Weaver1has's Blog

1 Corinthians chapter 4

Servants of Christ
​¹ Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. ² In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy. ³ But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself. ⁴ For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord. ⁵ Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God. 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 NASB

Verse 1

λογίζομαι   regard count…

ὑπηρέτης   an underling, a servant

οἰκονόμος the manager of a household

Once Paul silenced these jealousies of who is the best leader, he then starts to give some level-headed advice as part of his conclusion for this part of the lesson. He speaks in the first-person plural ‘us’, that means Apollos Paul or whatever leaders… Let a man regard ‘count’ the leaders in this way. As underling servants, as managers of a household but not owners as good stewards of the mysteries of God. The mysteries have been revealed and made public.  The Gospel is public.  It is not gnostic with secret rites.

Verse 1 part 1

^“1 Let a man regard us in this manner…”   I think this is a better translation than the NIV here as λογιζέσθω is present, imperative third person singular.  This means that the translation “This”, then, is how you ought to regard us…”

leaves ‘man’ out of the translation.  I think this is a mistake.  The NASB reads better with 3 18.  This fits in with 3 18 Μηδεὶς ἑαυτὸν ἐξαπατάτω 1 Corinthians.   So how are we individually and corporately and in what manner to view the Apostles of Christ.  Paul is commanding the believers to see him and the other Apostles and teachers in a particular manner.  Paul is speaking with authority here and we must not miss what he is saying.

3:18 = Let no man deceive himself. 1 Corinthians 3:18 This is all in the singular not plural.  Although the NIV sounds nicer it misses the meaning of the original.  St Paul is making very important points about the individual in the group.  He is not speaking here just to the group…

I think CK Barrett (in his commentary) misses the point when he turns this statement into a question. How can an imperative be made into a question?  I don’t think it is suitable at this juncture.

Verse 1 second part

“as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God…”

You saw the imperatives. This now makes perfect sense

Basically, a servant and a minister, under the authority of Christ including

Paul, Sosthenes, Apollos and other servants of Christ.

As servants of Christ (x) See vine for further explanation

And stewards of the mysteries of God (y)

There is nothing secretive about the public knowledge of God.  They are more as managers of a household with lots of responsibilities. One of those responsibilities is to make public the mysteries of Christ that are now revealed to the Church and the world.  There are no secret rites.

Vines Dictionary (Y)

Stewards oikonomos (3623), primarily denoted “the manager of a household or estate” (oikos, “a house,” nemo, “to arrange”), “a steward” (such were usually slaves or freedmen), Luke 12:42; 16:1, 3, 8; 1 Cor. 4:2; Gal. 4:2, RV (KJV, “governors”); in Rom. 16:23, the “treasurer” (RV) of a city; it is used metaphorically, in the wider sense, of a “steward” in general, (a) of preachers of the gospel and teachers of the Word of God, 1 Cor. 4:1; (b) of elders or bishops in churches, Titus 1:7; (c) of believers generally, 1 Pet. 4:10. 1 Corinthians 4:1

Vines dictionary (x)

Ministers huperetes (5257), properly “an under rower” (hupo, “under,” eretes, “a rower”), as distinguished from nautes, “a seaman” (a meaning which lapsed from the word), hence came to denote “any subordinate acting under another’s direction”; in Luke 4:20, RV, “attendant,” KJV, “minister” it signifies the attendant at the synagogue service; in Acts 13:5, it is said of John Mark, RV, “attendant,” KJV, “minister;” in Acts 26:16, “a minister,” it is said of Paul as a servant of Christ in the gospel; so in 1 Cor. 4:1, where the apostle associates others with himself, as Apollos and Cephas, as “ministers of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 4:1

This entry was posted on May 18, 2020 at 4:12 am and is filed under 1 Corinthians Course. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.