1 Corinthians 4
1 So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
Let a man, so, be reckoning of us, as officers of Christ, and stewards of sacred secrets of God.
2 Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.
Here, furthermore, it is sought in stewards, that, faithful, one be found.
3 I care very little, however, if I am judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.
With me, however, it counteth for the very smallest thing, that, by you, I should be examined, or by a human day. Nay! I am not even examining myself,
4 My conscience is clear, but that does not vindicate me. It is the Lord who judges me.
For, of nothing, to myself, am I conscious: nevertheless, not hereby, am I declared righteous, but, he that doth examine me, is the Lord.
5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
So then, not before the fitting time, be judging anything, —until the Lord shall come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and, then, the praise shall come to each one, from God.
6 Brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written. Then you will not take pride in one man over another.
But, these things, brethren, have I transferred unto myself and Apollos, for your sakes, that, in us, ye might learn [the lesson] —Not beyond the things that are written…! that ye do not puff yourselves up, individually, for this one against that.
7 For who makes you so superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
For who maketh thee to differ? and what hast thou which thou didst not receive? But, if thou didst even receive it, why dost thou boast, as though thou hadst not received it?
8 Already you have all you want. Already you have become rich. Without us, you have become kings. How I wish you really were kings, so that we might be kings with you!
Already, ye have become full, already, ye are become rich, —apart from us, ye are become kings! And I would indeed ye had become kings, that, we also, with you, might have together become kings!
9 For it seems to me that God has displayed us apostles at the end of the procession, like prisoners appointed for death. We have become a spectacle to the whole world, to angels as well as to men.
For I think that, God, hath set forth, us the apostles, to be last of all, as men devoted to death, —in that, a spectacle, have we been made, unto the world, —both unto messengers and unto men.
10 We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are dishonored.
We, are foolish for Christ’s sake, but, ye, prudent in Christ; we are weak, but, ye, mighty; ye, all-glorious, but, we, dishonoured.
11 To this very hour we are hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clothed, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.
Until the present hour, we both hunger and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and are wanderers,
12 We work hard with our own hands. When we are vilified, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;
And toil, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless, being persecuted, we hold on,
13 when we are slandered, we answer gently. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.
Being defamed, we beseech: as the sweepings of the world have we become, the offscouring of all—until even now.
14 I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children.
Not, to shame you, write I these things; but, as my beloved children, I admonish you.
15 Even if you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.
For, though myriads of tutors ye should have in Christ, yet not many fathers; for, in Christ Jesus, through means of the joyful message, I, begat you.
16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me.
I beseech you, therefore, —become imitators of me.
17 That is why I have sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which is exactly what I teach everywhere in every church.
For this cause, sent I unto you, Timothy, —who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who shall put, you, in mind of my ways which are in Christ [Jesus], even as, everywhere, in every assembly, I teach.
18 Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you.
But, as though I were not coming unto you, some are puffed up!
19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only what these arrogant people are saying, but what power they have.
Howbeit, I will come quickly unto you, —if, the Lord, please, —and will get to know—not the speech of them who are puffed up, but, the power;
20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.
For, not in speech, is the kingdom of God, but, in power.
21 Which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and with a gentle spirit?
What will ye? that, with a rod, I should come unto you? or, with love, and a spirit of meekness?
