1 Corinthians 4:4

1 Corinthians 4:4 in other versions

• New International Version (NIV)My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. 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 in stewards, that a man be found faithful. 3But 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. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. 5Therefore 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: and then shall every man have praise of God. 6And 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.

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

• 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 27:6My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.
• Psalms 7:3O Lord my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands;
• John 21:17He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
• 2 Corinthians 1:12For 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, and more abundantly to you-ward.
• 1 John 3:20For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
• Job 9:2I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?
• Job 15:14What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?
• Job 25:4How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?
• Job 40:4Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.
• Psalms 19:12Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
• Psalms 130:3If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?
• Psalms 143:2And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.
• Proverbs 21:2Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts.
• Romans 3:19Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
• Romans 4:2For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
• 1 Corinthians 4:5Therefore 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: and then shall every man have praise of 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