The True Standard of the Gospel Ministry
1 Corinthians 4:6
And these things, brothers, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes…


The apostle means by "what is written," the Scriptures of the Old Testament; not that he refers to any particular passage, but to the general spirit and point of view of the Divine revelation. The facts which he has delivered to the Corinthians are "according to the Scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:3). He claims the same allegiance to the Old Testament on behalf of Apollos, who was "strong in the Scriptures." The words are another undesigned vindication of himself and Apollos from the charge of being party leaders. Both kept close to the teaching of Scripture. The faithfulness of the steward (1 Corinthians 4:2) turns out to be loyalty to the Word of God; and, as the faithful servant fears not the judgment of men, so also the pride of his self-conceit is quelled by the subjection of his spirit to God's revelation. Both qualities are the opposite of the tortuous intellectual cleverness of the Corinthians. Both are the surest safeguard of transparent, direct, honest simplicity of character, which, in turn, is the best preservative of Church order, and the only remedy against faction.

(Principal Edwards.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: 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.

WEB: Now these things, brothers, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that in us you might learn not to think beyond the things which are written, that none of you be puffed up against one another.




The Seventh Chapter of the Epistle to the Romans
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