Cited from Num 12:7: "My servant Moses... faithful in all my
house..." Cp 2Ki 12:15; Mat 25:21.
FAITHFUL: Or "trustworthy" (RSV).
1Co 4:3
I CARE VERY LITTLE IF I AM JUDGED BY YOU OR BY ANY HUMAN
COURT: The first indication, in these letters to Corinth, that Paul is being
denigrated by various enemies, even those in the ecclesias.
1Co 4:4
"I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not
thereby acquitted" (RSV).
"Until I come": put this money to work (Luk 19:13); judge
nothing (1Co 4:5); proclaim Lord's death (1Co 11:26); be sincere, without
offence (Phi 1:6,10); listen to word (2Pe 1:19); hold fast (Rev 2:25).
HE WILL BRING TO LIGHT: Joh 3:19: men love darkness
because their deeds are evil.
WHAT IS HIDDEN IN DARKNESS: That is, the motives of the
individual -- which cannot be judged.
1Co 4:7
WHAT DO YOU HAVE THAT YOU DID NOT RECEIVE?: "The
prideful individual nullifies Divine grace because he or she does not see the
need for it. By whatever measure they have falsely valued themselves: be it
works or knowledge or wealth or whatever, they have greatly overestimated
themselves in the face of their Creator. The Pharisee, despite all of his
knowledge of the Scriptures, did not understand who and what he was, but prayed
instead saying, 'God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are...' [Luk
18:11]. The Pharisee did not see himself as a sinner -- which was absurd. It is
only when we see our utter worthlessness that we attain value in the eyes of
God. As James puts it, 'Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall
lift you up' (Jam 4:10)" (KT).
1Co 4:8
YOU HAVE BECOME KINGS -- AND THAT WITHOUT US!: "If all
the emphasis of our view of the Gospel is not to be laid upon the ultimate
possession of a piece of land in a literal kingdom, it is equally not to be laid
entirely upon the present aspects of forgiveness and remission of sins. One of
the characteristics of the highly 'charismatic' but factious church of Corinth
was its delight in 'present possession', with a consequent loosening of the hold
upon belief in judgement, the true importance of the breaking of bread, the
resurrection of the body and the future life everlasting" (RDO 81,82).
1Co 4:9
LIKE MEN... IN THE ARENA: Doomed gladiators in the
contests of the arena. "Men sentenced to death" (RSV). "Condemned to death in
the arena" (NEB).
SPECTACLE: "Theatron" = a place of public show. Also in
Act 19:29,31.
1Co 4:10
Biblical "fools": The rich fool (Luke 12:20). The unbelieving
fool (Psa 53:1). The self-righteous fool (Pro 28:26). The scornful fool (Pro
14:9). The righteous "fool" (1Co 4:10).
They lived in comfort and honor and talked grandly of
"wisdom", while Paul, who had led them to Christ, suffered in
disrepute.
1Co 4:13
"We apostles are like the rubbish in the streets, everybody's
whipping boys; so it has always been, and so it is still" (Findlay).
1Co 4:14
Vv 14-21: Paul has authority to rebuke.
1Co 4:15
GUARDIANS: "Guides" (RSV), or "instructors" (KJV).
"Paidagogos": a boy-leader, ie a servant whose office it was to take the
children to school. Also in Gal 3:24,25.
1Co 4:17
TIMOTHY, MY SON: A very young man still -- prob 22 or
23.
WHO IS FAITHFUL IN THE LORD: Examples of faithfulness
in service: Samuel (1Sa 3:20); David (1Sa 22:14); the temple overseers (2Ki
12:15); the workers (2Ch 34:12); Hananiah (Neh 7:2); Abraham (Neh 9:8); the
treasurers (Neh 13:13); Daniel (Dan 6:4); Timothy (1Co 4:17); Epaphras (Col
1:7); Tychicus (Col 4:7); Onesimus (Col 4:9); Paul (1Ti 1:12); Moses (Heb
3:2,5); Gaius (3Jo 1:5); Jesus Christ (Rev 1:5); Antipas (Rev 2:13).
Cp Luk 16:10; 2Ch 31:12.
IN CHRIST: A way of life, not a legal term. Cp Joh
14:26: the work of the Holy Spirit, Comforter (cp idea, 1Th 3:2).
1Co 4:19
IF THE LORD IS WILLING: 1Co 16:7; Act 18:21; Jam
4:15.
1Co 4:20
Paraphrase: "The kingdom of God is not only what you say, but
also (and especially) what you do!"