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1 Corinthians 4:1
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Stewards of the Mysteries of God

1 Let a man so consider us, as aservants of Christ band stewards of the mysteries of God.  
2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human1 court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.  
4 For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord.
5 aTherefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to blight the hidden things of darkness and creveal the counsels of the hearts. dThen each one’s praise will come from God.  

Fools for Christ’s Sake

6 Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be1 puffed up on behalf of one against the other.  
7 For who1 makes you differ from another? And awhat do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?  
8 You are already full! aYou are already rich! You have reigned as kings without us—and indeed I could wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you!  
9 For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a aspectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.  
Commentaries:
Forerunner Commentary
What is the Forerunner Commentary?
<< 1 Corinthians 3:23   1 Corinthians 4:2 >>

What Does 1 Corinthians 4:1 Mean?



1 Corinthians 4:1-5

Paul, embroiled in a situation where he was being judged for the way he conducted his affairs as God's apostle, gives some excellent advice. Passing judgment on someone based on our narrow perspective and subjectivity is an exercise in futility and vain, with nothing of spiritual value to be gained from it. That is why God does not want us doing it. Its prime motivator is to elevate (cf. verse 6) or justify the self.

Paul did not even pass judgment on himself! He certainly examined himself because he wrote to this same church, "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Prove yourselves" (II Corinthians 13:5). Then why did he say he did not judge himself? Because we all are saved by grace through faith. We certainly are not saved by our own favorable judgment of our conduct. Though he could find nothing wrong with his conduct in this situation, he still would not step into Christ's area of authority as Judge. Even his blamelessness did not justify him.

Many things we judge in others are trivial and sometimes extremely "picky." Many situations do not involve sin at all but simply different ways of doing things. We tend to pounce on situations or characteristics that will hardly mean a thing a year from now—and certainly will matter nothing in a thousand years. There may be nothing wrong with pointing them out to someone concerned, but why focus on them to the point we pass judgment on the person?

John W. Ritenbaugh
Judging Our Brothers

Related Topics: Judging | Judging Others | Judging Ourselves | Judging Self | Judgment | Judgment, Distorted | Self Evaluation | Self Examination | Self Judgment | Usurping Christ's Authority | Usurping God's Authority




Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing 1 Corinthians 4:1:

Proverbs 23:10
Ecclesiastes 7:23-29
Matthew 13:52


 
<< 1 Corinthians 3:23   1 Corinthians 4:2 >>

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