Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
Parallel translations
- WEB Here, moreover, it is required of stewards, that they be found faithful.
- BSB Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.
- NKJV Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
- NASB In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy.
- NLT Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The one essential quality required of a steward is faithfulness. It matters because God measures ministers by faithfulness to His trust, not by popularity or apparent success.
Overview
A steward managed his master's resources and was judged solely by trustworthiness in carrying out the owner's will. Paul applies this to gospel ministry: the standard is faithfulness to the truth entrusted, not eloquence, results, or human acclaim. This frees ministers from chasing applause and calls every believer entrusted with God's grace to faithful stewardship before Christ the Master.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Matt 25:21His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
- Luke 12:42And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
- Luke 16:10–12He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
- Prov 13:17A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.
- 2 Cor 2:17For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
- Matt 25:23His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
- Num 12:7My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.
- Col 4:17And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.
- Col 1:7As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;
- 1 Cor 7:25Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.
- 1 Cor 4:17For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.
- Col 4:7All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord:
- 2 Cor 4:2But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
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Christ at the center
Christ crucified is the wisdom and power of God; he is our Passover sacrificed for us, the firstfruits of resurrection, the foundation on which everything is built.
How 1 Corinthians 4:2 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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