1 Corinthians 4

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

People ought to regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

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

Now it is required of stewards that they 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 for me it is a very small thing if I am judged by you, or by any human court. Indeed, I do not even judge myself.

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 conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not thereby acquitted; but he who judges 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.

So then, do not judge anything before the appointed time. Wait until the Lord comes, who will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and reveal the intentions of the heart. At that time each person will receive his 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.

Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your sake, so that through us you may learn not to think beyond what is written, so that you may not be puffed up, with each one of you supporting one man against another.

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 regards yoʋ as superior? What do yoʋ have that yoʋ did not receive? And if yoʋ received it, why do yoʋ boast as though yoʋ did not receive 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 already full! You have already become rich! You have begun to reign without us! And how I wish that you really were reigning, so that we could 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 has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, as sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and 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 the sake of Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are esteemed, but we are dishonored.

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

To the present hour we hunger and thirst; we are poorly clothed and beaten down, with no home of our own.

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

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

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

when we are slandered, we encourage. We have become like the refuse of the world, the scum of all things, even to this present time.

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

I am not writing this to shame you, but rather I am admonishing you as my beloved 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 even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you would not have many fathers. For in Christ Jesus I became a father to you through the gospel.

16 I exhort you, therefore, be imitators of me.

Therefore I urge you to be imitators of me.

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.

That is why I have sent you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of my ways in Christ, just as I teach them everywhere in every church.

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

But some of you have become puffed up, as though I were not coming to you.

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 soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of those who have become puffed up, but their power.

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

For the kingdom of God is demonstrated not by talk but by power.

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

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