1 Corinthians 4

1 Let each one so think of us as ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

Let a man so account of us as of the ministers of Christ, and the dispensers of the mysteries of God.

2 Now it is required in stewards, that each one be found faithful.

Here now it is required among the dispensers, that a man be found faithful.

3 But with me, it matters very little, that I should be judged by you, or by the judgment of men: indeed, I do not judge myself.

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, though I am conscious of no wrong, yet by this I am not justified: but he that judges me is the Lord.

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 So, then, judge nothing before the time, till the Lord comes, who will bring to light the secret works of darkness, and will also make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall each have his praise from God.

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 And these things, brethren, I have, in figure, applied to myself and Apollos, for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think more of teachers than what has been written; and that no one of you be vain of one to the injury of another.

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 gave you distinction, as a teacher? And what have you as a teacher, that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you boast, as if you had not received it?

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, Corinthians, are already full; you are already rich; you have reigned as kings independently of us. And that you did indeed reign, that we also might reign with you!

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 has appointed us the apostles, to the lowest place, as under sentence of death; for we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.

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 honored, but we are despised.

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 to this present hour we both hunger and thirst, and are poorly clothed, and are maltreated, and wander about without a home,

Even unto this hour we both hunger and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no fixed abode;

12 and labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;

And we labour, working with our own hands: we are reviled, and we bless; we are persecuted, and we suffer it.

13 when defamed, we entreat; we have become like the outcasts of the world, the offscouring of all things to this day.

We are blasphemed, and we entreat; we are made as the refuse of this world, the offscouring of all even until now.

14 I do not write these things that I may make you ashamed; but as my beloved children I admonish you.

I write not these things to confound you; but I admonish you as my dearest children.

15 For though you have ten thousand tutors in Christ, yet you have not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

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 I exhort you, therefore, be imitators of me.

Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me, as I also am of Christ.

17 For this reason have I sent to you Timothy, who is my son, beloved and faithful in the Lord, that he may remind you of my ways that are in Christ, as I teach everywhere, in every church.

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 Now, some have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you;

As if I would not come to you, so some are puffed up.

19 but I will come to you quickly, if the Lord will; and I will know, not the speech of those who have become arrogant, but the power.

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.

For the kingdom of God is not in speech, but in power.

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

What will you? shall I come to you with a rod; or in charity, and in the spirit of meekness?