1 Corinthians 4:1-5
Wycliffe Bible
4 So a man guess us [So a man guess, or deem, us], as ministers of Christ, and dispensers of the mysteries of God.
2 Now it is sought here among the dispensers, that a man be found true.
3 And to me it is for the least thing, that I be deemed of you, or of man's day; but neither I deem myself.
4 For I am nothing over-trusting to myself, but not in this thing I am justified [Soothly I am nothing guilty to myself, but not in this thing am I justified]; for he that deemeth me, is the Lord.
5 Therefore do not ye deem before the time, till that the Lord come, which shall lighten [alighten] the hid things of darknesses, and shall show the counsels of hearts; and then praising shall be to each man of God.
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1 Corinthians 4:1-5
New Matthew Bible
Those who preach are but servants. Judgment belongs to God only.
4 Let people esteem us this way: as the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the secrets of God. 2 Furthermore, it is required of the stewards that they be found faithful. 3 With me it is but a very small thing if I am judged by you, or by man’s day. No, I do not judge my own self. 4 I know nothing against myself, yet I am not thereby justified. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore, judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will shed light on things that are hid in darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. And then shall each have praise from God.
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1 Corinthians 4:1-5
1599 Geneva Bible
4 1 Bringing in the definition of a true Apostle, 7 he showeth that humility ought rather to be an honor than a shame unto him. 9 He bringeth in proof, whereby it may evidently appear, 10 that he neither had care of glory, 11 nor of his belly. 17 He commendeth Timothy.
1 Let [a]a [b]man so think of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and disposers of the secrets of God:
2 [c]And as for the rest, it is required of the disposers, that every man be found faithful.
3 [d]As touching me, I pass very little to be judged of you, [e]or of man’s [f]judgment: no, [g]I judge not mine own self.
4 For I know nothing by myself, yet am I not thereby justified: but he that judgeth me, is the [h]Lord.
5 [i]Therefore (A)judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who will lighten things that are hid in darkness, and make the counsels of the hearts manifest: and then shall every man have [j]praise of God.
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- 1 Corinthians 4:1 He concludeth the duty of the hearers towards their ministers: that they esteem them not as lords: and yet notwithstanding, that they give ear unto them, as to them that are sent from Christ, sent I say to this end and purpose, that they may receive as it were at their hands, the treasure of salvation which is drawn out of the secrets of God.
- 1 Corinthians 4:1 Every man.
- 1 Corinthians 4:2 Last of all, he warneth the ministers that they also behave themselves not as lords, but as faithful servants, because they must render an account of their stewardship unto God.
- 1 Corinthians 4:3 Because in reprehending others, he set himself for an example, he useth a preoccupation or preventing of an objection, and using the gratuity of an Apostle, he showeth that he careth not for the contrary judgments that they have of him, in that they esteemed him as a vile person, because he did not set forth himself as they did. And he bringeth good reasons why he was nothing moved with the judgments which they had of him.
- 1 Corinthians 4:3 First, because that that which men judge in these cases of their own brains, is no more to be accounted of, than when the unlearned do judge of wisdom.
- 1 Corinthians 4:3 Word for word, Day, after the manner of speech of the Cilicians.
- 1 Corinthians 4:3 Secondly, saith he, how can you judge how much or how little I am to be accounted of, seeing that I myself which know myself better than you do, and which dare profess that I have walked in my vocation with a good conscience, dare not yet notwithstanding challenge anything to myself? for I know that I am not unblameable, all this notwithstanding: much less therefore should I please myself as you do.
- 1 Corinthians 4:4 I permit myself to the Lord’s judgment.
- 1 Corinthians 4:5 A third reason proceeding of a conclusion as it were, out of the former reasons. It is God’s office, to esteem every man according to his value, because he knoweth the secrets of the heart, which men for the most part are ignorant of. Therefore this judgment pertaineth not to you.
- 1 Corinthians 4:5 One could not be praised above the rest, but the other should be blamed: and he mentioneth praise rather than dispraise, for that the beginning of this sore was this, that they gave more to some men than meet was.
1 Corinthians 4:1-5
Authorized (King James) Version
4 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. 4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
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Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
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