Devine Scripture

1 Corinthians 4:3

What does 1 Corinthians 4:3 mean?

A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 4:3 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What 1 Corinthians 4:3 means

Paul says he places little weight on the Corinthians’ evaluations or any merely human tribunal. He even refuses to acquit or condemn himself by his own judgment. This is not arrogance or evasion; it is freedom from living under human approval and humility about the limits of self-knowledge. A minister’s conscience matters, but it is not the final court. Paul models how a servant of Christ must not be driven by praise or fear of criticism, nor become self-satisfied by private verdicts. His identity and assessment lie with the Master who assigned the stewardship, not with the fluctuating judgments of people, whether admirers or detractors.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

But it is a small thing to me that I am judged by you or by man's judging; I am not even a judge of myself.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and to me it is for a very little thing that by you I may be judged, or by man's day, but not even myself do I judge,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

But to me it is a very small thing to be judged by you or by man's day. But neither do I judge my own self.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

But for me it is the very smallest matter that I be examined of you or of man's day. Nor do I even examine myself.

Context

Flowing from the call to faithfulness, Paul addresses who gets to judge faithfulness. Verse 3 begins a short argument (verses 3–5) against premature human judgments, whether communal or personal. It counters the Corinthians’ habit of ranking leaders and the temptation to excuse oneself. Verse 4 will underscore that even a clear conscience does not justify a person, and verse 5 will locate the time and Judge of all assessments at the Lord’s coming. The context aims to quiet partisan critiques and self-exaltation by deferring ultimate evaluation to God.

v.2Here, moreover, it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

v.3This passage

v.4For I know nothing against myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • 1 Samuel 16:7

    But Jehovah said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have rejected him: for Jehovah seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but Jehovah looketh on the heart.

  • 1 Corinthians 3:13

    each man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself shall prove each man’s work of what sort it is.

  • John 7:24

    Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

  • 1 Corinthians 2:15

    But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, and he himself is judged of no man.

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