I Corinthians 4:5 · Bible study
1 Corinthians 4:5 Commentary: Wait for the Lord
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why Paul commands believers to stop premature judgment, the role of hidden motives, and the hope of divine approval at Christ's coming.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Paul forbids final judgment of others because only Christ, at his return, can assess the hidden motives of the heart.
- Key words: καιρός (appointed time), κρίνω (judge), κρυπτός (hidden), βουλή (counsel/purpose), ἔπαινος (praise/reward), φωτίζω (bring to light).
- Main debate: Whether Paul prohibits all judgment (absolute reading) or only the final, heart-judging kind (common Reformed view); also whether “praise” means universal salvation or faithful servants’ reward.
- Theological theme: Eschatological reserve, the delay between Christ’s first and second advent calls for humility and patience in evaluation.
- Best use: Corrects partisan spirit, promotes trust in God’s justice, and comforts those who have been wrongly evaluated.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each man will get his praise from God.
KJV King James Version 1769
Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Wherefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then shall each man have his praise from God.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
so, then, nothing before the time judge ye, till the Lord may come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of the darkness, and will manifest the counsels of the hearts, and then the praise shall come to each from God.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
So that do not judge anything before [the] time, until the Lord shall come, who shall also both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and shall make manifest the counsels of hearts; and then shall each have [his] praise from God.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Therefore, judge not before the time: until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts. And then shall every man have praise from God.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Así que, no juzguéis nada antes de tiempo, hasta que venga el Señor, el cual también aclarará lo oculto de las tinieblas, y manifestará los intentos de los corazones: y entonces cada uno tendrá de Dios la alabanza.
Então nada julgueis antes do tempo, até que o Senhor venha, o qual também trará à luz as coisas ocultas nas trevas, e manifestará as intenções dos corações; e então cada um receberá aprovação de Deus.
C’ est pourquoi ne jugez de rien avant le temps, jusqu’ à ce que vienne le Seigneur, qui mettra en lumière ce qui est caché dans les ténèbres, et qui manifestera les desseins des cœurs. Alors chacun recevra de Dieu la louange qui lui sera due.
Darum richtet nicht vor der Zeit, bis der HERR komme, welcher auch wird ans Licht bringen, was im Finstern verborgen ist, und den Rat der Herzen offenbaren; alsdann wird einem jeglichen von Gott Lob widerfahren.
Zo dan oordeelt niets voor den tijd, totdat de Heere zal gekomen zijn, Welke ook in het licht zal brengen, hetgeen in de duisternis verborgen is, en openbaren de raadslagen der harten; en alsdan zal een iegelijk lof hebben van God.
Cosicché non giudicate di nulla prima del tempo, finché sia venuto il Signore, il quale metterà in luce le cose occulte delle tenebre, e manifesterà i consigli de’ cuori; e allora ciascuno avrà la sua lode da Dio.
A tak nie sądźcie przed czasem, ażby Pan przyszedł, który też oświeci, co skrytego jest w ciemności i objawi rady serc; a tedy każdy będzie miał chwałę od Boga.
Посему не судите никак прежде времени, пока не придет Господь, Который и осветит скрытое во мраке и обнаружит сердечные намерения, и тогда каждому будет похвала от Бога.
所以，時候 未到，甚麼都不要 論斷，只等 主 來，他 要照出 暗 中的隱情， 顯明 人心 的意念。 那時，各人 要 從 神 那裡得著稱讚。
For this reason let there be no judging before the time, till the Lord comes, who will make clear the secret things of the dark, and the designs of the heart; and then will every man have his praise from God.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · I Corinthians 4:5
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that Paul is not banning all forms of judgment, but forbidding the hasty, final verdict that presumes to read another person’s heart. The verb κρίνετε (krinete) here is present imperative, “stop judging”, and the context (1 Cor 4:1-4) shows Paul has in mind the partisan evaluations the Corinthians were making of their teachers. Calvin notes that the Corinthians were “blinded by ambition,” exalting one teacher and demeaning another as if they were umpires awarding prizes. Barnes adds that because we cannot know “secret failings and motives,” we must refrain from passing a final opinion. The promise that “each man will get his praise from God” is not a blanket guarantee that everyone will be saved. Barnes explains that ἔπαινος (epainos) here means “reward, or that which is due to him,” based on the state of the heart as only God sees it. Gill specifies that “praise” refers to the faithful minister’s commendation: “Well done, good and faithful servant.” The Cambridge Bible summarizes the shared conviction: “To search the heart is the prerogative of God alone.”
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Absolute prohibition of all judgment: The plain wording 'judge nothing' and parallels in Matt 7:1; some early monastic traditions read it as forbidding any negative assessment.
- Prohibition of final, heart-judging verdicts: Paul's own practice of rebuking error (1 Cor 5:3-5) shows he allows judgment of actions; Calvin and Barnes both limit the command to the hasty, final judgment that only God can render.
