What is the meaning of 1 Corinthians 4:1? So then Paul has just finished urging the Corinthian believers to stop boasting in human leaders (1 Corinthians 3:21–23). “So then” wraps up that thought and moves the spotlight from personalities to purpose. Because all ministry ultimately belongs to the Lord, the logical outcome is: view Christian leaders through a Christ-centered lens. This matches the wider pattern of Scripture: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:31, Jeremiah 9:24). men ought to regard us • “Ought” shows a moral obligation, not a suggestion. • “Regard” addresses perception—how believers are to see Paul, Apollos, and every gospel worker. • The Corinthians had been saying, “I follow Paul… I follow Apollos” (1 Corinthians 3:4). Here Paul redirects their gaze. The call is for the whole church—leaders and members alike—to adopt God’s viewpoint rather than culture’s celebrity mindset (cf. Galatians 1:10, seeking God’s approval rather than man’s). as servants of Christ A servant takes orders from the Master and exists for His agenda. Scripture keeps this image front and center: • Jesus said, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve” (Mark 10:45). • Paul echoes, “We do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake” (2 Corinthians 4:5). Practical takeaways: – Authority in the church is delegated, never autonomous. – The measure of success is obedience to Christ, not popularity, numbers, or personal fulfillment (cf. Philippians 2:5–7). and stewards of the mysteries of God. A steward manages what belongs to someone else. In ancient households, the steward oversaw resources, answered to the owner, and ensured the family was served. Likewise, gospel workers oversee God’s truth: • Paul speaks of “the stewardship of God’s grace… the mystery made known to me by revelation” (Ephesians 3:2–4). • He writes, “I became its servant by the commission God gave me… the mystery… now revealed” (Colossians 1:25–27). • Peter exhorts every believer: “Use [your gift] to serve one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10). “Mysteries” are not puzzles for an elite few; they are divine truths once hidden and now openly proclaimed—chiefly the gospel that unites Jew and Gentile in Christ (cf. Romans 16:25–26). Stewards are called to: – Guard the message from distortion (2 Timothy 1:14). – Give it freely and fully (1 Thessalonians 2:4). – Live lives that validate its power (Titus 2:10). summary 1 Corinthians 4:1 reshapes how we view ministry. Leaders are not spiritual celebrities but humble servants taking their orders from Jesus. They are house-managers, entrusted with God’s priceless gospel and accountable to Him for its faithful dissemination. When the church sees its leaders—and itself—this way, Christ stays central, the message stays pure, and God alone receives the glory. |
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