The Corinthian believers, proud of what they had obtained, became satisfied with what they had. They became self-sufficient and reigned independently of the apostles. This was altogether in themselves and in their flesh.

It is God who distinguishes us from others. And what we have we received from God. Hence, all the glory should be ascribed to God, and we should boast in Him, not in ourselves or in any servants, such as Paul or Apollos, whom He has used.

This must refer to what had been written in the preceding chapters, such as "Was Paul crucified for you?" (1 Cor. 1:13) and "What then is Apollos? And what is Paul?" (1 Cor. 3:5). They were simply ministers of Christ, a planter and a waterer (1 Cor. 3:5-7). They were not Christ, who was crucified for the believers. They were not God, who causes the believers to grow. They should not be appraised beyond what they were. Otherwise, their appraisers, like the fleshly Corinthian believers, might be puffed up on behalf of one, against the other.

A term used for metaphoric expressions. The things written by the apostle in the preceding chapters, chs. 1—3, were applicable to all those who served the Lord, especially to the proud and divisive Corinthians. But for their sake, that is, according to their condition and for their benefit, Paul transferred these things to himself and Apollos, using himself and Apollos as figures, as he had said in 1 Cor. 3:5-8. By doing so, he expected the puffed up Corinthians to understand and apply to themselves the comparison that he made.

Referring to the things mentioned in the preceding passage, from ch. 1 to this chapter.

I.e., before the Lord's day (1 Cor. 3:13).

Or, condemn.

Man's day of judgment is the present age, in which man judges (this judgment refers to man's examination). It is in contrast to the Lord's day (1 Cor. 3:13), which is the coming age, the kingdom age, in which the Lord will judge and in which the judgment will be the Lord's judgment.

Examined for judgment or in judgment.

I.e., in the stewardship, the dispensing ministry.

The Greek word is of the same root as the word for economy in 1 Tim. 1:4 and Eph. 1:10. It means a dispensing steward, a household administrator, who dispenses the household supply to its members. The apostles were appointed by the Lord to be such stewards, dispensing God's mysteries, which are Christ as the mystery of God and the church as the mystery of Christ (Col. 2:2; Eph. 3:4), to the believers. This dispensing service, the stewardship, is the ministry of the apostles.

An attendant or appointed servant, an official servant appointed specifically for a certain purpose (Acts 26:16).

The way described in 1 Cor. 3:21-23.

Or, reckon, measure, and classify.

In Paul's time, when criminals fought with wild beasts in the amphitheater for the entertainment of the populace, they were exhibited last of all. Paul applied this figure to the apostles, who were set forth by God as last of all in His spectacle.

The apostles considered themselves criminals doomed to death before the world, unlike the Corinthians, who considered themselves kings destined to reign.

A metaphor, referring to the fights between criminals and wild beasts in the Roman amphitheater. The apostles became such a spectacle to the world, seen not only by men but also by angels. See note Heb. 10:33^1a.

The apostles were willing to be foolish by forsaking their human wisdom for the sake of Christ. But the fleshly Corinthian believers remained prudent in their natural wisdom, while claiming that they were in Christ.

The apostles, while ministering Christ, appeared to be weak, for they used no strength or power of their natural being (1 Cor. 2:3). But the fleshly Corinthian believers were strong, seeking to be recognized as prominent among the believers by exercising their natural ability.

The Corinthian believers were glorious, or honorable, in a display of splendor. But the apostles were dishonored and despised by the glory-seeking Corinthians.

Or, insulted, spoken to injuriously.

I.e., entreat with exhortation, consolation, and encouragement in order to appease.

Offscouring and scum are synonyms. Offscouring denotes that which is thrown away in cleansing; hence, refuse, filth. Scum denotes that which is wiped off; hence, rubbish, refuse. Both terms are used metaphorically, especially regarding condemned criminals of the lowest class, who were cast into the sea or to the wild beasts in the amphitheater.

Lit., child-conductors; as in Gal. 3:24-25.

Guides, child-conductors, give instructions and directions to the children who are under their guardianship; fathers impart life to their children whom they beget. The apostle was such a father; he had begotten the Corinthian believers in Christ through the gospel, imparting the divine life into them so that they became children of God and members of Christ.

See note 1 Cor. 4:13².

These were the ways in which the apostle conducted himself as he taught the saints in every church.

This expression indicates two things:
1) that the apostle's teaching was the same universally, not varying from place to place;
2) that everywhere equals every church, and every church, everywhere.

This refers to the church life, implying that in the sense of authority the church in this age is the kingdom of God.

This word was spoken to the Corinthian believers on the basis of the consideration that the apostle was their spiritual father. As such, he had the position and responsibility to chastise his children.

The apostle's regenerated spirit indwelt by and mingled with the Holy Spirit. The spirit of meekness is one that is saturated with the meekness of Christ (2 Cor. 10:1) and, hence, expresses the virtue of Christ.