- Eschatological reserve: The accent falls on timing: because Christ's return is the appointed moment of evaluation, we must wait; this view harmonizes with the athletic umpire imagery and the Old Testament judgment themes.
- Promise of universal praise: Some read 'each man will get his praise from God' as an affirmation that all will receive something positive; but most supplied commentators (Barnes, Gill) interpret 'praise' as due reward, not necessarily commendation for all.
What is clear: All Christians agree that we should not rush to a final assessment of someone's heart or eternal standing, because only Christ knows fully and will judge rightly at his coming.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Scope of the command “judge nothing” | Christians agree that we must not condemn a person’s eternal standing or read hidden motives with finality. | Some read the command as a total prohibition of any negative judgment; others (most Reformed commentators) see it as a ban on rash, premature verdicts, not on discerning false teaching (cf. 1 Cor 5:3-5, 1 Jn 4:1). |
| The meaning of “praise from God” | All understand that God’s final assessment will be just and based on true knowledge. | Barnes and others argue ἔπαινος here means “due reward,” not necessarily positive commendation for everyone; Gill restricts it to the faithful minister. The straightforward sense (“each man will get praise”) could be read as universal, but most commentators qualify it from the context of faithful stewards. |
| Who is the “Lord” in verse 5? | The reference is to Jesus Christ, who will return as judge (cf. John 5:22, Acts 10:42). | No debate among supplied sources, all identify the Lord as Christ, in line with the greeting of the letter (1 Cor 1:3) and the description of stewards of Christ (v. 1). |
Historical & Cultural Context
Paul writes to a church fractured by loyalty to different leaders. Some claimed “I follow Paul,” others “I follow Apollos” (1 Cor 3:4). This partisan spirit led people to judge one another’s worth by outward signs, eloquence, status, or affiliation, while ignoring the deeper question of faithfulness (v. 2). Paul’s own example in verses 3-4 sets the tone: he does not even trust his own self-examination as final, because “he who judges me is the Lord.” The command “judge nothing before the time” (v. 5) therefore takes aim at the Corinthians’ premature verdicts on their teachers.
Paul’s language echoes the Old Testament wisdom tradition. Ecclesiastes 12:14 declares that “God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” Malachi 3:18 promises a coming day when the righteous and wicked will be clearly distinguished. In Hellenistic culture, the Greek games had umpires (ἀγωνοθέται) who awarded prizes after the contest. Calvin suggests Paul alludes to this image: the Corinthians are acting as if they have the right to crown or disgrace teachers, but that office belongs to Christ alone. The word καιροῦ (kairou), “the appointed time”, reinforces that there is a fixed moment for final assessment, and it is not now. Paul uses “until the Lord comes” (ἕως ἂν ἔλθῃ ὁ κύριος), a phrase reminiscent of Jesus’s own warnings to stay awake and wait for the Master’s return (Matt 24:46). The Corinthians, confident in their own spiritual maturity (v. 8), needed to be reminded that they live in the time between Christ’s resurrection and his final appearing, a time for patience, not pronouncement.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for 1 Corinthians 4:5. The Greek text is stable across the major manuscript traditions. The consistent reading has “the Lord” (ὁ κύριος) referring to Christ, and the future verbs φωτίσει and φανερώσει appear without alternative readings.
Reception History
Early church writers such as John Chrysostom used this verse to curb the tendency to judge one’s neighbour and to promote patience until Christ’s appearing. In the medieval period, the verse was often cited to caution against rash confession and human presumption in spiritual direction. Protestant Reformers like Calvin and the Geneva Bible emphasized that the power to search hearts belongs to God alone, and they saw here a critique of any human tribunal that claimed to judge inner motives, including the confessional. JFB explicitly reads the verse as “disproving the judicial power claimed by the Romish priesthood in the confessional.” Across traditions, 1 Corinthians 4:5 has been a key text for humility in evaluation, reminding the church that final praise and blame are God’s prerogative. In modern preaching, it is often used to relieve those who have been misjudged and to warn against forming parties around human leaders.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Our judgment is limited. Paul calls us to stop judging “before the time” because we cannot see the hidden darkness or the counsels of hearts. Human judgment is always partial and often proud (vv. 3-4).
- Christ will bring everything to light. On the day of the Lord Jesus, the things concealed in darkness will be illuminated, and the motives behind every action will be exposed. That revealing will set all accounts straight.
- Then praise comes from God. The final word belongs to God, not to gossip, not to reputation, not even to our own conscience. Those who have been faithful will receive the “well done” that matters.
Five-point outline
- The context of partisan judging. The Corinthians were exalting favorite teachers and tearing down others based on surface qualities.
- Paul’s example of self-restraint. He refuses to judge even himself finally, because the Lord is the only competent judge (v. 4).
- Two reasons to wait. First, we lack knowledge of the heart. Second, Christ’s return is the designated moment for evaluation.
- Two actions of Christ the judge. He “brings to light” hidden things (φωτίσει, from phōtizō, to illumine) and “makes manifest” the counsels of hearts (φανερώσει, from phaneroō, to reveal).
