1 Corinthians 4
1 Let a man so account of us as of the ministers of Christ, and the dispensers of the mysteries of God.
As for us Apostles, let any one take this view of us--we are Christ's officers, and stewards of God's secret truths.
2 Here now it is required among the dispensers, that a man be found faithful.
This being so, it follows that fidelity is what is required in stewards.
3 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.
I however am very little concerned at undergoing your scrutiny, or that of other men; in fact I do not even scrutinize myself.
4 For I am not conscious to myself of any thing, yet am I not hereby justified; but he that judgeth me, is the Lord.
Though I am not conscious of having been in any way unfaithful, yet I do not for that reason stand acquitted; but He whose scrutiny I must undergo is the Lord.
5 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.
Therefore form no premature judgements, but wait until the Lord returns. He will both bring to light the secrets of darkness and will openly disclose the motives that have been in people's hearts; and then the praise which each man deserves will come to him from God.
6 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.
In writing this much, brethren, with special reference to Apollos and myself, I have done so for your sakes, in order to teach you by our example what those words mean, which say, "Nothing beyond what is written!" --so that you may cease to take sides in boastful rivalry, for one teacher against another.
7 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?
Why, who gives you your superiority, my brother? Or what have you that you did not receive? And if you really did receive it, why boast as if this were not so?
8 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.
Every one of you already has all that heart can desire; already you have grown rich; without waiting for us, you have ascended your thrones! Yes indeed, would to God that you had ascended your thrones, that we also might reign with you!
9 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.
God, it seems to me, has exhibited us Apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; for we have come to be a spectacle to all creation--alike 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 honourable, but we without honour.
We, for Christ's sake, are labeled as "foolish"; you, as Christians, are men of shrewd intelligence. We are mere weaklings: you are strong. You are in high repute: we are outcasts.
11 Even unto this hour we both hunger and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no fixed abode;
To this very moment we endure both hunger and thirst, with scanty clothing and many a blow.
12 And we labour, working with our own hands: we are reviled, and we bless; we are persecuted, and we suffer it.
Homes we have none. Wearily we toil, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we bear it patiently;
13 We are blasphemed, and we entreat; we are made as the refuse of this world, the offscouring of all even until now.
when slandered, we try to conciliate. We have come to be regarded as the mere dirt and filth of the world--the refuse of the universe, even to this hour.
14 I write not these things to confound you; but I admonish you as my dearest children.
I am not writing all this to shame you, but I am offering you advice as my dearly-loved children.
15 For if you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet not many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, by the gospel, I have begotten you.
For even if you were to have ten thousand spiritual instructors--for all that you could not have several fathers. It is I who in Christ Jesus became your father through the Good News.
16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me, as I also am of Christ.
I entreat you therefore to become like me.
17 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.
For this reason I have sent Timothy to you. Spiritually he is my dearly-loved and faithful child. He will remind you of my habits as a Christian teacher--the manner in which I teach everywhere in every Church.
18 As if I would not come to you, so some are puffed up.
But some of you have been puffed up through getting the idea that I am not coming to Corinth.
19 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.
But, if the Lord is willing, I shall come to you without delay; and then I shall know not the fine speeches of these conceited people, but their power.
20 For the kingdom of God is not in speech, but in power.
For Apostolic authority is not a thing of words, but of power.
21 What will you? shall I come to you with a rod; or in charity, and in the spirit of meekness?
Which shall it be? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in a loving and tender spirit?
