1 Corinthians 4

(1)  Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
(2)  Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
(3)  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.
(4)  For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
(5)  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.
(6)  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.
(7)  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?
(8)  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.
(9)  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.
(10)  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.
(11)  Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
(12)  And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
(13)  Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.
(14)  I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.
(15)  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.
(16)  Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
(17)  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.
(18)  Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.
(19)  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.
(20)  For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
(21)  What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?

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Study Questions

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1. What do the terms “ministers” and “stewards” teach about the esteem in which inspired men should be held? Verse 1.

2. What is the main qualification for stewards? What does the qualification involve? Verse 2.

3. What is the nature of the judgment that Paul states no man is qualified to give? Verse 3.

4. Although Paul was not aware of anything against himself, why did he not feel that justified him? Verse 4.

5. What fact or principle were the Corinthians violating in assessments that glorified one man and dishonored another? Verse 5.

6. What lesson did Paul expect the brethren to learn in naming himself and Apollos instead of the guilty parties? Verse 6.

7. What bearing do these questions have on the problem of division at Corinth? Verse 7.

8. Is Paul serious when he writes: “Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us”? What was his true desire for them? Verse 8.

9. What led Paul to believe the apostles were appointed or doomed to death? Verse 9.

10. What is pictured by the word “spectacle” and who are the spectators? Verse 9.

11. Is Paul using irony again? If so, what is his purpose? Verse 10.

12. What suffering of the apostles described in this verse would be the hardest for you to bear? Verse 11.

13. What kind of labor did Paul perform and why did he think it necessary? Verse 12.

14. In what way were the apostles’ actions in these verses like those of Christ? Verses 12-13.

15. Was Paul merely complaining in these verses or was he trying to teach them something? If so, what was the lesson? Verses 10-13.

16. What was the warning Paul wanted them to learn? Verse 14.

17. What word describes Paul’s relation to the Corinthian Christians in contrast to the term “instructors” or “tutors”? Verse 15.

18. How were the Corinthian Christians “begotten… through the gospel”? Verse 15.

19. What does Paul encourage them to do for their own good? Verse 16.

20. What was Paul’s estimate of Timothy and what was his purpose in sending him? Verse 17.

21. Why did Paul say that some were puffed up? Verse 18.

22. What was Paul’s promise and what was his purpose? Verse 19.

23. What was meant by the phrase “not in word, but in power”? Verse 20.

24. What was the choice Paul gave the Corinthian Christians? Verse 21.