“My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.”—1 Corinthians 4:4
Not a word-for-word translation as the word for conscience is not in the text, though the use of it is, as not being aware of any offense threby, yet not as if his conscience was insensible or was to be dispensed with, but contextually it refers to the final judgment on his work,
F.B Myers states,
For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. (1 Corinthians 4:4-5)
Paul was not aware that he had violated his Master’s confidence, but he could not be content till he had heard the Master’s verdict on his life-work. Notice the four courts of appeal-my own judgment, your judgment, man’s judgment, and Christ’s. The Master will reverse many human judgments, but all will bear witness to the absolute justice of His verdict.