Back to 1 Corinthians 4

1 Corinthians 4:5

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.

World English Bible · Public Domain

Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    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.

  • TYNDALE Tyndale New Testament (1534)

    Therfore iudge no thinge before the tyme vntill the Lorde come which will lighten thinges that are hyd in darcknes and open the counsels of the hertes. And then shall every man have prayse of God.

  • GNV Geneva Bible (1599)

    Therefore iudge nothing before the time, vntill the Lord come, who will lighten things that are hid in darkenesse, and make the counsels of the hearts manifest: and then shall euery man haue praise of God.

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Examined in Scripture Analysis

Contradictions (2)

Questions where the Bible appears to say two different things, with the passages on each side set together.

  • Should we judge others?
  • Should Christians judge others?

Explore Contradictions →

Cross-references (37)

Passages linked to 1 Corinthians 4:5 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.

  • James 5:7 Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient over it, until it receives the early and late rain.
  • 2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ that each one may receive the things in the body according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
  • 1 Corinthians 3:13 each man’s work will be revealed. For the Day will declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself will test what sort of work each man’s work is.
  • Hebrews 4:13 There is no creature that is hidden from his sight, but all things are naked and laid open before the eyes of him to whom we must give an account.
  • Romans 2:16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men, according to my Good News, by Jesus Christ.
  • 2 Corinthians 10:18 For it isn’t he who commends himself who is approved, but whom the Lord commends.
  • Ecclesiastes 12:14 For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.
  • Romans 2:1 Therefore you are without excuse, O man, whoever you are who judge. For in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself. For you who judge practice the same things.
  • Revelation 20:12 I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and they opened books. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works.
  • 1 Peter 1:7 that the proof of your faith, which is more precious than gold that perishes even though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ—
  • Romans 2:29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose praise is not from men, but from God.
  • Romans 14:10-13 But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, “ ‘As I live,’ says the Lord, ‘to me every knee will bow. Every tongue will confess to God.’ ” So then each one of us will give account of himself to God. Therefore let’s not judge one another any more, but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block in his brother’s way, or an occasion for falling.
  • John 5:44 How can you believe, who receive glory from one another, and you don’t seek the glory that comes from the only God?
  • Romans 14:4 Who are you who judge another’s servant? To his own lord he stands or falls. Yes, he will be made to stand, for God has power to make him stand.
  • 2 Corinthians 4:2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
  • Matthew 7:1-2 “Don’t judge, so that you won’t be judged. For with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you.
  • Matthew 24:46 Blessed is that servant whom his lord finds doing so when he comes.
  • Luke 6:37 Don’t judge, and you won’t be judged. Don’t condemn, and you won’t be condemned. Set free, and you will be set free.
  • James 4:11 Don’t speak against one another, brothers. He who speaks against a brother and judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge.
  • Luke 12:1-3 Meanwhile, when a multitude of many thousands had gathered together, so much so that they trampled on each other, he began to tell his disciples first of all, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light. What you have spoken in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.
  • John 21:22 Jesus said to him, “If I desire that he stay until I come, what is that to you? You follow me.”
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:2 For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night.
  • 1 Peter 5:4 When the chief Shepherd is revealed, you will receive the crown of glory that doesn’t fade away.
  • Revelation 1:7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, including those who pierced him. All the tribes of the earth will mourn over him. Even so, Amen.
  • 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 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 25:23 “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.’
  • 2 Peter 3:4 and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? For, from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.”
  • 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.
  • Romans 2:7 to those who by perseverance in well-doing seek for glory, honor, and incorruptibility, eternal life;
  • 1 Corinthians 1:7 so that you come behind in no gift; waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ;
  • 1 Corinthians 11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
  • 1 Corinthians 15:23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then those who are Christ’s, at his coming.
  • 2 Peter 3:12 looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, which will cause the burning heavens to be dissolved, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?
  • Jude 1:14 About these also Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with ten thousands of his holy ones,
  • 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.’
  • 1 Corinthians 3:8 Now he who plants and he who waters are the same, but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

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Explain this verse (19 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain 5. Therefore judge nothing before the time From this…

5. Therefore judge nothing before the time From this conclusion it is manifest, that Paul did not mean to reprove every kind of judgment without exception, but only what is hasty and rash, without examination of the case. For the Corinthians did not mark with unjaundiced eye the character of each individual, but, blinded by ambition, groundlessly extolled one and depreciated another, and took upon themselves to mark out the dignity of each individual beyond what is lawful for men. Let us know, then, how much is allowed us, what is now within the sphere of our knowledge, and what is deferred until the day of Christ, and let us not attempt to go beyond these limits. For there are some things that are now seen openly, while there are others that lie buried in obscurity until the day of Christ.

Who will bring to light. If this is affirmed truly and properly respecting the day of Christ, it follows that matters are never so well regulated in this world but that many things are involved in darkness, and that there is never so much light, but that many things remain in obscurity. I speak of the life of men, and their actions. He explains in the second clause, what is the cause of the obscurity and confusion, so that all things are not now manifest. It is because there are wonderful recesses and deepest lurking-places in the hearts of men. Hence, until the thoughts of the hearts are brought to light, there will always be darkness.

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And then shall every one have praise It is as though he had said, “You now, O Corinthians, as if you had the adjudging of the prizes, crown some, and send away others with disgrace, but this right and office belong exclusively to Christ. You do that before the time — before it has become manifest who is worthy to be crowned, but the Lord has appointed a day on which he will make it manifest.” This statement takes its rise from the assurance of a good conscience, which brings us also this advantage, that committing our praises into the hands of God, we disregard the empty breath of human applause.

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain One could not be praised above the rest, but…
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord…
William Burkitt 1703 · Public Domain Our apostle’s design in these words, is not to…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain Therefore judge nothing before the time,.... This is said…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain Therefore judge nothing before the time - Appointed for…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 5. Judge nothing before the time] God, the…
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain Therefore - Inview of the danger of being deceived…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain Judge not, &c. He gives them an admonition against…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain Disproving the judicial power claimed by the Romish priesthood…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 5. The true Dignity of the Apostles, 1Co_4:1-13.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 5. Therefore judge nothing before the time] The precept…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (5) Before the time.—This is explained by the following…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain Judge nothing. St. Paul, in the Epistle to the…
B. W. Johnson 1891 · Public Domain 5. Therefore, judge nothing, etc. Hence, let no one…
J. W. McGarvey 1914 · Public Domain Wherefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord…
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 "Because what I have just said is true"
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 4:5 don’t make judgments about anyone: Only the Lord…

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