Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [1 Corinthians: Chapter 4].
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4:1 {Ministers of Christ} (\hup•retas Christou\). Paul and all
ministers (\diakonous\) of the New Covenant (1Co 3:5) are
under-rowers, subordinate rowers of Christ, only here in Paul's
Epistles, though in the Gospels (Lu 4:20 the attendant in the
synagogue) and the Acts (Ac 13:5) of John Mark. The {so}
(\hout•s\) gathers up the preceding argument (3:5-23) and
applies it directly by the {as} (\h•s\) that follows. {Stewards
of the mysteries of God} (\oikonomous must•ri•n theou\). The
steward or house manager (\oikos\, house, \nem•\, to manage, old
word) was a slave (\doulos\) under his lord (\kurios\, Lu
12:42), but a master (Lu 16:1) over the other slaves in the
house (menservants \paidas\, maidservants \paidiskas\ Lu
12:45), an overseer (\epitropos\) over the rest (Mt 20:8).
Hence the under-rower (\hup•ret•s\) of Christ has a position of
great dignity as steward (\oikonomos\) of the mysteries of God.
Jesus had expressly explained that the mysteries of the kingdom
were open to the disciples (Mt 13:11). They were entrusted with
the knowledge of some of God's secrets though the disciples were
not such apt pupils as they claimed to be (Mt 13:51; 16:8-12).
As stewards Paul and other ministers are entrusted with the
mysteries (see on ¯1Co 2:7 for this word) of God and are
expected to teach them. "The church is the \oikos\ (1Ti 3:15),
God the \oikodespot•s\ (Mt 13:52), the members the \oikeioi\
(Ga 6:10; Eph 2:19)" (Lightfoot). Paul had a vivid sense of the
dignity of this stewardship (\oikonomia\) of God given to him
(Col 1:25; Eph 1:10). The ministry is more than a mere
profession or trade. It is a calling from God for stewardship.
4:2 {Here} (\h•de\). Either here on earth or in this matter. It
is always local. {Moreover} (\loipon\). Like \loipon\ in 1:16
which see, accusative of general reference, as for what is left,
besides. {It is required} (\z•teitai\). It is sought. Many MSS.
read \z•teite\, ye seek, an easy change as \ai\ and \e\ came to
be pronounced alike (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 186). {That a man
be found faithful} (\hina pistos tis heureth•i\). Non-final use
of \hina\ with first aorist passive subjunctive of \heurisk•\,
the result of the seeking (\z•te•\). Fidelity is the essential
requirement in all such human relationships, in other words,
http://www.ccel.org/r/robertson_at/wordpictures/htm/1CO4.RWP.html (1 of 9) [28/08/2004 09:11:09 a.m.]
Word Pictures in the New Testament
(1 Corinthians: Chapter 4)