1 Corinthians 4:6,7 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

And these things Mentioned 1 Corinthians 1:10, &c., 1 Corinthians 3:4, &c.; I have in a figure very obviously transferred to myself and Apollos And Cephas, instead of naming those particular preachers at Corinth, to whom you are so fondly attached; that ye might learn in us From what has been said concerning us; not to think of any man above what is written Here or elsewhere, in God's word; that is, above what Scripture warrants; not to set a higher value upon any of your teachers, or their gifts and abilities, than what I have expressed, 1 Corinthians 3:6-8, agreeable to Scripture; namely, that they are only instruments in God's hand, and that all the success of their labours depends on his blessing. Thus this great apostle, by stripping himself of all honour, and by taking to himself the simple character of a servant of Christ, taught the heads of the faction to lay aside their boasting, and behave with modesty, especially as all the teachers at Corinth did nothing but build upon the foundation which he had laid, and exercised no spiritual gift but what they had received, either through him or through some other apostle. That none of you be puffed up for one against another That you should not value yourselves by reason of your relation to, or dependance upon, one teacher more than another, thereby magnifying one, and vilifying another. For who maketh thee to differ Either in gifts or graces; or who has so far advanced thee in point of wisdom and judgment above all other believers, as that thou canst, by thy own authority, set up any one teacher above another? What hast thou that thou didst not receive From God, who has given as much to others also?thou that thou didst not receive From God, who has given as much to others also? Why dost thou glory Or boast in the unmerited gift of his liberal goodness; as if thou hadst not received it? As if thou hadst it originally from thyself?