Misinterpretations often portray this verse as elevating apostles to an untouchable elite status above ordinary believers or as secret-keepers of hidden occult knowledge, whereas it actually emphasizes humility and service; another error views ministers solely as powerless subordinates without authority, ignoring the steward's responsibility which demands faithfulness and oversight in handling God's revealed gospel truths for all.
I Corinthians 4:1
King James Version (1769)
1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
Paul instructs believers to regard apostles such as himself as servants of Christ and stewards of God's mysteries, highlighting their role not as self-promoting figures seeking human approval but as humble ministers faithfully entrusted with and dispensing divine truths, accountable ultimately to God rather than to people's judgments.