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2 KORINTIËRS 4

Die bediening van die apostels

1 So moet julle ons dan sien: ons is dienaars van Christus en bestuurders aan wie die geheimenisse van God toevertrou is. 2 Van 'n bestuurder word veral vereis dat hy betroubaar moet wees. 3 Maar vir my is dit nie van die minste belang of my betroubaarheid deur julle of deur 'n menslike regbank beoordeel word nie. Trouens, ek beoordeel dit self nie eens nie. 4 Daar is ook niks waaroor my gewete my aankla nie, maar dit beteken nog nie dat ek vrygespreek is nie. Dit is die Here wat my beoordeel. 5 Daarom moet julle nie te vroeg, voordat die Here kom, 'n oordeel uitspreek nie. Hy sal ook die dinge wat in duisternis verborge is, aan die lig bring en die bedoelings van die hart blootlê. Elkeen sal dan van God die lof ontvang wat hom toekom.

6 In hierdie uiteensetting, broers, het ek myself en Apollos as voorbeelde gebruik om julle te leer wat die gesegde beteken: “Hou jou binne die perke wat God gestel het.” Dan sal niemand hom belangriker as 'n ander beskou oor sy leermeester nie. 7 Wie maak jou so belangrik? En wat besit jy wat jy nie ontvang het nie? As jy dit dan ontvang het, waarom stel jy jou so aan asof jy dit nie ontvang het nie? 8 Julle het mos klaar alles wat julle begeer! Julle is al klaar ryk! Julle regeer al klaar soos konings! Ons nog nie. As julle tog maar werklik konings was, sodat ons saam met julle kon regeer.

9 Dit lyk vir my God het aan ons, die apostels, die laaste plek in die ry gegee asof ons mense is wat tot die dood in die arena veroordeel is. Ons het 'n skouspel geword vir die wêreld, vir engele sowel as vir mense.

10 Ons is dwaas ter wille van Christus, julle is verstandig in Christus; ons is swak, julle is sterk; julle geniet aansien, ons word verag.

11 Tot op hierdie oomblik ly ons honger en dors, ons is armoedig aangetrek en word mishandel. Ons swerf rond

12 en werk hard met ons eie hande. Ons word uitgeskel, en ons antwoord met seënwense; ons word vervolg, en ons verdra dit;

13 ons word beledig, en ons bly vriendelik. Ons het die uitvaagsels van die wêreld, die skuim van die samelewing geword, en dit is nou nog so.

14 Hierdie dinge skryf ek nie om julle skaam te maak nie, maar om julle as my geliefde kinders tereg te wys, 15 want al sou julle ook duisende leermeesters in Christus hê, baie vaders het julle nie. Deur die verkondiging van die evangelie is ek in Christus Jesus julle vader. 16 Daarom spoor ek julle aan: Volg my voorbeeld! 17 Om hierdie rede het ek Timoteus, my geliefde en getroue seun in die Here, na julle toe gestuur. Hy sal julle herinner aan my lewe en leer in Christus Jesus, waarin ek ook oral in elke gemeente onderrig gee.

18 Party van julle het gedink ek kom nie weer na julle toe nie en het hulle toe begin aanmatig. 19 Maar binnekort sal ek na julle toe kom, as die Here wil, en dan sal ek self die verwaandes leer ken, nie volgens hulle praatjies nie, maar volgens wat hulle kan doen. 20 Die koninkryk van God is immers nie 'n saak van praatjies nie, maar van krag. 21 Wat verkies julle? Moet ek met 'n slaanding na julle toe kom, of in liefde en in 'n gees van vriendelikheid?

1 Corinthians 4

1  SO THEN, let us [apostles] be looked upon as ministering servants of Christ and stewards (trustees) of the mysteries (the secret purposes) of God.2  Moreover, it is [essentially] required of stewards that a man should be found faithful [proving himself worthy of trust].3  But [as for me personally] it matters very little to me that I should be put on trial by you [on this point], and that you or any other human tribunal should investigate and question and cross-question me. I do not even put myself on trial and judge myself.4  I am not conscious of anything against myself, and I feel blameless; but I am not vindicated and acquitted before God on that account. It is the Lord [Himself] Who examines and judges me.5  So do not make any hasty or premature judgments before the time when the Lord comes [again], for He will both bring to light the secret things that are [now hidden] in darkness and disclose and expose the [secret] aims (motives and purposes) of hearts. Then every man will receive his [due] commendation from God.6  Now I have applied all this [about parties and factions] to myself and Apollos for your sakes, brethren, so that from what I have said of us [as illustrations], you may learn [to think of men in accordance with Scripture and] not to go beyond that which is written, that none of you may be puffed up and inflated with pride and boast in favor of one [minister and teacher] against another.7  For who separates you from the others [as a faction leader]? [Who makes you superior and sets you apart from another, giving you the preeminence?] What have you that was not given to you? If then you received it [from someone], why do you boast as if you had not received [but had gained it by your own efforts]?8  [You behave as if] you are already filled and think you have enough [you are full and content, feeling no need of anything more]! Already you have become rich [in spiritual gifts and graces]! [Without any counsel or instruction from us, in your conceit], you have ascended your thrones and come into your kingdom without including us! And would that it were true and that you did reign, so that we might be sharing the kingdom with you!9  For it seems to me that God has made an exhibit of us apostles, exposing us to view last [of all, like men in a triumphal procession who are] sentenced to death [and displayed at the end of the line]. For we have become a spectacle to the world [a show in the world’s amphitheater] with both men and angels [as spectators].10  We are [looked upon as] fools on account of Christ and for His sake, but you are [supposedly] so amazingly wise and prudent in Christ! We are weak, but you are [so very] strong! You are highly esteemed, but we are in disrepute and contempt!11  To this hour we have gone both hungry and thirsty; we [habitually] wear but one undergarment [and shiver in the cold]; we are roughly knocked about and wander around homeless.12  And we still toil unto weariness [for our living], working hard with our own hands. When men revile us [wound us with an accursed sting], we bless them. When we are persecuted, we take it patiently and endure it.13  When we are slandered and defamed, we [try to] answer softly and bring comfort. We have been made and are now the rubbish and filth of the world [the offscouring of all things, the scum of the earth].14  I do not write this to shame you, but to warn and counsel you as my beloved children.15  After all, though you should have ten thousand teachers (guides to direct you) in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the glad tidings (the Gospel).16  So I urge and implore you, be imitators of me.17  For this very cause I sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and trustworthy child in the Lord, who will recall to your minds my methods of proceeding and course of conduct and way of life in Christ, such as I teach everywhere in each of the churches.18  Some of you have become conceited and arrogant and pretentious, counting on my not coming to you.19  But I will come to you [and] shortly, if the Lord is willing, and then I will perceive and understand not what the talk of these puffed up and arrogant spirits amount to, but their force (the moral power and excellence of soul they really possess).20  For the kingdom of God consists of and is based on not talk but power (moral power and excellence of soul).21  Now which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of correction, or with love and in a spirit of gentleness?