1 Corinthians 4

1 LET a man so account of us as of the ministers of Christ, and the dispensers of the mysteries of God.2 Here now it is required among the dispensers, that a man be found faithful.3 But to me it is a very small thing to be judged by you, or by man's day; but neither do I judge my own self.4 For I am not conscious to myself of any thing, yet am I not hereby justified; but he that judgeth me, is the Lord.5 Therefore judge not 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 from God.6 But these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollo, for your sakes; that in us you may learn, that one be not puffed up against the other for another, above that which is written.7 For who distinguisheth thee ? Or what hast thou that thou hast not received ? And if thou hast received, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it ?8 You are now full; you are now become rich; you reign without us; and I would to God you did reign, that we also might reign with you.9 For I think that God hath set forth us apostles, the last, as it were men appointed to death: we are made a spectacle to the world, and to angels, and to men.10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are honourable, but we without honour.11 Even unto this hour we both hunger and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no fixed abode;12 And we labour, working with our own hands: we are reviled, and we bless; we are persecuted, and we suffer it.13 We are blasphemed, and we entreat; we are made as the refuse of this world, the offscouring of all even until now.14 I write not these things to confound you; but I admonish you as my dearest children.15 For if you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet not many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, by the gospel, I have begotten you.16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me, as I also am of Christ.17 For this cause have I sent to you Timothy, who is my dearest son and faithful in the Lord; who will put you in mind of my ways, which are in Christ Jesus; as I teach every where in every church.18 As if I would not come to you, so some are puffed up.19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will: and will know, not the speech of them that are puffed up, but the power.20 For the kingdom of God is not in speech, but in power.21 What will you ? shall I come to you with a rod; or in charity, and in the 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?