Bible Commentaries

Paul's Conception of the Ministry

1 Corinthians 4:3-4)

That is the sanctuary in which the Apostle rested. What does human judgment amount to? It is often a mere prejudice, or it simply registers a passing emotion; there is really no substance in it, no abiding value or quality; the man who is judging may die before he has pronounced his judgment; the man who is criticising may be discovered in the very midst of his most elaborate criticism to be a felon. What does human judgment amount to? It will be all forgotten tomorrow, and the judges will be dead, and their judgment passed into oblivion.

"Yea," Paul continues, "I judge not mine own self." A man cannot really penetrate into his own inmost quality. "For I know nothing by myself:" not exactly against myself; the literal meaning rather 1 Corinthians 4:7).

The Apostle can be satirical, ironical, as in the eighth verse,—"Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us,"—you have been living a dramatic life; you have built your canvas theatre, and played your little tricks before high heaven. Then—for how long could Paul be angry or even satirical?—he falls out of his piercing sarcasm into his melting, pleading pathos: "and I would to God ye did reign"—in reality as you have been reigning seemingly—"that we also might reign with you." How rapidly this man's tone changes! Now he is in full banter, now his lips are wreathed with scorn, and his voice is a tempest of indignation; and in a moment, as if self-smitten, he falls downs, cries, almost begs pardon, and says to the people whom he has wounded with his tremendous sword—I would to God ye were in reality what you are in seeming: I would to God that we were all kings together: brethren, think on these things.

Then he sets forth the aspect in which apostolic life appeared to him:—

"For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men" ( 1 Corinthians 4:9).