God as the Only Real Judge

The thought and logic of this passage are clear, although in Greek much of Paul’s language is awkward. Any translation struggles to render Paul’s statements in a sensible and reliable way.

These verses begin by informing the Corinthians how they are to regard Paul, Apollos, Cephas, and all other early Christian workers. They are merely servants and stewards who are called to serve Christ as agents of the proclamation of the mysteries of God’s grace. A single quality must characterize stewards: trustworthiness. Or, more literally, they must prove faithful. God requires that Paul and the others be faithful executors of the trust that has been placed in them. In turn, Paul informs the Corinthians that what they think of him as God’s steward is of little or no impo…