Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [1 Corinthians: Chapter 4].
plain honesty in handling money like bank-clerks or in other
positions of trust like public office.
4:3 {But with me} (\emoi de\). The ethical dative of personal
relation and interest, "as I look at my own case." Cf. Php
1:21. {It is a very small thing} (\eis elachiston estin\). This
predicate use of \eis\ is like the Hebrew, but it occurs also in
the papyri. The superlative \elachiston\ is elative, very little,
not the true superlative, least. "It counts for very little with
me." {That I should be judged of you} (\hina huph' hum•n
anakrith•\). Same use of \hina\ as in verse 2. For the verb
(first aorist passive subjunctive of \anakrin•\) see on ¯1Co
2:14f. Paul does not despise public opinion, but he denies "the
competency of the tribunal" in Corinth (Robertson and Plummer) to
pass on his credentials with Christ as his Lord. {Or of man's
judgement} (\• hupo anthr•pin•s h•meras\). Or "by human day," in
contrast to the Lord's Day (_der Tag_) in 3:13. "_That_ is the
tribunal which the Apostle recognizes; a _human_ tribunal he does
not care to satisfy" (Robertson and Plummer). {Yea, I judge not
mine own self} (\all' oude emauton anakrin•\). \Alla\ here is
confirmatory, not adversative. "I have often wondered how it is
that every man sets less value on his own opinion of himself than
on the opinion of others" (M. Aurelius, xii. 4. Translated by
Robertson and Plummer). Paul does not even set himself up as
judge of himself.
4:4 {For I know nothing against myself} (\ouden gar emaut•i
sunoida\). Not a statement of fact, but an hypothesis to show the
unreliability of mere complacent self-satisfaction. Note the use
of \sunoida\ (second perfect active indicative with dative
(disadvantage) of the reflexive pronoun) for guilty knowledge
against oneself (cf. Ac 5:2; 12:12; 14:6). {Yet} (\all'\).
Adversative use of \alla\. {Am I not hereby justified} (\ouk en
tout•i dedikai•mai\). Perfect passive indicative of state of
completion. Failure to be conscious of one's own sins does not
mean that one is innocent. Most prisoners plead "not guilty." Who
is the judge of the steward of the mysteries of God? It is the
Lord "that judgeth me" (\ho anakrin•n me\). Probably, who
examines me and then passes on my fidelity (\pistos\ in verse
2).
4:5 {Wherefore} (\h•ste\). As in 3:21 which see. {Judge
nothing} (\m• ti krinete\). Stop passing judgment, stop
criticizing as they were doing. See the words of Jesus in Mt
http://www.ccel.org/r/robertson_at/wordpictures/htm/1CO4.RWP.html (2 of 9) [28/08/2004 09:11:09 a.m.]