MINISTERS SHOULD BE FAITHFUL

1 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.

MINISTERS ARE SERVANTS
6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.
7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
8 Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.
9 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.
10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.
11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.
14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.
15 For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.
18 Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.
19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.
20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
21 What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?

1Let a man so account of vs, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

2Moreouer, it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithfull.

3But with mee it is a very small thing that I should bee iudged of you, or of mans iudgement: yea, I iudge not mine owne selfe.

4For I know nothing by my selfe, yet am I not hereby iustified: but hee that iudgeth me is the Lord.

5Therefore iudge nothing before the time, vntill the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkenesse, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall euery man haue prayse of God.

6And these things, brethren, I haue in a figure transferred to my selfe, and to Apollo, for your sakes: that ye might learne in vs not to thinke of men, aboue that which is written, that no one of you bee puffed vp for one against another.

7For who maketh thee to differ from another? And what hast thou that thou didst not receiue? Now if thou didst receiue it, why doest thou glory as if thou hadst not receiued it?

8Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye haue reigned as kings without vs, and I would to God ye did reigne, that we also might reigne with you.

9For I thinke that God hath set forth vs the Apostles last, as it were approued to death. For wee are made a spectacle vnto the world, and to Angels, and to men.

10We are fooles for Christs sake, but ye are wise in Christ. We are weake, but ye are strong: yee are honourable, but we are despised.

11Euen vnto this present houre we both hunger and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and haue no certaine dwelling place,

12And labour, working with our owne hands: being reuiled, wee blesse: being persecuted, we suffer it:

13Being defamed, we intreate: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the off-scouring of all things vnto this day.

14I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloued sonnes I warne you.

15For though you haue ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet haue yee not many fathers: For in Christ Iesus I haue begotten you through the Gospel.

16Wherefore I beseech you, be yee followers of me.

17For this cause haue I sent vnto you Timotheus, who is my beloued sonne, and faithfull in the Lord, who shal bring you into remembrance of my wayes which be in Christ, as I teach euery where in euery Church.

18Nowe some are puffed vp as though I would not come to you.

19But I wil come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will knowe, not the speach of them which are puffed vp, but the power.

20For the kingdome of God is not in word, but in power.

21What will ye? Shall I come vnto you with a rod, or in loue, and in the spirit of meekenesse?

I == Matt 24:45 ; Luke 12:42 ; 2nd Cor 6:4 ; Titus 1:7 ; 1st Cor 9:17 ; Rom 11:25 ; 16:25

III == 1st Cor 3:123

IV == Prov 21:2 ; Rom 3:20 ; 4:2

V == Rom 2:1 , 16 , 29 ; 8:36 ; 14:4 , 10 , 13 ; Rev 20:12 ; 1st Cor 3:13 ; 15:31 ; 2nd Cor 4:9 ; 10:18 ; 11:23 Heb 10:33

VI == Rom 12:3

VII == James 1:17 ; 1st Peter 4:10

VIII == Rev 3:17

IX == Ps 44:22 ; Rjom 8:36 ; 2nd Cor 4:11 ; 6:9

X == Acts 17:18 ; 26:24 ; 2nd Cor 13:9

XI == Job 22:6 ; Acts 23:2 ; 2nd Cor 4:8 ; 11:23-27 ; Phil 4:12

XII == Rom 12:14 , 20

XIII == Lam 3:45

XIV == 1st Thess 2:11

XV == Acts 18:11 Rom 15:20 ; Gal 4:19 ; James 1:18 ; 1st Cor 1:30 ; 2nd Cor 1:23

 

 

 

1. Let a man so account of us as of the ministers of Christ and the dispensers of the mysteries of God. 2 Here now it is required among the dispensers that a man be found faithful. 3 But to me it is a very small thing to be judged by you or by man's day. But neither do I judge my own self. 4 For I am not conscious to myself of anything. Yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judges me is the Lord 5 Therefore, judge not 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 from God. 6 But these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollo, for your sakes: that in us you may learn that one be not puffed up against the other for another, above that which is written. 7 For who distinguishes you? Or what have you that you have not received, and if you have received, why do you glory, as if you had not received it? 8 You are now full: you are now become rich: you reign without us; and I would to Godyou did reign, that we also might reign with you. 9 For I think that God has set forth us apostles, the last, as it were men appointed to death. We are made a spectacle to the world and to angels and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ: we are weak, but you are strong: you are honourable, but we without honour. 11 Even unto this hour we both hunger and thirst and are naked and are buffeted and have no fixed abode. 12 And we labour, working with our own hands. We are reviled: and we bless. We are perscuted: and we suffer it. 13 We are blasphemed: and we entreat. We are made as the refuse of this world, the offscouring of all, even until now. 14 I write not these things to confound you: but I admonish you as my dearest children. 15 For if you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet not many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, by the gospel, I have begotten you. 16 Wherefore, I beseech you, be followers of me as I also am of Christ. 17 For this cause have I sent to you Timothy, who is my dearest son and faithful in the Lord. Who will put you in mind of my ways, which are in Christ Jesu: as I teach every where in every church. 18 As if I would not come to you, so some are puffed up. 19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will: and will know, not the speech of them that are puffed up, but the power. 20 For the Kingdom of God is not in speech, but in power. 21 What will you? Shall I come to you with a rod? Or in charity and in the spirit of meekness?

v1,2.  A steward is responsible for handling the things of a superior. Believers are ministers or stewards of God and must handle the teachings of the word carefully and faithfully. This also includes financial matters, our time, talents and possessions. Some neglect to be good stewards in the material things of the church. v3-5.  We are subject to self judgment, judgment of others and judgment of God. If we pay too much attention to opinions of others, we will be puffed up by praise or discouraged by criticism. God will expose even the thoughts of the heart, and His judgment is what counts.  v6-8.    Apparently the Corinthians thought of themselves more highly than they should, perhaps even above their spiritual leaders. Paul takes a humble position and wishes that they could reign as kings, and he would rejoice to reign with them. They may have been proud of some gifts of the Spirit we will see in chapters 12 and 14.v9,10.  As gladiators were spectacles in the arena, the humble apostles were despised spectacles before the world. There preaching was a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles, 1 Cor. 1:23. v11-13.  This is a list of some of the problems the apostles faced and how they reacted to them. “Naked”, insufficient clothing. “Buffeted”, struck with a fist and mistreated. They were considered refuse and scrapings, undergoing trials for the salvation of others. v14. This is just to warn believers of tests they may face in all out service. The purpose isn’t to criticize them for not suffering. He is not being as an occasional pastor or missionary who tries to make people feel sorry for them, people who may have suffered more than they have. v15,16.  Paul had led them to the Lord and had the concern for them as a father, not just as many teachers would have. This is why he urged them to follow him, or as he worded better in the same letter, 1 Cor. 11:14, “as I am a follower of Christ.” v17.  From 16:10 we see Timothy was not yet gone but he planned to send him. He was apparently a little timid, because in that verse Paul urges the people to receive him cordially. Perhaps the same reason for saying “Let no man despise thy youth,” 1 Tim. 4:12. He was a “son” in the Lord and faithful and was to reinforce Paul’s standard teaching, but we don’t know how successful he was. Maybe he wasn’t, because Paul had to write 2nd Corinthians.v18-21.  Some didn’t respect Paul’s authority and thought he was bluffing. But he insists he will come and is not intimidated by them. He wants to come with a gentle love, but if they are unwilling to straighten up, he will have rebukes and discipline.