BOOK 46 OF 66 · PAULINE EPISTLES · KING JAMES BIBLE

1 Corinthians 4

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1 Corinthians 4 Overview

Paul tells the Corinthians to regard apostles as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries. Faithfulness matters more than premature human judgment. He contrasts Corinthian self-satisfaction with the apostles’ suffering and urges the church to imitate his Christ-centered example as he prepares to address arrogant troublemakers.

1 CorinthiansBook

4Chapter

21Verses

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Before you read 1 Corinthians 4

Coming from

Paul calls the Corinthians carnal because jealousy and party spirit still dominate them. Paul and Apollos are servants through whom they believed; God gives the increase. Christ is the only foundation, and each believer’s work will be tested for reward or loss, while God’s temple must not be defiled.

In this chapter

Leads into

Paul confronts a case of incest so serious that even the surrounding culture would recognize its shame. The church has been proud instead of mourning. Paul commands removal of the offender from fellowship and speaks of delivering him to Satan for destruction of the flesh, while still distinguishing this severe discipline from final loss of salvation.

Key understandingExplore deeper

The chapter continues Paul’s attack on pride surrounding human leaders.

Paul’s statement about judging nothing ‘before the time’ does not abolish all church discernment; later chapters require moral judgment. It warns against final verdicts on hidden motives that belong to the Lord.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Stewards are required to be faithful

Ministry is accountable to the Master, not celebrity status.

God will reveal hidden motives

Final praise belongs to the Lord’s judgment.

Spiritual fatherhood does not justify domination

Paul appeals as one who brought them the gospel, yet his authority remains under Christ.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Matthew 25:14–30

Jesus’ steward/servant teaching supplies a broader backdrop for accountability.

1 Corinthians 11:1

Paul later repeats the call to follow him insofar as he follows Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:18

The approved servant is the one whom the Lord commends.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Do not use verse 5 to forbid every necessary judgment

Chapter 5 will command the church to judge serious sin within.

Do not turn apostolic suffering into a requirement to seek misery

Paul contrasts realities to expose Corinthian pride.

Do not confuse spiritual influence with personal ownership of people

Believers belong to Christ.

Read 1 Corinthians 4 watching for…

The words servant and steward.

The limits of human judgment.

Paul’s irony about Corinthian fullness and reigning.

The apostolic sufferings listed.

Why Paul sends Timothy and plans to come.

Chapter outline3 sections

1-5Ministers are stewards of God’s mysteries and should be judged faithfully by the Lord 6-13Paul rebukes pride and contrasts the Corinthians’ self-satisfaction with apostolic suffering 14-21Paul warns them as beloved children and sends Timothy to remind them of his ways

Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

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.

For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;

And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:

Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.

I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.

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.

Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

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.

Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.

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.

For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?

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1 Corinthians 4:1

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