» 4:1-5
1 COR 4:1 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.

My mother corrected me as a boy when I called our pastor “Mr. Lutz.” She said I should always say “Reverend Lutz.” That made me uncomfortable then and now. A Christian leader should be more comfortable being described as a servant than in any other way.

Paul has been comparing human wisdom [“wisdom of this world” measured by the “standards of this age”] against God’s wisdom [the “mind of Christ”]. He got onto this topic because the Corinthian church was split over which teacher they would follow—Paul, Apollos, or Peter/Cephas. They saw preachers and teachers as big shots. Paul says they should be seen as mere servants and stewards.

He emphasized that the church is the temple where the Holy Spirit lives. Introducing human wisdom into the church will destroy it, and anyone who destroys God’s temple will be destroyed by God (3:17).

If all of God’s wisdom – and none of man’s wisdom – belongs to the church, there is no reason to follow any particular man (3:21).

Paul isn’t talking about “The Pastor” of a church. That role is an invention from the last few centuries and is entirely unbiblical. Nor is he talking about apostles. Although he and Cephas (Peter) were apostles, Apollos wasn’t.

He is referring to “ministers” – which every Christian is – and particularly those who have been gifted and called by God to preach and teach the Word of God. There are many people like that in every congregation.

1 COR 4:3 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.

Even though he has a clear conscience about his own faithfulness, that doesn’t mean he has truly been faithful. Only God can determine Paul’s faithfulness – not Paul, and certainly not those who would propose to follow him. When the Lord comes, even those who have a clear conscience will be surprised to find that the motives of their hearts weren’t as pure as they thought they were.

There’s a very important nuance about judging here. We tend to think of judging someone as deciding they are guilty. Paul is saying, “Even though my conscience is clear I’m not going to judge myself to be innocent, and I don’t care whether you or a human court decides I’m innocent. I may be guilty and not know it. Only God will be able to determine that.” So we need to be as cautious about judging someone innocent as we are about judging someone guilty.

» 4:6-7
1 COR 4:6 Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us you may learn not to exceed what is written, so that no one of you will become arrogant in behalf of one against the other. 7 For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?
God does make us different from others. He did make Paul and Apollos and Peter different from the people in that church. But it still came from God. There was nothing special about them other than the fact that God made them different.

These Corinthians were different from each other, too. But God made them that way, so there is no reason to be boastful (that will be the primary theme in chapters 12-14). By themselves they were nothing. We sing this frequently on Sundays, from a song by Bebo Norman: “Take my time here on this earth, and let it glorify all that you are worth. For I am nothing, I am nothing without You.”

Even Jesus when he was here on the earth said “By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me” (John 5:30)

» 4:8-13
1 COR 4:8 You are already filled, you have already become rich, you have become kings without us; and indeed, I wish that you had become kings so that we also might reign with you. 9 For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are prudent in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor. 11 To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless; 12 and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; 13 when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.

v. 8 These Corinthian Christians had the Laodicea disease. They were rich and had “all they wanted.” They felt like they had already arrived at their destination.

Speaking through John in Revelation, Jesus told the church at Laodicea: “You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.” (Rev 3:17-18)

In Corinth, the “wealth” that made them complacent seems to have been a wealth of spiritual gifts. In 1:7 Paul said “you do not lack any spiritual gift,” and chapters 12-14 of this book are written all about how they prided themselves on their gifts – especially the showy ones.

In saying he wishes they really had become kings so he could reign with them, he is probably saying “I wish Jesus had already come so that we could all co-reign together with Him in His kingdom.” But obviously, that hadn’t happened yet. These Christians considered themselves far beyond where they really were.

vv. 9-13 The reality is that right now we’re not reigning. Right now we are in the midst of a battle, fighting the enemy to gain his ground and take his people to our side. Right now there is no wealth. That will come sure enough, but not until the kingdom does. Meanwhile, it is time to sacrifice, to experience persecution, to live the life of a soldier of the cross, as people who are “condemned to die in the arena.”