The Faithful Manager
1 A person should think of us in this way: as servants w of Christ and managers x of the mysteries of God. y 2 In this regard, it is required that managers be found faithful. z 3 It is of little a importance to me that I should be judged b by you or by any human court. In fact, I don’t even judge myself. 4 For I am not conscious of anything against myself, but I am not justified c by this. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 So don’t judge d anything prematurely, before the Lord comes, e who will both bring to light what is hidden in darkness and reveal the intentions of the hearts. And then praise will come to each one from God. f
The Apostles’ Example of Humility
6 Now, brothers and sisters, g I have applied these things to myself and Apollos h for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying: “Nothing beyond what is written.” The purpose is that none of you will be arrogant, favoring one person over another. 7 For who makes you so superior? What do you have that you didn’t receive? If, in fact, you did receive it, why do you boast as if you hadn’t received it? 8 You are already full! You are already rich! You have begun to reign as kings without us—and I wish you did reign, so that we could also reign with you! 9 For I think God has displayed us, the apostles, in last place, like men condemned to die: We have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to people. 10 We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ! i We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! 11 Up to the present hour we are both hungry and thirsty; we are poorly clothed, roughly treated, homeless; 12 we labor, working j with our own hands. k When we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13 when we are slandered, we respond graciously. Even now, we are like the scum of the earth, like everyone’s garbage. l
Paul’s Fatherly Care
14 I’m not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my dear children. m 15 For you may have countless instructors in Christ, but you don’t have many fathers. For I became your father n in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 17 This is why I have sent o Timothy to you. He is my dearly loved and faithful p child in the Lord. He will remind you about my ways in Christ Jesus, just as I teach everywhere in every church.
18 Now some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you soon, q if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk, but the power of those who are arrogant. 20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. 21 What do you want? Should I come to you with a rod, r or in love and a spirit of gentleness? s
4:2–5. The mention of the word “servants” (4:1) leads Paul to allude to 3:10–15, and in 4:2–5 he applies the teaching of the former passage to himself and the church at Corinth. As a teaching servant of Christ, Paul has been given a trust and, in order to fulfill it, must “be found faithful” (4:2). Yet his faithfulness cannot be judged either by the Corinthians or by Paul himself, for the judgment of his faithfulness belongs to the one who gave the trust. It is the Lord who judges him (4:3–4).
4:6–8. Paul now concludes this section in which he has dealt with the tendency of the Corinthians to make self-centered comparisons between their teachers, and in particular between Paul and Apollos, with a saying that was probably in use at Corinth (4:6). “What is written” most likely alludes to the OT Scriptures, either in whole or in part. Though obscure, the saying’s message is generally the same as that of 3:5–9. The church is to learn “from us” (Paul and Apollos together) the saying’s meaning and is to apply it to their lives without “favoring one person over another.”
4:9–13. Both Paul and the other apostles have been “displayed” and held up to ridicule (4:9). Those to whom the apostles preach view them as a spectacle to be seen but not taken seriously. And so together they have become fools in the eyes of the world (but fools for Christ!), while the Corinthians prefer to be seen and regarded as wise (4:10). Similar contrasts are apparent between the apostles’ real weakness and the Corinthians’ self-designated strength, or between the apostles’ real dishonor and the Corinthians’ self-conferred distinction.
4:14–17. Such words must have stung the Corinthians’ pride. But in spite of this, Paul’s intention is not to exalt himself or humiliate them (4:14). Rather, as one who “became your father” (4:15), he has written in a fatherly act of compassionate correction to warn them of the dangers inherent in their self-centered attitudes and to urge them, as his children, to grow out of their immaturity by imitating their father. In order that they might learn to imitate in the way their father intends, Paul has sent Timothy, “my dearly loved and faithful child” (4:16–17a). Like an older brother, he will remind his brothers and sisters of their father’s ways, which agrees with the lifestyle he commends for all his children in every church that he teaches (4:17b).
4:18–21. Lest the Corinthians interpret this action as reluctance to confront his children, Paul writes of his own plans to “come to you soon, if the Lord wills” (4:18–19a; cf. 16:5–7, where the timing of the visit is more thoroughly thought out). And when he comes, he will not be diverted by the Corinthians’ own claims but will look instead for signs of God’s power evident in their midst (4:19b). For the kingdom of God “is not a matter of talk but of power” (4:20; cf. 2:1–5). It is up to the Corinthians, therefore, to choose how they wish to see the love of their father expressed (4:21).