- The hope of due praise. “Each one” will receive the praise that fits his or her life, measured by God’s perfect knowledge.
Illustration hooks
- A parent who only sees a child’s messy room and bad grade, but knows nothing of the hidden anxiety or effort behind it. Rushing to judgment damages trust; waiting until the whole story is known changes everything.
- A coworker whose quiet, behind-the-scenes work is never noticed, while a flashy colleague gets all the credit. At the end of the year, when performance reviews come out, the hidden contributions are finally seen. That delayed recognition mirrors the final day of Christ.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does “judge nothing” mean I cannot evaluate teaching or call out sin? How do I discern without being judgmental?
- If I’ve been misjudged by others, how should I respond while waiting for God’s ultimate vindication?
Leading a Discussion
Paul calls a divided church to stop acting as though they already know who deserves honour. The pressure to evaluate, rank, and dismiss others is strong, in church and in daily life. But this passage points to a better way: patience rooted in the certainty that Christ will see all, know all, and reward each according to what matters most. As you discuss, keep your own context in mind, where are you quick to judge?
Discussion questions
- Read 1 Corinthians 4:1-5. What situation is Paul addressing, and why does he bring in the example of a steward (v. 2)?
- In verse 3, Paul says it is “a very small thing” to be judged by others or by a human court. What does that reveal about his priorities?
- The word “judge” in verse 5 (κρίνετε) is a present imperative. Why is the tense important for understanding Paul’s command?
- What does Paul mean by “the hidden things of darkness” and “the counsels of the hearts”? Give an example of something that might be hidden now but will be revealed at Christ’s coming.
- How does the promise that “each man will get his praise from God” (v. 5) challenge the way we seek approval from others?
- Compare this passage with Matthew 7:1-2. How does Jesus’s teaching on judgment help you interpret Paul’s words? Is there a difference between judging a person’s heart and evaluating their teaching?
- Think of a situation where you formed a strong opinion about someone’s motives. How might this passage change your approach next time?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Ecclesiastes 11:9 | Rejoice, young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth, and walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. |
| Ecclesiastes 12:14 | For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil. |
| Malachi 3:18 | Then you shall return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him who serves God and him who doesn’t serve him. |
| Matthew 7:1 | “Don’t judge, so that you won’t be judged. |
| Matthew 7:2 | For with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you. |
| Matthew 24:30 | and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. Then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. |
| Matthew 24:46 | Blessed is that servant whom his lord finds doing so when he comes. |
| Matthew 25:21 | “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
11 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke stresses that only God is qualified to judge, since He alone sees what is hidden in human hearts. Those caught up in divisions should remember that praise from God depends on whether their conduct is actually right in His sight, not in human opinion. Some understand the promised praise as directed to Paul and the other apostles.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes argues that harsh judgment is impossible because we can never know the hidden motives and secret failings of another person's heart. Only at Christ's coming will those secrets be brought to light. He also clarifies that the "praise" each person receives from God means the just reward due to their character, not necessarily divine approval.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin distinguishes between all judgment and rash, hasty judgment. He argues that Paul condemns only the second kind: the Corinthians were praising and demoting people based on ambition, not careful examination. Hidden motives of the heart remain obscure until Christ alone, the true umpire, brings them to light.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible notes that Paul applies the general command against judging to the specific relationship between teachers and their hearers. Christians must test teaching by Scripture and hold to what is good, but they must avoid scrutinizing motives because only God knows the heart. Fidelity, not human judgment, is what ultimately matters.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes stress that judging others is always premature because only Christ at His coming can expose hidden motives and secret actions. Human judgment falls short because it cannot see the heart. The note adds a striking confidence: when the Lord does reveal all, every person will receive praise from God, not condemnation.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
G
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB draws a sharp line between the judgments we make now and the Lord's final judgment. Human judgment is inherently defective because it can only see outward actions, while Christ alone will expose the hidden motives of hearts and give each person his due praise. Therefore, we must wait until that day rather than presuming to decide anyone's case ourselves.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange emphasizes that ministers are subordinate servants, like under-rowers, not masters; they are stewards of God's revealed mysteries. The only essential quality required is fidelity, not talent or success. Since only the Lord can judge hidden motives, all premature human judgments are out of place, and final approval comes from God alone at Christ's coming.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry cautions against extremes in how we regard ministers. Apostles themselves were stewards, not lords—servants of Christ entrusted with God’s mysteries. The essential requirement is faithfulness in their service, not human praise or judgment.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent draws attention to the Greek verbs behind two different words: one for judging and one for examining. He argues that only the Lord is competent to carry out a conclusive examination, so believers should refrain from passing judgment. A clear conscience does not guarantee acquittal, since God alone sees the full truth.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley stresses that judging others before Christ's return is futile because only He can expose what lies hidden in total darkness: the private motives and deepest intentions of every heart. Until that revelation, no righteous judgment is possible. When the Lord comes, faithful stewards will receive His praise.