1 Corinthians 4
The Apostles’ Ministry
1 One should think about us this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
The Greek word for “stewards” is οἰκονόμος (oikonomos), meaning one who was usually freed from slavery and appointed to run or manage a house. He had complete charge of the house, the food, the clothing, the servants, and everything in-between. Believers were servants of Christ. They were freed from the slavery of sin so that they could manage God's house.
The mysteries of God are new revelations that were not revealed in the Old Testament. The stewards were to give out the mysteries of God in God's house, which was the gospel of Christ.
2 Now what is sought in stewards is that one be found faithful.
Stewards do not have to be eloquent in speech or powerful in deed. They just have to be faithful. God desires faithful house managers.
3 So for me, it is a minor matter that I am judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.
Paul does not care what other humans think about him. Abraham Lincoln said, “Public opinion in this country is everything.” Adults cave in to the views of others. Peer pressure controls the behavior of teenagers. Children want their parent's approval. Paul was not driven by human opinion. He took an extreme stand for God, knowing that he would have enemies. It is good to have the right kind of enemies. It is bad if one has no enemies, because then they are compromising with the satanic world system. Satan leaves these compromisers alone, because they are ineffective in the angelic world and not worthy of his attention.
Paul was human and he had a conscience seared by sin. Therefore, he did not trust his own conscience. His own conscience would flatter him or lead him astray.
4 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not acquitted because of this. The one who judges me is the Lord.
Paul, like all of mankind, was harsh on others, but lenient on himself. Therefore, he did not trust his own conscience, even though he most likely had more Bible doctrine than any man who ever lived.
The one who judged Paul was the Lord Jesus Christ. Other men judged Paul, but they were just a lower court. Paul judged himself in a higher court. God was the Supreme Court. Paul may be judged as a criminal not fit to live on this earth by human lower courts, but he can appeal to himself, and then the Supreme Court, to receive a righteous judgment.
Paul will be judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ. He will not be judged for his sins, because his "sins have been removed as far as the east is from the west" (Ps. 103:12). The sins of believers are covered by the blood of Christ. God remembers them no more.
5 So then, do not judge anything before the time. Wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the motives of hearts. Then each will receive recognition from God.
Man is not to judge other men. This area of judgment is left to God alone. Notice that God will bring out the hidden darkness of the believer's hearts, but he will also have some kind of recognition for each of the believers.
6 I have applied these things to myself and Apollos because of you, brothers and sisters, so that through us you may learn “not to go beyond what is written,” so that none of you will be puffed up in favor of the one against the other.
Paul and Apollos were friends and servants of God. When they taught, they never went beyond the written Scriptures. They never interjected human philosophy into their teachings. Since Paul and Apollos were friends and servants of Christ, the Corinthians were not to become arrogant by arguing that one teacher was better than the other.
It is important to note that many charismatics, cults, and isms want to teach beyond the written Scriptures. The Corinthians, like may modern charismatic churches, were looking to tongues, prophecies, miracles, and other additions to the written Word of God. Paul over and over told this immature Corinthian church that all they needed was the written Word of God. They did not go beyond "what is written".
7 For who concedes you any superiority? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you boast as though you did not?
Do all believers have a gift from God? If so, then does the believer use it and not boast about it? The only reason believers have a gift is because it came from God.
8 Already you are satisfied! Already you are rich! You have become kings without us! I wish you had become kings so that we could reign with you!
Paul was using sarcasm to magnify a spiritual truth. The Corinthians felt that they had everything that they needed. They felt like they were kings who had all kinds of material and spiritual wealth.
9 For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to die, because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to people.
The call of apostleship included martyrdom. The apostles were called to give their testimony and then die. All of the world, including the angelic world, would witness these spectacles. The Greek word for “spectacle” is θέατρον (theatron). It is the origin of the English word theatre. A theatre was a large oval coliseum where prisoners were marched to be ridiculed and humiliated publicly, either by gladiator games or wild beasts. The apostle’s price for teaching the gospel to the satanic world system was bloody martyrdom by gladiator or beast.
10 We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, we are dishonored!
The Greek word for “fools” is μωρός (moros). It is the origin of the English word moron. It means stupid, dull, or lacking a grip of reality. The apostles were willing to accept this judgment from the world in order to serve Christ. The satanic world system saw the apostles as weak men, but the angelic world saw them as strong. The satanic world system saw the apostles as dishonored, but the angelic world saw them as distinguished and honored.
11 To the present hour we are hungry and thirsty, poorly clothed, brutally treated, and without a roof over our heads.
The life of an apostle included poverty, hardship, persecution, and martyrdom. While the Corinthians were living in wealth, Paul suffered to give out the gospel.
12 We do hard work, toiling with our own hands. When we are verbally abused, we respond with a blessing, when persecuted, we endure,
Paul evangelized all of Asia Minor. Everyone in Asia Minor, Jew and Gentile, heard the word. While the Corinthians were living in luxury, Paul was verbally abused and persecuted.
13 when people lie about us, we answer in a friendly manner. We are the world’s dirt and scum, even now.
People told lies about the apostles, but they answered their lies with politeness. The satanic world system considered the apostles as dirt and scum that needed to be extinguished out of this world.
A Father’s Warning
14 I am not writing these things to shame you, but to correct you as my dear children.
Paul's motive was not to shame the Corinthians, but to correct them in their understanding of the mind of Christ. If this message did not shame them, then they were calloused.
15 For though you may have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, because I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
Paul was the spiritual father of the Corinthians, because he led this pagan Gentile church to Christ.
16 I encourage you, then, be imitators of me.
Paul asked the Corinthians to imitate himself.
17 For this reason, I have sent Timothy to you, who is my dear and faithful son in the Lord. He will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.
Timothy was one of Paul's spiritual children who did imitate Christ.
18 Some have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you.
Some of the church leaders would not accept Paul's message. Instead, they would become arrogant.
19 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord is willing, and I will find out not only the talk of these arrogant people, but also their power.
Paul warned these arrogant leaders that he will return and straighten out their arrogance with his apostolic authority.
20 For the kingdom of God is demonstrated not in idle talk but with power.
The kingdom of God was not just all talk. Paul had the apostolic authority to strike disobedient believers dead on the spot, just as Peter had done with Ananias and Saphira.
21 What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline or with love and a spirit of gentleness?
The Greek word for "rod of discipline" is ῥάβδος (rabdos), meaning a rod of authority that was used to beat someone into submission. Paul gave the arrogant Corinthians a choice. They either obey, or be prepared for Paul to use his apostolic authority to beat the arrogant leaders into submission. Paul did not tickle ears.
