1Cor 4:1-5 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 1Cor 4:1-5: 4:1-5 Paul emphasizes his faithfulness and the genuineness of his motives as an apostle of Christ. But only God can judge the heart. 4:1 Paul and Apollos should not be viewed as leaders competing for a following, but as mere servants of Christ who have been put in charge of explaining God’s mysteries . They were stewards entrusted with administration of the master’s business (as in Luke 12:42 ); their whole life was devoted to their master’s concerns, not to their own. • God’s mysteries: See study note on 1 Cor 2:7.

a4:1-5►

b4:1►

cLuke 12:42►

d4:3-4►

e4:5►

f2 Cor 5:9-10►

gPhil 2:16►

h1 Thes 2:19-20►

i2 Cor 1:14►

‏ 1 Corinthians 4:1-5

Summary for 1Cor 4:1-5: 4:1-5 ^a Paul emphasizes his faithfulness and the genuineness of his motives as an apostle of Christ. But only God can judge the heart. 4:1 ^b Paul and Apollos should not be viewed as leaders competing for a following, but as mere servants of Christ who have been put in charge of explaining God’s mysteries. They were stewards entrusted with administration of the master’s business (as in Luke 12:42 ^c); their whole life was devoted to their master’s concerns, not to their own.

• God’s mysteries: See study note on 1 Cor 2:7.
Summary for 1Cor 4:3-4: 4:3-4 ^d Paul’s deepest desire was that he be found faithful before God. Human assessments of him—by himself or others—didn’t matter.
4:5 ^e don’t make judgments about anyone: Only the Lord can fully know a person’s heart, and when he returns, he will judge. Paul took God’s judgment of his ministry very seriously (see 2 Cor 5:9-10 ^f; Phil 2:16 ^g; 1 Thes 2:19-20 ^h; cp. 2 Cor 1:14 ⁱ).