Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Corinthians 4:3

"But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man`s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self." — 1 Corinthians 4:3 (ASV)

But with me. In my estimate; in regard to myself. That is, I esteem it a matter of no concern. Since I am responsible as a steward to my Master only, it is a matter of small concern what men think of me, provided I have His approval. Paul was not indifferent to the good opinion of men. He did not despise their favor or seek their contempt. But this was not the principal thing which he regarded; and we have here a noble elevation of purpose and of aim, which shows how direct was his intention to serve and please the Master who had appointed him to his office.

That I should be judged. The word rendered judged here properly denotes examining the qualities of any person or thing; and sometimes, as here, expressing the result of such examination or judgment. Here it means to blame or condemn.

Of you. By you. Dear as you are to me as a church and a people, yet my main desire is not to secure your esteem, or to avoid your censure, but to please my Master, and secure His approval.

Or of man's judgment. Of any man's judgment. What he had just said—that he esteemed it a matter not worth regarding, whatever their opinion of him might be—could seem like arrogance, or appear as if he looked upon them with contempt.

To avoid this interpretation of his language, he here says that it was not because he despised them, or regarded their opinion as less valuable than that of others, but because he had the same feelings in regard to all men.

Whatever their rank, character, talent, or learning, he regarded it as a matter of the least possible consequence what they thought of him. He was answerable not to them, but to his Master, and he could pursue an independent course, whatever they might think of his conduct. This is also evidently designed to reprove them for seeking so much the praise of each other.

The Greek here is "of man's day," where day is used, as it often is in Hebrew, to denote the day of trial, the day of judgment, and then simply judgment. Thus the word, the Hebrew day, is used in Job 24:1; Psalms 37:13; Joel 1:15; Joel 2:1.

Yea, I judge not mine own self. I do not attempt to pronounce a judgment on myself. I am conscious of imperfection and of being biased by self-love in my own favor. I do not feel that my judgment of myself would be strictly impartial and in all respects to be trusted.

However favorable my opinion of myself may be, I am aware that I may be biased. This is designed to soften what he had just said about their judging him and to show further the little value that should be placed on any human judgment.

"If I do not regard my own opinion of myself as highly valuable, I cannot be suspected of undervaluing you when I say that I do not much regard your opinion. And if I do not highly esteem my own opinion of myself, then it is not to be expected that I should set a high value on the opinions of others."

God alone is the infallible Judge. Since we and our fellow men are liable to be biased in our opinions—whether from envy, ignorance, or self-love—we should regard the judgment of the world as of little value.