- 1Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
- 2Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
- 3But 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.
- 4For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
- 5Therefore 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.
- 6And 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.
- 7For 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?
- 8Now 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.
- 9For 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.
- 10We 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.
- 11Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
- 12And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
- 13Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.
- 14I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.
- 15For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
- 16Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
- 17For 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.
- 18Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.
- 19But 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.
- 20For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
- 21What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?
KING JAMES VERSION
1 CORINTHIANS 4
Read the chapter, follow a linked verse, and continue into related Watchman 33 teaching.
CHAPTER VISUAL
1 Corinthians 4 — Apostles are servants and faithful stewards who endure hardship, warn as fathers, and leave hidden motives to the Lord’s judgment.
About this illustration
The lowly workers and elevated banquet visualize Paul’s irony about Corinthian pride and apostolic suffering. The scene avoids humiliation or violence and leaves the final exposure of hearts to light rather than depicting God bodily.
Scripture basis: 1 Corinthians 4:1–21King James Version · Standardized 1769 text with Strong’s numbering · Public domain outside the United Kingdom
EXPLORE THE MESSAGE
Related Watchman 33 Resources
Archaeological Evidence
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEManuscript
6th Century
Papyrus P11: 1 Corinthians 1:17–20 in a Greek Witness
Papyrus P11 is a highly fragmented sixth-century Greek codex in Saint Petersburg preserving portions of 1 Corinthians 1-7, an unusually broad but broken witness to Paul's teaching on the cross, church conflict, holiness, and marriage.
1 Corinthians 1:17–22 · 1 Corinthians 2:9–14 · 1 Corinthians 3:1–6
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEManuscript
6th–7th Century
Papyrus P68: 1 Corinthians 4:12–17 in a Greek Witness
Russian National Library Gr. 258B, Gregory-Aland P68, is a sixth- or seventh-century papyrus fragment preserving parts of 1 Corinthians 4:12–17, 19–21 and 5:1–3.
1 Corinthians 4:12–17 · 1 Corinthians 4:19–21 · 1 Corinthians 5:1–3
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Doctrine and DiscernmentApostasy and DeceptionBible Prophecy
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In “Blind Oblivious Sheep,” Pastor Dean Odle warns that professing Christians can remain spiritually blind when they neglect Scripture, refuse the fear of the Lord, or settle into lukewarm religion. Using Jesus’ charge to Peter to feed His sheep, 1 Corinthians 4, Ephesians 4, and 1 Peter 2, Odle describes ministers as stewards responsible to provide the whole counsel of God while believers must actively desire the milk and meat of the Word.
Apostasy and DeceptionBible ProphecyChristian LivingDoctrine and Discernment
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In “Keys of the Kingdom,” Pastor Dean Odle presents a Scripture-centered message about demons and deliverance, the condition of the church, Satanic opposition. Drawing especially from Matthew 16, Matthew 6:33, Matthew 12, Matthew 18, the teaching emphasizes that demonic influence must be answered through Christ’s authority and the freedom He provides. Odle connects that foundation with the conviction that the church is called to recover biblical faithfulness instead of accommodating compromise.
Spiritual WarfareSalvation and the GospelChristian Living
View sermon Showing 1–3 of 6 sermons