1 Corinthians 4

1 So, then, let a man consider us as servants only of Christ, and stewards of the secrets of God.

This is how a person should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the hidden truths of God.

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

Now what is required of stewards is that they are found to be trustworthy.

3 Therefore, to me it is a very small matter that I be condemned by you, or by human judgment, seeing I do not condemn myself.

But for me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. For I do not even judge myself.

4 For I am conscious to myself of no fault. However, I am not by this justified; but he who judges me is the Lord.

I am not aware of any charge being made against me, but that does not mean I am innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.

5 Wherefore, do not, before the time, pass any judgment, till the Lord come; who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and lay open the counsels of the hearts; and then praise shall be to every one from God.

Therefore do not pronounce judgment about anything before the time, before the Lord comes. He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his praise from God.

6 Now, these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself, and Apollos, for your sakes, that by us you may learn not to esteem teachers above what has been written, that no one of you may, on account of one teacher, be puffed up against another.

Now, brothers, I applied these principles to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that from us you might learn the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.” This is so that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against the other.

7 Besides, who makes you to differ? For what have you which you did not receive? And now, if you did receive it, why do you boast as not receiving it?

For who sees any difference between you and others? What do you have that you did not freely receive? If you have freely received it, why do you boast as if you had not done so?

8 Now you are filled! now you are become rich! you have reigned without it! and I wish, indeed, you had reigned, that we also might reign with you.

Already you have all you could want! Already you have become rich! You began to reign—and that quite apart from us! Indeed, I wish you did reign, so that we could reign with you.

9 For I think that God has set forth us, the Apostles, last, as persons appointed to death; because we are made a spectacle to the world, even to angels, and to men.

For I think God has put us apostles on display as the last in line in a procession and like men sentenced to death. We have become a spectacle to the world—to angels, and to human beings.

10 We are fools on account of Christ; 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 held in honor, but we are held in dishonor.

11 To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place,

Up to this present hour we are hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clothed, we are brutally beaten, and we are homeless.

12 and labor, working with our own hands: when reviled, we bless: when persecuted, we bear:

We work hard, working with our own hands. When we are reviled, we bless. When we are persecuted, we endure.

13 when defamed, we beseech: when we are become as the purgations of the world, the filth of all things until now.

When we are slandered, we speak with kindness. We have become, and are still considered to be, the refuse of the world and the filthiest of all things.

14 I write not these things to shame you; but, as my beloved children, I instruct you.

I do not write these things to shame you, but to correct you as my beloved children.

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

For even if you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

16 Wherefore, I beseech you, be imitators of me.

So I urge you to be imitators of me.

17 For this purpose I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord: he will put you in mind of my ways, which are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere, in every congregation.

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

18 Now, some are puffed up, as if I were not coming to you.

Now some of you have become arrogant, acting as though I were not coming to you.

19 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord will, and shall know, not the speech of them who are puffed up, but the power.

But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills. Then I will know not merely the talk of these who are so arrogant, but I will see their power.

20 For the Reign of God is not in word, but in power.

For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.

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

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