1 Corinthians 4

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

Let a man consider us like this: as Christ's subordinates and stewards of God's mysteries.

2 Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

Moreover, what is required of stewards is that each be found faithful.

3 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.

So to me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court; in fact, I do not even judge myself.

4 For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not thereby acquitted; but he who judges me is the Lord.

For I am conscious of nothing against myself, although I am not justified by this; it is the Lord who judges me.

5 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.

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and expose the motives of the hearts. At that time the praise that comes to each will be from God.

6 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.

I have illustrated these things using myself and Apollos, brothers, for your sakes, so that you may learn from us not to think beyond what is written, that no one of you be puffed up in favor of the one against the other.

7 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?

Now who is distinguishing you? Or what do you have that you did not receive? So if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

8 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!

You are already stuffed! You are already rich! You have become ‘kings’ without us! I could wish that you really did reign, so that we might be kings with you too!

9 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.

For I keep thinking that God has displayed us, the apostles, at the end of the line, like men sentenced to death; because we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.

10 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.

We are fools for Christ while you are wise! We are weak but you are strong! You are esteemed, we are despised!

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

To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty; we are poorly dressed, brutally treated, and wander homeless;

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

yes, we labor, working with our own hands. Upon being reviled, we bless; upon being persecuted, we endure it;

13 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.

upon being slandered, we exhort. We have been made as the refuse of the world, the off-scouring of whatever, to this moment.

14 I am not writing this to shame you, but rather I am admonishing you as my beloved children.

I am not writing these things to shame you; I am admonishing you as my dear children.

15 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.

Because even if you were to have thousands of tutors in Christ, you would not have many fathers, because I am the one who begot you in Christ Jesus, through the Gospel.

16 Therefore I urge you to be imitators of me.

Therefore I am urging you, become my imitators.

17 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.

That is why I sent you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful son in Sovereign, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, just as I teach everywhere in every congregation.

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

Now some have been puffed up, as though I were not coming to you.

19 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.

But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who have been puffed up, but the power.

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

Because the Kingdom of God is not in word but in power.

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

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