1 Corinthians 4:1

“In this way let a man take account of us, viz., as servants of Christ, etc.” Οὕτως draws attention to the coming ὡς : the vb [631] λογιζέσθω implies a reasonable estimate, drawn from admitted principles (cf. Romans 6:11; Romans 12:1, λογικήν), the pr [632] impv [633] an habitual estimate. The use of ἄνθρωπος for τις (1 Corinthians 11:28, etc.), occasional in cl [634] Gr [635], occurs “where a gravior dicendi formula is required” (El [636]). Ὑπηρέτης (only here in Epp.: see parls.) agrees with οἰκέτης (Romans 14:4, domestic) in associating servant and master, whereas διάκονος rather contrasts them (1 Corinthians 3:5, see note; Mark 9:35): see Trench, Syn [637], § 9. ὡς ὑπηρ. Χριστοῦ κ. οἰκονόμους κ. τ. λ., “as Christ's assistants, and stewards of God's mysteries” in these relations Jesus set the App. to Himself and God: see Matthew 13:11; Matthew 13:52. With P. the Church is the οἶκος (1 Timothy 3:15), God the οἰκοδεσπότης, its members the οἰκεῖοι (Galatians 6:10; Ephesians 2:19), and its ministers the App. in chief the οἰκονόμοι (1 Corinthians 9:17; Colossians 1:25, etc.). The figure of 1 Corinthians 3:9 ff. is kept up: those who were ἀρχιτέκτων and ἐποικοδομοῦντες in the rearing of the house, become ὑπηρέται and οἰκονόμοι in its internal economy. The οἰκονόμος was a confidential housekeeper or over-seer, commonly a slave, charged with provisioning the establishment. Responsible not to his fellows, but to “the Lord,” his high trust demands a strict account (Luke 12:41-48). On μυστ. Θεοῦ, see notes to 1Co 2:7; 1 Corinthians 2:9 f.: the phrase implies not secrets of the master kept from other servants, but secrets revealed to them through God's dispensers, to whose judgment and fidelity the disclosure is committed (cf. 1 Corinthians 2:6; 1 Corinthians 3:1).

[631] verb

[632] present tense.

[633] imperative mood.

[634] classical.

[635] Greek, or Grotius' Annotationes in N.T.

[636] C. J. Ellicott's St. Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians.

[637] synonym, synonymous.