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Servants of Christ
Paul explains how believers should view Christian leaders: as servants of Christ and stewards trusted with God’s mysteries. In this passage he shifts attention away from pride and status and towards faithfulness, humility and patient waiting for the Lord’s judgement.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
These verses are part of Paul’s teaching to the Corinthians. He speaks about himself, Apollos and the apostles, correcting how people think about leaders and about themselves. The passage contrasts God’s standard of faithfulness with human boasting, quick judgement and a desire for honour.
1 Corinthians 4:1–13Main takeaway
This passage teaches that Christ’s servants are measured by faithfulness to the Lord, so God’s people should reject boasting and premature judgement.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Servants and stewardsPaul says he and others should be regarded as Christ’s servants and stewards of God’s mysteries.
Explanation
Paul says he and others should be regarded as Christ’s servants and stewards of God’s mysteries. A steward is someone trusted to manage what belongs to another. Because the mysteries belong to God, the key requirement is not status or popularity, but being found faithful in that trust.
02The Lord is the true judgePaul treats human judgement as a small thing, and he does not rely even on his own opinion of himself.
Explanation
Paul treats human judgement as a small thing, and he does not rely even on his own opinion of himself. A clear conscience does not justify him. The Lord is the one who judges rightly, and believers are told not to judge before the proper time, because the Lord reveals what is hidden.
03No room for pridePaul says he has applied these lessons to himself and Apollos so the Corinthians will learn not to go beyond what is written and not to be puffed up against one another.
Explanation
Paul says he has applied these lessons to himself and Apollos so the Corinthians will learn not to go beyond what is written and not to be puffed up against one another. He asks what anyone has that was not received. Since gifts are received, boasting makes no sense.
04A sharp contrast with apostolic sufferingPaul then uses strong contrast. He says the Corinthians act as though they are already full, rich and reigning.
Explanation
Paul then uses strong contrast. He says the Corinthians act as though they are already full, rich and reigning. By contrast, the apostles are displayed last, like those sentenced to death, a spectacle to the world. The point is not comfort and honour, but the costly reality of apostolic service.
05How the apostles respondPaul describes the apostles’ hardship: hunger, thirst, exposure, beatings, instability and hard work.
Explanation
Paul describes the apostles’ hardship: hunger, thirst, exposure, beatings, instability and hard work. Yet their response is striking. When cursed, they bless. When persecuted, they endure. When defamed, they answer gently. Their low status and suffering show the shape of their service as Christ’s servants.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What two roles does Paul use in verse 1, and what does verse 2 say is required of them?
Look closely at the words “servants”, “stewards” and “faithful”, and notice that faithfulness is the stated requirement.
02Why does Paul tell them not to judge before the time?
Verse 5 explains that the Lord will reveal hidden things and the counsels of hearts, which human judgement cannot fully see now.
03How do verses 12 and 13 show the apostles responding to mistreatment?
List the actions in the text: blessing, enduring and entreating, and compare them with the insults and persecution they face.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
1 Corinthians 4:1–13
1So let a man think of us as Christ’s servants and stewards of God’s mysteries.
2Here, moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.
3But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you, or by a human court. Yes, I don’t even judge my own self.
4For I know nothing against myself. Yet I am not justified by this, but he who judges me is the Lord.
5Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each man will get his praise from God.
6Now these things, brothers, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that in us you might learn not to think beyond the things which are written, that none of you be puffed up against one another.
7For who makes you different? And what do you have that you didn’t receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?
8You are already filled. You have already become rich. You have come to reign without us. Yes, and I wish that you did reign, that we also might reign with you!
9For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last of all, like men sentenced to death. For we are made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and men.
10We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You have honor, but we have dishonor.
11Even to this present hour we hunger, thirst, are naked, are beaten, and have no certain dwelling place.
12We toil, working with our own hands. When people curse us, we bless. Being persecuted, we endure.
13Being defamed, we entreat. We are made as the filth of the world, the dirt wiped off by all, even until now.