1 Corinthians 4:1 This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed.

◄ 1 Corinthians 4:1 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed.

English Standard Version
This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

New American Standard Bible
Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

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

Holman Christian Standard Bible
A person should consider us in this way: as servants of Christ and managers of God's mysteries.

International Standard Version
Think of us as servants of the Messiah and as servant managers entrusted with God's secrets.

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

Douay-Rheims Bible
LET a man so account of us as of the ministers of Christ, and the dispensers of the mysteries of God.

Darby Bible Translation
Let a man so account of us as servants of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

Young's Literal Translation
Let a man so reckon us as officers of Christ, and stewards of the secrets of God,

Cross References

Luke 1:2
Even as they delivered them to us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;

Romans 11:25
For I would not, brothers, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.

Romans 16:25
Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

1 Corinthians 4:2
Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

1 Corinthians 9:17
For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed to me.

Titus 1:7
For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

1 Peter 4:10
As every man has received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

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Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

4:1-6 Apostles were no more than servants of Christ, but they were not to be undervalued. They had a great trust, and for that reason, had an honourable office. Paul had a just concern for his own reputation, but he knew that he who chiefly aimed to please men, would not prove himself a faithful servant of Christ. It is a comfort that men are not to be our final judges. And it is not judging well of ourselves, or justifying ourselves, that will prove us safe and happy. Our own judgment is not to be depended upon as to our faithfulness, any more than our own works for our justification. There is a day coming, that will bring men's secret sins into open day, and discover the secrets of their hearts. Then every slandered believer will be justified, and every faithful servant approved and rewarded. The word of God is the best rule by which to judge as to men. Pride commonly is at the bottom of quarrels. Self-conceit contributes to produce undue esteem of our teachers, as well as of ourselves. We shall not be puffed up for one against another, if we remember that all are instruments, employed by God, and endowed by him with various talents.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

CHAPTER 4

1Co 4:1-21. True View of Ministers: The Judgment Is Not to Be Forestalled; Meanwhile the Apostles' Low State Contrasts with the Corinthians' Party Pride, Not That Paul Would Shame Them, but as a Father Warn Them; for Which End He Sent Timothy, and Will Soon Come Himself.

1. account … us—Paul and Apollos.

ministers of Christ—not heads of the Church in whom ye are severally to glory (1Co 1:12); the headship belongs to Christ alone; we are but His servants ministering to you (1Co 1:13; 3:5, 22).

stewards—(Lu 12:42; 1Pe 4:10). Not the depositories of grace, but dispensers of it ("rightly dividing" or dispensing it), so far as God gives us it, to others. The chazan, or "overseer," in the synagogue answered to the bishop or "angel" of the Church, who called seven of the synagogue to read the law every sabbath, and oversaw them. The parnasin of the synagogue, like the ancient "deacon" of the Church, took care of the poor (Ac 6:1-7) and subsequently preached in subordination to the presbyters or bishops, as Stephen and Philip did. The Church is not the appendage to the priesthood; but the minister is the steward of God to the Church. Man shrinks from too close contact with God; hence he willingly puts a priesthood between, and would serve God by deputy. The pagan (like the modern Romish) priest was rather to conceal than to explain "the mysteries of God." The minister's office is to "preach" (literally, "proclaim as a herald," Mt 10:27) the deep truths of God ("mysteries," heavenly truths, only known by revelation), so far as they have been revealed, and so far as his hearers are disposed to receive them. Josephus says that the Jewish religion made known to all the people the mysteries of their religion, while the pagans concealed from all but the "initiated" few, the mysteries of theirs.