1 Corinthians 4:11
Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
Even unto the present hour Paul and his fellow apostles endured hunger and thirst, lack of adequate clothing, beating and abuse, and having no settled home in their gospel service. Their hardship also included cold, danger, exhausting labor and opposition borne in perseverance while working for the churches. The verse belongs to 1 Corinthians 4:1-16, which sets forth the position of a steward to be diligently studied, with apostolic faithfulness made a spectacle unto the world and angels and men under reviling and persecution in great accountability to keep the Master's goods in order with a conscience void of offense toward God and men. Their suffering did not excuse them from labor, for Paul worked with his own hands rather than depend on the church before proving the fruit of his work, leaving an example of sacrifice for young ministers. It calls true shepherds and missionary laborers to a self-denying life that preaches not self but Christ Jesus the Lord, bearing about the dying of the Lord Jesus that His life may be manifest in mortal flesh, willing to work anywhere and in different capacities and to lift the standard of truth in cities and highways. The precious truth they received refines and purifies and ennobles, cutting away fleshly lusts and bringing every thought into captivity to Christ, belonging with God who commanded light to shine out of darkness to give the light of the knowledge of His glory in the face of Jesus Christ.
Hardships Paul Endured
The verse lists what Paul and his fellow apostles and workers endured in gospel service: hunger and thirst, inadequate clothing and nakedness, physical beating and abuse and buffeting, and having no settled home or certain dwelling place or homelessness. Paul bore lack of clothing and housing and physical mistreatment while carrying out his work, and the other apostles shared hunger, thirst, inadequate clothing, physical abuse, and lack of a settled home while serving Christ.
These sufferings were ongoing even unto the present hour at the time he wrote, continuing through his ministry and labor. He and his fellow workers still endured hunger, thirst, inadequate clothing, physical mistreatment and blows, and homelessness in their service for Christ, accompanying both their ministry and their labor with their own hands.
The hardship also included exposure to cold, danger, exhausting labor, and opposition, endured in perseverance while working for the gospel and serving the churches. Such physical suffering and danger were part of apostolic labor, borne in continued toil and trial rather than set aside.
Stewardship and Ministerial Example
1 Corinthians 4:1-16 clearly defines the position of a steward and is to be made a matter of diligent study in order to learn where one stands. Apostolic stewardship is there set forth last as a spectacle unto the world and to angels and to men, enduring hunger and thirst and nakedness and buffeting and homelessness while laboring and blessing under reviling and persecution. That stewardship is exercised in faithfulness and great accountability for keeping the Master's goods in means and property in order, with a conscience void of offense toward God and toward fellow men. The hardships listed did not excuse from labor, for he was not above supporting himself by working with his own hands, and his willingness to sacrifice and work in this way is an example for young ministers. His example shows that a preacher need not depend on the church for support before proving the fruit of his labor.
The verse calls true shepherds, missionary families, and laborers who feel the burden of caring for the flock of God to a self-denying life. That life means preaching not self but Christ Jesus the Lord, and being servants for Jesus' sake, always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus that the life of Jesus might be made manifest in mortal flesh. It calls for workers who are not self-centered, who can work in different capacities, who will not faint at the prospect of self-denial, and who will work anywhere. Such workers take up the work right at hand and do it as for Jesus, and then reach forward to other lines of work, lifting the standard of truth in cities and highways.
The precious truth accepted makes workers wise with Christ, refining, purifying, elevating and ennobling the receiver, cutting away fleshly lusts and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. This service belongs with God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, shining in the heart to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.