Survey
This biblical text analysis is based on Saint Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 “Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.” (1 Cor. 4:1-2 NKJV). This scripture denotes the pastoral duties of a minister in regard to obedience to Christ. A survey conducted to determine the perceptions of stewardship on the present day of Christ reveals that many people believe in service but have not clearly understood stewardship (Rolston 2016). From Paul’s perspective, servants of God are stewards from whom faithfulness is expected.
Contextual Analysis
In the historical context, Paul’s first epistle to the church in Corinth was written in AD 55. This time aligns with Paul’s stay in Ephesus in the first few months of the year. In the cultural aspect, Corinthians comprised the gentile church, and Paul continually felt the need to advise them on church matters. The term stewards in the scripture represented the sociopolitical environment of the time, whereby key individuals were in charge of governing people’s legal properties but had no rights over the items entrusted to them (1 Cor. 4:1-2 NKJV). Paul intended to refer the church to their identities and roles in service to Christ.
In the literary and rhetorical contexts, the book of I Corinthians is divided into sixteen chapters that are roughly divided into seven sections. In the first section, Paul underlines the Corinthian church’s disunity (1 Corinthians 1:10–4:21). The second section (1 Corinthians 5—6) deals with the delicate matter of sexual sin in the Christian community as well as lawsuits amongst members. The value of marriage among Christians is discussed in the third part (1 Corinthians 7). The theme of Christian freedom within the church is developed in the fourth section (1 Corinthians 8:1—11:1) forms the fourth section. This theme has been used by many to define their place within the church.
The fifth section pertains to issues that arise in church worship meetings (1 Corinthians 11:2—14:40). The hope of the resurrection is the subject of the sixth section (1 Corinthians 15). Paul’s final words to the church are found in the seventh section (1 Corinthians 16). He speaks to their financial intentions (1 Corinthians 16:1–4) as well as his personal plans, with the hope of returning to see them in the future. In the canonical context, the lead scripture links prior believers’ instructions in the Old Testament to the admonitions given in the later books of the New Testament.
Formal Analysis
- Form – the scripture is in the form of a narrative text because it describes and illustrates how servants are expected to conduct themselves. Paul first asks the church to consider the leaders as stewards and continues to illustrate the characteristics of a steward.
- Structure – the scriptural text is structured through repetition that creates emphasis. The two verses contain the word stewards, which carries the central theme of the writing (1 Cor. 4:1-2 NKJV).
- Movement – the text moves through description, illustration, and repetition
Detailed Analysis
1 Corinthians 4:1 “Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God” implies that Paul and Apollos are expected to faithfully manage the treasures granted to them. In this sense, a steward is a servant who has been entrusted with work or a commission. In 4:1, Paul employs a somewhat different term for a servant than in first Corinthians 3:5 (minister), but the idea is the same. In both circumstances, the servant is under the command of a master and serves by carrying out that master’s wishes. Verse 2, “Moreover, it is required in stewards that one be found faithful” denotes the responsibility attached to stewardship. According to Paul, servanthood was accompanied by the heavy duty of being faithful to the treasures and mysteries bestowed upon leaders.
Synthesis
From the working thesis, servanthood and stewardship are inseparable and one must faithfully play both roles. The analyzed lead text has a crucial part in society and the Christian church. Paul emphasizes that people who believe in Christ ought to demonstrate servanthood and faithfulness, particularly in leadership. Paul’s argument is that people who are entrusted with the mysteries of the kingdom of God ought not to think only of themselves. Exegetically, this denotes that although many church leaders have focused on giving and financial aid, the stewardship implied by Paul entails every resource, including knowledge. In a commentary by Pomroy (2018), Paul was teaching the church in Corinth and, by extension, today’s church the value of faithfulness in service. Connecting this to the larger biblical context, all God’s servants were expected to be faithful stewards, and those who failed suffered from God’s wrath.
Reflection
As a Christian and a servant of God in the church, I have to think of myself as Christ’s servant as a preacher and someone who is dedicated to him and his church. My identity is significant as it directs me to keep my sight fixed on Christ and to appropriately steward His secrets. Paul’s intelligent and eloquent gospel presentation exemplifies the text’s modern relevancy. The most important aspect of the verses is the discussion of the preacher’s role as a servant charged with stewarding God’s word both personally and corporately.
Research
The first article by Pomroy gives a comparative analysis of the current church from the perspective of the early church. Rolston’s article is a commentary on Saint Paul’s teaching. These two sources facilitate an analysis of the lead scripture and connect it to today’s church.
References
1 Cor. 4:1-2 New King James Version.
Pomroy, Grace Duddy. “Stewardship: What the church can learn from millennials.” Currents in Theology and Mission 45, no. 2 (2018): 5-5.
Rolston, Holmes. Stewardship in the New Testament Church: A Study in the Teachings of Saint Paul Concerning Christian Stewardship. Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2016.