1 Corinthians Chapter 4, Verse 5
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5: ωστε μη προ καιρου τι κρινετε εως αν ελθη ο κυριος ος και φωτισει τα κρυπτα του σκοτους και φανερωσει τας βουλας των καρδιων και τοτε ο επαινος γενησεται εκαστω απο του θεου
5: 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.
5: 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.
Therefore. In view of the danger of being deceived in your judgment, and the impossibility of certainly knowing the failings of the heart.
Judge nothing. Pass no decided opinion. See "Mt 7:1".
The apostle here takes occasion to inculcate on them an important lesson -- one of the leading lessons of Christianity -- not to pass a harsh opinion on the conduct of any man, since there are so many things that go to make up his character which we cannot know, and so many secret failings and motives which are all concealed from us.
Until the Lord come. The Lord Jesus at the day of judgment, when all secrets shall be revealed, and a true judgment shall, be passed on all men.
Who both will bring to light. See "Rom 2:16".
The hidden things of darkness. The secret things of the heart which have been hidden, as it were, in darkness. The subsequent clause shows that this is the sense. He does not refer to the deeds of night, or those things which were wrought in the secret places of idolatry, but to the secret designs of the heart; and perhaps means gently to insinuate that there were many things about the character and feelings of his enemies which would not well bear the revelations of that day.
The counsels of the hearts. The purposes, designs, and intentions of men. All their plans shall be made known in that day. And it is a most fearful and alarming truth, that no man can conceal his purposes beyond the day of judgment.
And then shall every man have praise of God. The word here rendered praise, epainov, denotes in this place reward, or that which is due to him; the just sentence which ought to be pronounced on his character. It does not mean, as our translation would imply, that every man will then receive the Divine approbation-which will not be true; but that every man shall receive what is due to his character, whether good or evil. So Bloomfield and Bretschneider explain it. Hesychius explains it by judgment, krisiv. The word must be limited in its signification according to the subject or the connexion.
