Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful.
Parallel translations
- WEB Here, moreover, it is required of stewards, that they be found faithful.
- KJV Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man 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.
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 25:21“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.’
- Luke 12:42The Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the right times?
- Luke 16:10–12He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much. He who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.
- Prov 13:17A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a trustworthy envoy gains healing.
- 2 Cor 2:17For we are not as so many, peddling the word of God. But as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, we speak in Christ.
- Matt 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.’
- Num 12:7My servant Moses is not so. He is faithful in all my house.
- Col 4:17Tell Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you fulfill it.”
- Col 1:7even as you learned of Epaphras our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf,
- 1 Cor 7:25Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who has obtained mercy from the Lord to be trustworthy.
- 1 Cor 4:17Because of this I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in every assembly.
- Col 4:7All my affairs will be made known to you by Tychicus, the beloved brother, faithful servant, and fellow bondservant in the Lord.
- 2 Cor 4:2But 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.
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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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