1 Corinthians 4:3
“But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you, or by man’s judgment. Yes, I don’t judge my own self.”
What does 1 Corinthians 4:3 mean?
Paul is saying that human opinions about him, whether from the Corinthian church or anyone else, matter very little to him. He's not being arrogant here, but rather pointing out that even his own self-assessment can't be trusted as the final word on who he is or what he's worth. What matters is God's judgment alone, which comes later in verse 4 when Paul says only the Lord can truly evaluate his heart and work. This is deeply freeing if you're someone whose confidence gets shaken by criticism or who wrestles with harsh self-judgment. Paul is modeling a kind of peace that comes from anchoring your identity in God's view of you rather than in the shifting opinions of others, including yourself.