Douglas Beaumont has a very good article, "Does 1 Corinthians 4:6 teach Sola Scriptura?" This is a verse that I have discussed a few times on this blog, such as this response to Matt Slick of CARM's abuse of the verse (click here for other pages discussing sola scriptura). Beaumont has a handy listing of Protestant commentators who do not see sola scriptura in this passage or the phrase, "beyond what is written" (Greek: τὸ μὴ ὑπὲρ ἃ γέγραπται):
· John Calvin believed that 1 Corinthians 4:6 showed Paul’s concern “that no one be puffed up for his own teacher against another, that is, that they be not lifted up with pride on account of their teachers, and do not abuse their names for the purpose of forming parties, and rending the Church asunder.[!] . . . The clause above what is written may be explained in two ways — either as referring to Paul’s writings, or to the proofs from Scripture which he has brought forward. As this, however, is a matter of small moment, my readers may be left at liberty to take whichever they may prefer. (Commentary)
· The Geneva Study Bible says nothing of Sola Scriptura at 1 Corinthians 4:6, rather it simply notes that Paul “having rejected their judgment, he sets forth himself again as a singular example of modesty, as one who concealed in this epistle those factious teacher’s names, did not hesitate to put down his own name and Apollos’ in their place, and took upon him as it were their shame. And this shows how far was he from preferring himself to any. By our example, who choose rather to take other men’s faults upon us, than to find fault with any by name.”
· John Wesley, says of 1 Corinthians 4:6 Paul speaks of “from what has been said concerning us, who, however eminent we are, are mere instruments in God’s hand. Not to think of any man above what is here written – Or above what scripture warrants.”
· John Gill, apparently saw nothing of Sola Scriptura in 1 Corinthians 4:6. He saw the phrase – “That ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written” as “meaning, either in the word of God in general; or in some particular passages of Scripture he might have respect to; or rather in the above places in this, and the foregoing chapter, where he gives the fore mentioned characters of ministers; where, in the apostles themselves, in their own words, from their own account, they might learn, on the one hand, not to ascribe too much to them, nor, on the other hand, to detract from their just character and usefulness.”
· Matthew Henry says of 1 Corinthians 4:6 that, “Our own judgment is not to be depended upon as to our faithfulness, any more than our own works for our justification. There is a day coming, that will bring men’s secret sins into open day, and discover the secrets of their hearts. Then every slandered believer will be justified, and every faithful servant approved and rewarded. The word of God is the best rule by which to judge as to men.”
· Charles Hodge, the prince of the old Princeton theologians, said of 1 Corinthians 4:6 that Paul was commanding his readers not to estimate ministers beyond scriptural standards for ministers: “[Paul] had presented the truth in a concrete form, saying that he and Apollos were servants, mere instruments in the hand of God. This was the (μετασχηματισμός), the change of form which he had adopted. He did this, he says, that they might learn in we, i. e. by what I have said of Apollos and myself, not to think above that which is written. That is, not to estimate ministers above the scriptural standard. As Paul had been treating of this subject, above that which is written, might seem naturally to refer to what he himself had just written. But as the phrase always elsewhere refers to the Old Testament, which were the writings recognized as of divine authority, such is probably the reference here. He does not appeal to any one passage, but to the doctrine taught in the Scriptures concerning ministers of religion. The Corinthians were not to think of their ministers more highly than the Bible authorized them to think. (An Exposition of the First Epistle to the Corinthians)
· G. K. Beale and D. A. Carson note that scholars see 1 Corinthians 4:6 as “most naturally taken as a reference to Scripture . . not to transgress the exhortations found in and constructed from the Scriptures, to boast exclusively in the Lord (not in human leaders), and to recognize the unity of the people of God. . . . The phrase ‘what is written’ in Paul always refers to Scripture.…the witness of Scripture places a strict limit on human pride and calls for trust in God alone. What would it mean to go “beyond” this witness of Scripture? It would mean, quite simply, to boast in human wisdom by supposing that we are, as it were, smarter than God. The last clause of 1 Corinthians 4:6 confirms this interpretation.” (Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament)
