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Pentecost Season · Proper 3 · Year A

1 Corinthians 4:1-5

Apostles of Christ

May 24, 2026

Paul and Apollos, Edward John Poynter
Paul and Apollos, Edward John Poynter, 1872Tate, London
In a walled field one young man kneels to plant an olive sapling while the other pours water over it from a jar.Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries … It is the Lord who judges me.Edward John PoynterA Victorian academic painter, later President of the Royal Academy and Director of the National Gallery.Tate, LondonTate, London.Tate, London
Revised Common Lectionary
GospelMatt. 6:24-34Mt 6:24-34
Epistle1 Cor. 4:1-51 Cor 4:1-5
Old TestamentIsa. 49:8-16aIs 49:8-16a
PsalterPs. 131Ps 131

Overview & Insights

“This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.” (1 Corinthians 4:1)

First Corinthians 4:6–13 ends Paul’s response to the deeper and broader issues in the report coming from Chloe’s household. Paul brings the tension between Corinthian ideals and true Christian ideals into their sharpest contrast yet by pointing to his own situation. Everything about Paul, both his appearance and his behavior, exposes the incongruity of worldly ideals with the Christian faith. Interpretive Insights 4:6 Now, brothers and sisters. Paul indicates he is ready to summarize his teaching by his use of the inclusive adelphoi (“brothers and sisters”). He is speaking not to anyone in particular, or to a specific group, but to the whole Christian family in Corinth. I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit. The Greek word translated “applied” means “change the arrangement of” or “transform” (cf. Phil. 3:21).

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Commentary

1 Corinthians 4:1-51 Cor 4:1-5 Working Preacher

A Luther Seminary commentary on the apostles as stewards and on leaving judgment to the Lord.

1 Corinthians 41 Cor 4 Enduring Word · David Guzik

A verse by verse evangelical commentary on faithful stewardship and the coming judgment.

1 Corinthians 4 verse by verse1 Cor 4 verse by verse Precept Austin

A deep study page compiling Greek word studies, cross references, and many expositors on 1 Corinthians 4.

Classic commentaries on 1 Corinthians 4Classic commentaries on 1 Cor 4 BibleHub

A classic aggregator stacking historic verse by verse commentary on 1 Corinthians 4.

1 Corinthians 4, Expository Notes1 Cor 4, Expository Notes StudyLight

Thomas Constable's expository notes on Paul's defense of his ministry and stewardship.

Background & Word Study

Overview: 1 CorinthiansOverview: 1 Cor BibleProject

An animated overview of 1 Corinthians that frames Paul's argument about apostolic ministry.

1 Corinthians 4 interlinear1 Cor 4 interlinear BibleHub

The Greek text of 1 Corinthians 4 word by word with parsing and Strong's numbers.

The Church Fathers

1 Corinthians 4, patristic commentary1 Cor 4, patristic commentary Catena

A verse linked catena gathering patristic comment on 1 Corinthians 4.

Questions preachers ask

What does Paul say about stewards?

Ministers are servants and stewards of God's mysteries, and the one thing required of stewards is faithfulness; it is the Lord, not human opinion, who judges the heart when he comes.

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