1 Corinthians 4:4 Commentary and Bible Study

‘For I know nothing by myself.’ Our rendering is perhaps a little opaque. He means, ‘I know of no charges against myself. I know of no accusation, which is a sound accusation against myself.’ Paul is not talking about his whole life, his total life. We must not forget that great passage in Romans 7: ‘The good that I would, that I do not.’ He certainly searches himself and he sees many faults in his whole life, in his whole person. Clearly, what he is referring to here is his work as an apostle. ‘I know of no charge that can be made against me as an apostle.’ That was a wonderful thing to be able to say by the goodness of God. As an apostle he has done everything God required of him; he has never wavered. Paul has accepted violence, even people thinking they had killed him: tremendous dangers. He had gone to cities knowing full well that he would be abused there terribly. He had reached Jews and Gentiles by the command of God; he travelled constantly. Because it was a setback for a preacher among the Gentiles to be supported, he worked with his hands. Paul had never held back on anything. God set him forth as an example to all. But nevertheless he claims no honours. ‘Yet am I not hereby justified.’ I am not justified just because I know nothing against myself. God may know; God who reads my heart and my motives, may see many times when even in my work as an apostle, there has been sin. Perhaps pride was there; perhaps resentment at the sufferings. But all judgement, all assessment of his service belongs to the Lord. So he effectively says, ‘I claim no eminence; I claim no honours. I do my utmost against that coming day, and strive to be faithful to the Lord.’