Question 1

What does it mean that Paul and Apollos are stewards of the mysteries of God?

Accepted Answer

When Paul calls himself and Apollos “stewards of the mysteries of God,” he is saying they are household managers who handle what belongs to God, not to themselves. The “mysteries” are the truths God has now made known in Christ, like the message of the cross and salvation by grace. A steward does not own the message but is trusted to pass it on faithfully. So ministers are not spiritual bosses or celebrities, but servants who must handle God’s truth carefully and stay loyal to Christ’s instructions.

Question 2

Why does Paul say it is a small thing to be judged by people?

Accepted Answer

Paul tells the Corinthians that human judgment is a small thing to him because people see only the outside and can be wrong, whether they praise or criticize. He even says he does not rely on his own judgment of himself, since a clear conscience does not, by itself, make him right. The one who truly knows and judges him is the Lord. This helps believers remember that God’s opinion matters far more than human approval or blame, and that final judgment belongs to Christ.

Question 3

What does Paul mean by “judge nothing before the time”?

Accepted Answer

When Paul says “judge nothing before the time,” he is warning the Corinthians not to rush into final verdicts about people’s hearts, motives, or standing before God. The full truth will only be clear when the Lord comes. Then Jesus will bring hidden things to light and show what was really going on inside each person. At that time, the praise that matters will come from God. This does not forbid wise discernment, but it calls us to be careful, humble, and slow to act like we know what only God can fully see.

Question 4

What is Paul teaching with the questions, “Who maketh thee to differ” and “what hast thou that thou didst not receive”?

Accepted Answer

Paul uses these questions to puncture the Corinthians’ pride. He reminds them that any difference they have from others, whether in gifts, knowledge, or position, comes from God’s hand. If everything good they have is something they “received,” then there is no honest reason to boast as if they produced it themselves. This drives home that spiritual pride is out of place for Christians. Instead of comparing themselves and forming parties, they should thank God for His grace and treat others with humility and respect.

Question 5

Why does Paul speak sarcastically about the Corinthians being rich and reigning as kings?

Accepted Answer

Paul uses sharp irony when he says, “Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us.” They were acting as if they had already arrived spiritually and no longer needed the lowly, suffering apostles. By speaking this way, Paul is gently but firmly showing how foolish their pride is. He adds that he wishes they truly did reign in a holy sense, so he could share in that with them. His aim is not to mock them harshly, but to wake them up to their self-satisfaction.

Question 6

What does it mean that the apostles are made a spectacle and the filth of the world?

Accepted Answer

Paul says God has set the apostles “last,” like those appointed to death, and made them a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to people. They face hunger, thirst, hardship, and shame. Being called “the filth of the world” and “the offscouring of all things” shows how lowly and despised they appear in the world’s eyes. Yet in all this, they keep serving Christ. This shows that true ministry often involves costly suffering, not earthly glory, and that outward shame does not mean someone is rejected by God.

Question 7

Why does Paul call the Corinthians his beloved sons and ask them to follow him?

Accepted Answer

Paul reminds the Corinthians that, though they may have many teachers, he is like a father to them because God used his message to bring them to new life in Christ. Calling them his “beloved sons,” he shows his deep care and affection. When he urges them, “be ye followers of me,” he is not asking for blind loyalty, but inviting them to copy his Christ-centered, humble way of life. He wants them to leave behind pride, division, and high thinking about themselves, and walk the same path of faithful service he walks.

Question 8

What does it mean that the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power?

Accepted Answer

When Paul says, “the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power,” he is contrasting empty talk with the real work of God. Some in Corinth were proud and confident in their speeches, but Paul says he will look for power, not just clever words. God’s kingdom shows itself in changed lives, obedience, endurance in suffering, and the Holy Spirit’s work, not just in impressive language. This challenges believers not to be satisfied with talking about spiritual things, but to seek the reality of God’s power at work among them.

Question 9

How can this passage about Paul’s ministry and the Corinthians’ pride apply to believers today?

Accepted Answer

This passage speaks to how we view leaders and ourselves. It calls us to see pastors and teachers as servants of Christ, not as people to form camps around. It reminds us that everything we have is received from God, so there is no room for boasting in gifts, status, or favorite leaders. It also shows that real service may look weak and costly, not glamorous. For today’s believer, this means seeking God’s praise more than people’s, avoiding pride and party spirit, and valuing faithfulness and humility over outward success.

1 Corinthians 4:1

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

Servants of Christ

Paul’s Fatherly Warning

Servants of Christ

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1 Corinthians 4:1

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

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Servants of Christ

Paul’s Fatherly Warning

Servants of Christ

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