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1 Corinthians 4

Christ’s Servant, God’s Steward

1 Thus let a person consider us as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries.2 In this case, moreover, it is sought in stewards that one be found faithful.3 But to me it is a very little matter that I be judged by you or by a human court,t but I do not even judge myself.4 For I am conscious of nothing against myself, but not by this am I vindicated. But the one who judges me is the Lord.

5 Therefore do not judge anything before the time, until the Lord should come, who will both enlighten the hidden things of darkness and will reveal the counsels of hearts, and then praise will come to each one from God.

The Apostles’ Humility

6 Now I have applied these things, brothers, to myself and Apollos for your sake, in order that in us you may learn not to go beyond what is written, lest someone be inflated with pride on behalf of one person against the other.7 For who concedes you superiority? And what do you have that you did not receive? But if indeed you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?8 Already you are satiated! Already you are rich! Apart from us you reign as kings! And would that indeed you reigned as kings, in order that we also might reign as kings with you!9 For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as condemned to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world and to angels and to people.10 We are fools for the sake of Christ, but you are prudent in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, but we are dishonored!11 Until the present hour we are both hungry and thirsty and poorly clothed and roughly treated and homeless,12 and we toil, working with our own hands. When we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure;

13 when we are slandered, we encourage. We have become like the refuse of the world, the offscouring of all things, until now.

Paul’s Concern for the Corinthian Believers

14 I am not writing these things to shame you, but admonishing you as my dear children.15 For if you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I fathered you through the gospel.16 Therefore I exhort you, become imitators of me.17 Because of this, I have sent to you Timothy, who is my dear and faithful child in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ Jesus, just as I teach everywhere in every church.18 But some have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you.19 But I am coming to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will know not the talk of the ones who have become arrogant, but the power.20 For the kingdom of God is not with talk, but with power.

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

1 Corinthians 4

1 Let a man so account of us, as of ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.2 Here, moreover, it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.4 For I know nothing against myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.5 Wherefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then shall each man have his praise from God.6 Now these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes; that in us ye might learn not to go beyond the things which are written; that no one of you be puffed up for the one against the other.7 For who maketh thee to differ? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? but if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it?8 Already are ye filled, already ye are become rich, ye have come to reign without us: yea and I would that ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.9 For, I think, God hath set forth us the apostles last of all, as men doomed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, both to angels and men.10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye have glory, but we have dishonor.11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling-place;12 and we toil, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;13 being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things, even until now.14 I write not these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.15 For though ye have ten thousand tutors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I begat you through the gospel.16 I beseech you therefore, be ye imitators of me.17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who shall put you in remembrance of my ways which are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in every church.18 Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you.19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will; and I will know, not the word of them that are puffed up, but the power.20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.21 What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?