judge of himself.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing 1 Corinthians 4:3:
1 Corinthians 9:3
1 Corinthians 14:24
James 3:4
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