Useful Bible Studies > 1 Corinthians Commentary > chapter 4
Here is an explanation of the proper work of a church leader.
Different churches have different ideas about this subject. Some church leaders have so much authority that they control the lives of their church members. Other church leaders seem to have no authority whatever. They must constantly obey instructions from other people in their church.
Both of those types of leader think about their work as the relationship between themselves and the church members.
Paul had a different idea. A church leader’s most important relationships are with Christ, and with the Bible. To explain this, Paul used two different words for ‘servant’ in this verse:
(1) Church leaders are servants of Christ. Here, the word ‘servant’ means that they carry out personal duties for their master. They do what he wants them to do.
(2) Church leaders are stewards of God’s mysteries. A steward is a servant who has the responsibility to look after the master’s house. He must look after his master’s valuable things.
The word ‘mysteries’ has a particular meaning in the Bible, which does not match its usual meaning today. It means the plans of God, especially his plan to save his people (2:7). In the past, people did not know those plans clearly (1 Peter 1:10-12). But now, through the Gospel (God’s good news), God wants his servants to declare his message. It is for everyone who will believe.
Next part: To whom are church leaders responsible? (1 Corinthians 4:2-5)
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© 2014, Keith Simons.