Prva poslanica Korinæanima 4

Pavao i Korinćani

1 Zato Apolona i mene smatrajte samo Kristovim slugama zaduženima da objašnjavamo Božje tajne.2 Kada je tko za što zadužen, od njega se očekuje da to vjerno obavlja.3 A jesam li ja tako činio? Nimalo mi nije do toga da o tome prosuđujete vi ili bilo tko drugi. Čak ni sam sebe ne prosuđujem.

4 Savjest mi je čista, ali čak me ni to ne opravdava. Jer sudac mi je samo Gospodin.
5 Zato ne donosite preuranjene zaključke o tomu tko je vjeran, a tko nije prije nego što se Gospodin vrati. Kad on dođe, iznijet će na vidjelo tajne skrivene u tami i razotkriti nakane svačijeg srca. Tada će svatko primiti pohvalu od Boga.6 Draga braćo, Apolona i sebe uzeo sam za primjer da biste od nas naučili što znači: "Ne preko onoga što stoji pisano!" te da se ne nadimate što pristajete uz jednog učitelja protiv drugoga.

7 Po čemu si ti bolji od koga drugoga? Što imaš a da ti Bog to nije dao? A ako ti je sve dao Bog, zašto se hvališ kao da si to sam postignuo?
8 Vi mislite da već imate sve što trebate! Već ste bogati! I bez nas ste postali kraljevima! Kamo sreće da ste se zaista već zakraljili jer bismo onda i mi kraljevali s vama.

9 Čini mi se da je Bog nas apostole stavio na posljednje mjesto, poput ratnih zarobljenika osuđenih na smrt na kraju pobjedničke povorke, da nas tako gleda cijeli svijet, i anđeli i ljudi.
10 Zbog svoje odanosti Kristu činimo se glupima, no vi ste, dakako, vrlo mudri kršćani! Mi smo slabi, a vi jaki! O vama ljudi lijepo govore, a nama se smiju.11 Sve do ovoga trenutka podnosimo glad, žeđu i golotinju, primamo batine i beskućnici smo.12 Mukotrpno radimo vlastitim rukama da zaradimo za život. Blagoslivljamo one koji nas vrijeđaju, strpljivo podnosimo one koji nas zlostavljaju.

13 Blago uzvraćamo onima koji nas ocrnjuju. Postali smo kao smeće svijeta, kao svačiji izmet - sve do sada.
14 Ne pišem vam to da vas posramim, nego da vas upozorim kao svoju ljubljenu djecu.15 Jer da imate i bezbroj učitelja o Kristu, ipak imate samo jednoga duhovnog oca. Ja sam vam postao ocem u Kristu Isusu kad sam vam propovijedao Radosnu vijest.

16 Zato vas zaklinjem: činite kao i ja.
17 Šaljem vam zato i Timoteja, svojega voljenog i vjernog sina u Gospodinu. On će vas podsjetiti na moje naputke o vladanju u Kristu, koje poučavam u svakoj crkvi.18 Znam da su se neki od vas uznijeli kao da više neću doći k vama.19 Ali doći ću, i to uskoro, bude li Gospodin htio, ne zato da vidim što ti umišljeni ljudi govore, nego da vidim što mogu u Gospodinu.20 Jer Božje kraljevstvo nije u riječima, nego u Božjoj sili.

21 Što vam je draže, da k vama dođem s kaznama i prijekorima ili s ljubavlju i blagošću?

1 Corinthians 4

The Apostles’ Ministry

1 Onet should think about us this way – as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.2 Now what is sought in stewards is that one be found faithful.3 So for me, it is a minor matter that I am judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.4 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not acquitted because of this. The one who judges me is the Lord.

5 So then, do not judge anything before the time. Wait until the Lord comes. He willt bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the motives of hearts. Then each will receive recognitiont from God.
6 I have applied these things to myself and Apollos because of you, brothers and sisters,t so that through us you may learn “not to go beyond what is written,” so that none of you will be puffed up in favor of the one against the other.7 For who concedes you any superiority? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you boast as though you did not?8 Already you are satisfied! Already you are rich! You have become kings without us! I wish you had become kings so that we could reign with you!9 For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to die, because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to people.10 We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, we are dishonored!11 To the present hour we are hungry and thirsty, poorly clothed, brutally treated, and without a roof over our heads.12 We do hard work, toiling with our own hands. When we are verbally abused, we respond with a blessing, when persecuted, we endure,

13 when people lie about us, we answer in a friendly manner. We are the world’s dirt and scum, even now.

A Father’s Warning

14 I am not writing these things to shame you, but to correct you as my dear children.15 For though you may have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, because I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.16 I encourage you, then, be imitators of me.17 For this reason, I have sent Timothy to you, who is my dear and faithful son in the Lord. He will remind you of my ways in Christ,s as I teach them everywhere in every church.18 Some have become arrogant,t as if I were not coming to you.19 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord is willing, and I will find out not only the talk of these arrogant people, but also their power.20 For the kingdom of God is demonstrated not in idle talk but with power.

21 What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod of disciplinets or with love and a spirit of gentleness?