1 Corinthians 4:3

ἐμοὶ δὲ εἰς ἐλαχιστόν ἐστιν ἵνα κ. τ. λ.: “For myself however it amounts to a very small thing that by you I should be put to trial, or by a human day (of judgment).” Fidelity is required of stewards: yes, but (δέ) who is the judge of that fidelity? Not you Cor [638], nor even my own good conscience, but the Lord only (4: cf. Romans 14:4); P. corrects the false inference that might be drawn from 1 Corinthians 3:22. ἐμοὶ δὲ takes up the general truth just stated, to apply it as a matter between me and you. P. is being put on his trial at Cor [639] his talents appraised, his motives scrutinised, his administration canvassed with unbecoming presumption. For εἰς in this somewhat rare, but not necessarily Hebraistic sense, cf. 1 Corinthians 6:16; Acts 19:27; see Wr [640], p. 229. ἵνα … ἀνακριθῶ (construction more unclassical than in 1) equals τὸ ἀνακριθῆναι unless the clause should be rendered, “that I should have myself tried by you,” as though P. might have challenged the judgment of the Cor [641] (see 1 Corinthians 9:2; 2 Corinthians 3:1; 2 Corinthians 12:11) but dismissed the thought. Ἀνακρίνω (see note, 1 Corinthians 2:15) speaks not of the final judgment (κρίνω, 5, 1 Corinthians 5:12, etc.), but of an examination, investigation preliminary to it. The “human (ἀνθρωπίνης, cf. 1 Corinthians 2:13) day,” of which P. thinks lightly, is man's judgment that of any man, or all men together; he reserves his case for “ the day (of the Lord”: see 1 Corinthians 1:8). ἀλλʼ οὐδὲ ἐμαυτὸν ἀνακρίνω : “nay, I do not even try myself!” The ἀλλʼ οὐδέ (cf. 1 Corinthians 3:3) brings forward another suggestion, contrary to that just rejected (ἵνα ὑφʼ ὑμῶν ἀνακρ.), to be rejected in its turn. In another sense P. enjoins self-judgment, in 1 Corinthians 11:28-32; and in 1 Corinthians 2:16 he credited the “spiritual man” with power “to try all things”. Ὁ ἑαυτὸν ἀνακρίνων, the self-trier, is one who knows no higher or surer tribunal than his own conscience; Christ's Ap. stands in a very diff [642] position from this. This transition from Cor [643] judgment to self-judgment shows that no formal trial was in question, such as Weizsäcker supposes had been mooted at Cor [644]; arraigned before the bar of public opinion, P. wishes to say that he rates its estimate εἰς ἐλαχιστὸν in comparison with that of his heavenly Master.

[638] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

[639] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

[640] Winer-Moulton's Grammar of N.T. Greek (8th ed., 1877).

[641] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

[642] difference, different, differently.

[643] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

[644] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.