1 Corinthians 4:1–5

¹ Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. ² Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. ³ But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. ⁴ For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. ⁵ Therefore 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 one’s praise will come from God.

Commentary

Vs. 1 "Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God."

In wanting the Corinthians to have a right assessment of himself the Apostle Paul reminds the Corinthians that he, Apollos, and Cephas (i.e. Peter) were servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. The Apostle's own call into Christ's service coming on the Damascus road (see Acts 26:16 where the word translated service here is rendered minister there.) Now their service for Christ was intrinsically tied to the ministry of God's Word. Which the passage clearly reveals when the Apostle Paul says in the same sentence that they were "stewards of the mystery of God", thus linking the two. Now to be a servant of Christ basically means to exercise the will of the One who has greater authority and position than oneself. While to be a steward of the mysteries of God is to be entrusted with the Gospels truths. Therefore the Apostle Paul along with his compatriots (Apollos and Cephas, i.e. Peter) were to be considered by them, and us all, as first and foremost, servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Thus they were chosen and equipped by Christ to be His Gospel ministers, and or church leaders. And thus they were not men whose primary function was to be spent in directly ministering to the daily needs within the churches (i.e. the role of deacons, see Acts 6:2-3). Rather their lives were too be spent in the ministry of God's Word, in its proclamation and exhortation and teaching, as stewards of the mysteries of God.

Vs. 2 "Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful." 

To be a steward of the mysteries of God requires faithfulness. That is first and foremost faithful to Christ and the truths entrusted to one as Christ's steward (consider 2 Chr. 16:9). Thus the Apostle Paul was not a man-pleaser (see Gal 1:10) whose preaching and teaching would be swayed by anyone's opinions, or any cultures values. The Apostle Paul then did not pander to the desires or whims of the Jews or the Gentiles in his presenting the Gospel (1 Cor 1:22-25). For the Apostle Paul's one objective in his duties as a servant of Christ, and a steward of the mysteries of God, was to remain faithful to Christ by keeping the unchanging truths from the Lord which He entrusted to him. To deliver them through the simplicity of the Gospel preached and taught (1 Cor 1:17, 21). Not for personal profit (2 Cor 2:17). Nor for self-glory (1 Cor. 1:31). But rather to remain faithful to Christ through the Word of God. For as the Apostle Paul warns us all many will turn aside to fables and or be led astray by their own hearts desires (see 2 Tim 4:1-5; Titus 2:14-16).

Vs. 3 "But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself." 

In light of the fact that the Apostle Paul had remained faithful to Christ he could say he thought it a very small thing to be judged by the Corinthians, or even by a human court. For again Paul's desire was not to please men, but God (consider Acts 5:28-32). Thus if his person, or his preaching the Gospel without impressive oratory skill or "wisdom" did not impress them, Paul was unconcerned. For Paul knew our Lord and Savior knew him best, both his calling and his service for Him. Thus if Paul's person was being wrongly judged by some of the Corinthians, he would not then judge himself and validate their doing so. 

Vs. 4 "For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord."

Because the Apostle Paul's conscience was clear towards them all he could say, "I know nothing against myself." Yet Paul was not justified by this, that is his own righteousness. Rather Paul, like you and me and everyone who believes is only justified by our faith In the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph 2:8-9; Rom 5:1). Thus Paul's trust was only in the Lord who judges him. Yet Paul was not putting himself out of the reach of accountability. On the contrary, because of the fact that the Lord is his (and our) Judge, he always sought to keep himself, his motives, and the Gospel pure in His sight.

Vs. 5 "Therefore 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 one’s praise will come from God."

The Apostle Paul's final exhortation on this matters is basically that we should all trust in the Lord's judgment of our own works, persons, and lives. And not be quick to judge each others motives, since it will be Lord who will judge these (and all the secret counsels of men) in His Day, and then each one who has faithfully served and followed Him will receive their praise from God. 

Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.

Additional Resources Consulted
MacDonald, William. Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. Edited by Arthur Farstad. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995.

Strong, James. Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2001.

Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains. New York: United Bible Societies, 1996.

Word studies 

Servant, ὑπηρέτης (hypēretēs), Str 5257; GK 5677; TDNT 8.350; TDNTA 1231; LN 35.20 (20x)

Translated servant/s in: 

Matt. 5:25

Matt. 20:26

Matt. 22:13

Matt. 26:58

Mark 9:35

Mark 10:43

Mark 14:54

John 2:5, 9

John 12:26

John 18:36

Rom 15:8

1 Cor 4:1

Heb 3:5

Translated minister/s in:

Luke 1:2

Acts 26:16

Rom 13:4 (2x)

1 Cor 3:5

2 Cor 3:6

2 Cor 6:4

2 Cor 11:15 (2x)

2 Cor 11:23

Gal 2:17

Eph 3:7

Eph 6:21

Col 1:7

Translated officer/s in:

Mark 14:65

John 7:32, 45, 46

John 18:3, 12, 18, 22

John 19:6

Acts 5:22, 26

Translated assistant in:

Acts 13:5

Translated attendant in:

Luke 4:20

Steward, οἰκονόμος (oikonomos), Str 3623; GK 3874; TDNT 5.149; TDNTA 674; LN 37.39; 46.4; 57.231 (Luke 12:42; 16:1, 3, 8; Rom 16:23 "treasurer"; 1 Cor 4:1, 2; Gal 4:2; Titus 1:7; 1 Peter 4:10) 10x