哥林多前书 4
使徒的工作
1 人应该把我们看为基督的执事，为上帝的奥秘的管家。 2 所求于管家的，是要他忠心。 3 我被你们评断，或被别人评断，我都以为是极小的事；连我自己也不评断自己。 4 虽然我不觉得自己有错，却也不能因此判为无罪；审断我的是主。 5 所以，时候未到，在主来以前什么都不要评断，他要照出暗中的隐情，揭发人的动机。那时，各人要从上帝那里得著称赞。
6 弟兄们，为你们的缘故，我拿这些事应用到我自己和亚波罗身上，让你们从我们学到“不可过于圣经所记”这话的意思，免得你们自高自大，看重这个，看轻那个。 7 使你与人不同的是谁呢？你所有的有哪一个不是领受的呢？若是领受的，为何自夸，仿佛不是领受的呢？
8 你们已经饱足了，已经富足了，用不着我们，自己就作王了。我愿意你们果真作王，让我们也可以与你们一同作王！ 9 我想，上帝把我们作使徒的明显地列在末后，好像定死罪的囚犯，因为我们成了一台戏，给世界、天使和众人观看。 10 我们为基督的缘故成为愚拙的；你们在基督里倒是聪明的。我们软弱，你们倒强壮；你们有荣耀，我们倒被藐视。 11 直到如今，我们还是又饥又渴，又赤身露体，又挨打，又到处漂泊， 12 并且劳碌，亲手做工；被人咒骂，我们就祝福；被人迫害，我们就忍受； 13 被人毁谤，我们就劝导。直到如今，人还把我们看作世上的污秽，万物中的渣滓。
14 我写这些话，不是要使你们羞愧，而是要警戒你们，好像我所爱的儿女一样。 15 虽然你们在基督里有无数的导师，却没有许多父亲，因我是在基督耶稣里用福音生了你们。 16 所以，我求你们要效法我。 17 因此，我已差提摩太到你们那里去。他在主里面是我亲爱和忠心的儿子；他要提醒你们，我在基督耶稣t里怎样行事为人，在各处各教会中怎样教导人。
18 有些人以为我不到你们那里去而自高自大。 19 但是，主若准许，我会很快到你们那里去；我所要知道的，不是那些自高自大者的言语，而是他们的权能。 20 因为上帝的国不在乎言语，而在乎权能。 21 你们愿意怎么样呢？要我带着棍子到你们那里去呢，还是带着慈爱温柔的心呢？
1 CORINTHIANS 4
The Work of the Apostles
1 Think of us as servants of Christ who have been given the work of explaining God's mysterious ways. 2 And since our first duty is to be faithful to the one we work for, 3 it doesn't matter to me if I am judged by you or even by a court of law. In fact, I don't judge myself. 4 I don't know of anything against me, but this doesn't prove I am right. The Lord is my judge.
5 So don't judge anyone until the Lord returns. He will show what is hidden in the dark and what is in everyone's heart. Then God will be the one who praises each of us.
6 Friends, I have used Apollos and myself as examples to teach you the meaning of the saying, “Follow the rules.” I want you to stop saying one of us is better than the other. 7 What is so special about you? What do you have that you were not given? And if it was given to you, how can you brag?
8 Are you already satisfied? Are you now rich? Have you become kings while we are still nobodies? I wish you were kings. Then we could have a share in your kingdom.
9 It seems to me that God has put us apostles in the worst possible place. We are like prisoners on their way to death. Angels and the people of this world just laugh at us. 10 Because of Christ we are thought of as fools, but Christ has made you wise. We are weak and hated, but you are powerful and respected. 11 Even today we go hungry and thirsty and don't have anything to wear except rags. We are mistreated and don't have a place to live. 12 t We work hard with our own hands, and when people abuse us, we wish them well. When we suffer, we are patient.
13 When someone curses us, we answer with kind words. Until now we are thought of as nothing more than the trash and garbage of this world.
14 I am not writing to embarrass you. I want to help you, just as parents help their own dear children. 15 Ten thousand people may teach you about Christ, but I am your only father. You became my children when I told you about Christ Jesus, 16 t and I want you to be like me.
17 This is why I sent Timothy to you. I love him like a son, and he is a faithful servant of the Lord. Timothy will tell you what I do to follow Christ and how it agrees with what I always teach about Christ in every church.
18 Some of you think I am not coming for a visit, and so you are bragging. 19 But if the Lord lets me come, I will soon be there. Then I will find out if the ones who are doing all this bragging really have any power. 20 God's kingdom isn't just a lot of words. It is power. 21 What do you want me to do when I arrive? Do you want me to be hard on you or to be kind and gentle?