CHAP. IV.

1 In what account the ministers ought to be had: 7 we have nothing which we have not received: 9 the apostles spectacles to the world, angels, and men: 13 the filth and off scouring of the world: 15 yet our fathers in Christ, 16 whom we ought to follow.

1

LET a man so account of us, as of the a ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries 2 of God.

1 dispensers. Rh. 2 secrets. Co. Ma. Cr. Bi. Gen.

have you know, that the head of every man is Christ. 2 COR. x. 7: If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's. GAL. iii. 29: If ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed.

CHAP. IV.

a MAT. xxiv. 45: Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his houshold, to give them meat in due season? 1 COR. iii. 5: Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? do. ix. 17: For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the Gospel is committed unto me. 2 COR. vi. 4: In all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions. COL. i. 25: Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God, which is given to me for you to fulfil the word of God.

MAT. XXV. 21: His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things. LUKE, xii. 42: The Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his houshold, to give them their portion of meat in 'due season? do. xvi. 1: There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. 1 COR. vii. 25: I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful. 2 COR. i. 12: Our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world. do. ii. 17:

We are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. do. iv. 5: We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. EPH. iii. 2: If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward. CoL. i. 7: Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ.

shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

18 a Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

b

19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

20 And again, The Lord e knoweth the thoughts 10 of the wise, that they are vain. 21 Therefore 'let no man glory in men. all things are " your's;

For

or

22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are your's;

h

23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.

10 reasonings. We.. all are. Ham.

a See on ROм. xii. 3.

b 1 Cor. iv. 10.

e

1 COR. i. 20: Where is the wise? where is the Scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? do. ii. 6.

d JOB, v. 13. See on 1 COR. i. 19.

e Ps. xciv. 11: The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.

Ver. 4, 5, 6. JER. ix. 23, 24: Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD. 1 COR. i. 12: Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. do. iv. 6.

82 COR. iv. 5, 15: For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

h ROM. xiv. 8: For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. 1 Cox. xi. 3: I would

CHAP. IV.

1 In what account the ministers ought to be had: 7 we have nothing which we have not received: 9 the apostles spectacles to the world, angels, and men: 13 the filth and offscouring of the world: 15 yet our fathers in Christ, 16 whom we ought to follow.

LET a man so account of us, as of the a ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries 2 of God.

1 dispensers. Rh. 2 secrets. Co. Ma. Cr. Bi. Gen.

have you know, that the head of every man is Christ. 2 COR. x. 7: If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's. GAL. iii. 29: If ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed.

CHAP. IV.

a MAT. xxiv. 45: Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his houshold, to give them meat in due season? 1 COR. iii. 5: Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? do. ix. 17: For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the Gospel is committed unto me. 2 COR. vi. 4: In all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions. COL. i. 25: Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God, which is given to me for you to fulfil the word of God.

MAT. XXV. 21: His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things. LUKE, Xii. 42: The Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his houshold, to give them their portion of meat in due season? do. xvi. 1: There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. 1 COR. vii. 25: I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful. 2 COR. i. 12: Our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world. do. ii. 17: We are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. do. iv. 5: We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. EPH. iii. 2: If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward. CoL. i. 7: Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ.

2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment :3 yea, I judge not mine own self.

с

4 For I know nothing by myself,4 d yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

5 Therefore 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 then shall every man have praise of God.

and

3 Gr. day. chap. iii. 19. A. V. I am not guilty in conscience of any thing. Rh.

1 TIM. i. 12: I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry. TIT. i. 7: A Bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God. 1 PET. iv. 10: As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

C

PRO. xxi. 2: Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts. 1 JOHN, iii. 20, 21 ̊: If our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

d See on ACTS, xiii. 39.

e MAT. vii. 1: Judge not, that ye be not judged. Rom. ii. 1, 16: Thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest. In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my Gospel. do. xiv. 4, 10, 13: Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. REV. XX. 12: The dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

f1 COR. iii. 13.

82 COR. v. 10: For we must all appear before the judgment

6 And 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. 7 For 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?

m

8 Now 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.

9 For 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.

7

10 We are Pfools for Christ's sake, but ye are

• figuratively applied unto myself. Bi. Gr. distinguisheth thee. Rh. us the last apostles. A. V. 8 Gr. theatre. A. V.

seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. See on Rom. ii. 29.

1 COR. i. 12. See on 1 COR. iii. 4.

iSee on ROM. xii. 3.

* 1 COR. iii. 21. do. v. 2, 6.

IPRO. ii. 6: The LORD giveth wisdom; out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. JOHN, iii. 27: A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. ROм. xii. 6: Having then gifts differing according to the grace given unto us. JAMES, i. 17: Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights. 1 PET. iv. 10: As every man hath received the gift, even so minister.

See on REV. iii. 17.

n See on ROM. viii. 36.

HEB. X. 33: Ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions.

P1 COR. i. 18: For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. do. ii. 14: But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. do. iii. 18. See on Acтs, xxvi. 24.