1 Corinthians 4
1 Accordingly, let man consider us to be ministers of Christ and attendants of the mysteries of God.2 Here and now, it is required of attendants that each one be found to be faithful.3 But as for me, it is such a small thing to be judged by you, or by the age of mankind. And neither do I judge myself.4 For I have nothing on my conscience. But I am not justified by this. For the Lord is the One who judges me.5 And so, do not choose to judge before the time, until the Lord returns. He will illuminate the hidden things of the darkness, and he will make manifest the decisions of hearts. And then each one shall have praise from God.6 And so, brothers, I have presented these things in myself and in Apollo, for your sakes, so that you may learn, through us, that no one should be inflated against one person and for another, not beyond what has been written.7 For what distinguishes you from another? And what do you have that you have not received? But if you have received it, why do you glory, as if you had not received it?8 So, now you have been filled, and now you have been made wealthy, as if to reign without us? But I wish that you would reign, so that we, too, might reign with you!9 For I think that God has presented us as the last Apostles, as those destined for death. For we have been made into a spectacle for the world, and for Angels, and for men.10 So we are fools because of Christ, but you are discerning in Christ? We are weak, but you are strong? You are noble, but we are ignoble?11 Even to this very hour, we hunger and thirst, and we are naked and repeatedly beaten, and we are unsteady.12 And we labor, working with our own hands. We are slandered, and so we bless. We suffer and endure persecution.13 We are cursed, and so we pray. We have become like the refuse of this world, like the reside of everything, even until now.14 I am not writing these things in order to confound you, but in order to admonish you, as my dearest sons.15 For you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, but not so many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, through the Gospel, I have begotten you.16 Therefore, I beg you, be imitators of me, just as I am of Christ.17 For this reason, I have sent you Timothy, who is my dearest son, and who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my ways, which are in Christ Jesus, just as I teach everywhere, in every church.18 Certain persons have become inflated in thinking that I would not return to you.19 But I will return to you soon, if the Lord is willing. And I will consider, not the words of those who are inflated, but the virtue.20 For the kingdom of God is not in words, but in virtue.21 What would you prefer? Should I return to you with a rod, or with charity and a spirit of meekness?
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?