1 Corinthians 4:4

1 Corinthians 4:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
• New International Version (NIV)My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord.
• New Living Translation (NLT)My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide.

Context of 1 Corinthians 4:4

2Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 3But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. 5Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God. 6I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another.

1 Corinthians 4:4 word by word

οὐδὲν γὰρ ἐμαυτῷ σύνοιδα· ἀλλ᾽ οὐκ ἐν τούτῳ δεδικαίωμαι· ὁ δὲ ἀνακρίνων με κύριός ἐστιν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• I knowσυνείδωsuneidō · be awareG4894
• nothingοὐδείςoudeis · noneG3762
• by myselfἐμαυτοῦemautou emautō emauton · myselfG1683
• yetἀλλάalla · butG235
• am Iδικαιόωdikaioō · to justifyG1344
• notοὐou · noG3756
• herebyοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• ·ἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• butδέde · thenG1161
• heὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• that judgethἀνακρίνωanakrinō · to investigateG350
• meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 4:4

• Job 27:6I hold fast my righteousness and will not let it go; my heart does not reproach me for any of my days.
• Psalms 7:3O Lord my God, if I have done this, if there is wrong in my hands,
• John 21:17He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep.
• 2 Corinthians 1:12For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.
• 1 John 3:20for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.
• Job 9:2"Truly I know that it is so: But how can a man be in the right before God?
• Job 15:14What is man, that he can be pure? Or he who is born of a woman, that he can be righteous?
• Job 25:4How then can man be in the right before God? How can he who is born of woman be pure?
• Job 40:4"Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth.
• Psalms 19:12Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults.
• Psalms 130:3If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?
• Psalms 143:2Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you.
• Proverbs 21:2Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.
• Romans 3:19Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.
• Romans 4:2For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.
• 1 Corinthians 4:5Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 4:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4For I know nothing by myself - ͅ · I am not conscious that I am guilty of any evil, or have neglected to fulfill faithfully the duty of a steward of Jesus Christ. The import of the verb is to be conscious of guilt; and conscire has the same meaning: so, in Horace, Nil Conscire sibi, to know nothing to one's self, is the same as nulla pellescere culpa, not to grow pale at being charged with a crime, through a consciousness of guilt. Yet am I not hereby…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4For I know nothing by myself - There is evidently here an ellipsis to be supplied, and it is well supplied by Grotius, Rosenmuller, Calvin, etc. “I am not conscious of evil, or unfaithfulness to myself; that is, in my ministerial life.” It is well remarked by Calvin, that Paul does not here refer to the whole of his life, but only to his apostleship. And the sense is, “I am conscious of integrity in this office. My own mind does not condemn me of ambition…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-4Paul's greatest wish was to be faithful to God. What people thought of him, including his own opinion, did not matter.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. by myself--Translate, "I am conscious to myself of no (ministerial) unfaithfulness." Bengel explains the Greek compound, "to decide in judgments on one in relation to others," not simply to judge. am I not hereby justified--Therefore conscience is not an infallible guide. Paul did not consider his so. This verse is directly against the judicial power claimed by the priests of Rome.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 4:4

• Uncharitableness
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Account
• By
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Instructor
• Offscouring
• Rod
• Shame
• Steward
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Eschatology of the New Testament

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings