1 Corinthians 4 brings to a close the section Paul introduced in the first chapter of the book regarding factions, worldliness, and divisions in the church. He scolds the Corinthians, and even brings sarcasm to bear in conveying his point. However, the bigger picture is that Paul speaks of the high privilege of the entrustment given to believers as keepers and givers of the "secret things of God" (namely, salvation in the gospel), and invites the Corinthians and us to join with him in suffering for the gospel.