1 Corinthians 4:1 Meaning and Explanation
“Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Paul tells the Corinthians how to regard him and his fellow workers: not as party leaders to be admired, but as servants of Christ entrusted with God's revealed truth.
What Does 1 Corinthians 4:1 Mean?
Paul has been answering the Corinthians' habit of lining up behind favorite teachers. Here he sets the record straight about what he and Apollos actually are. The word translated 'ministers' pictures an under-rower on a ship, the lowest servant pulling the oar, while 'stewards' names a household manager trusted with the master's goods.
To call the gospel a steward's charge is to say it was given, not invented. The truths once hidden and now made known in Christ are not Paul's property to boast in but a trust to keep faithfully. This reframes every gospel worker: the glory belongs to the Master, and the servant's only honor is to handle the message with care.
1 Corinthians 4:1 in the Original Language
oikonomos (οἰκονόμος), 'steward' -- a household manager entrusted with another's goods and answerable to him.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 4:1
What does 1 Corinthians 4:1 mean?
Paul tells the Corinthians how to regard him and his fellow workers: not as party leaders to be admired, but as servants of Christ entrusted with God's revealed truth.