1 Corinthians 4

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

So let a man think of us as Christ’s servants and stewards of God’s mysteries.

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

Here, moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

3 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.

But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you, or by a human court. Yes, I don’t even judge my own self.

4 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.

For I know nothing against myself. Yet I am not justified by this, but he who judges me is the Lord.

5 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.

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each man will get his praise from God.

6 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.

Now these things, brothers, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that in us you might learn not to think beyond the things which are written, that none of you be puffed up against one another.

7 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?

For who makes you different? And what do you have that you didn’t receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

8 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.

You are already filled. You have already become rich. You have come to reign without us. Yes, and I wish that you did reign, that we also might reign with you!

9 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.

For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last of all, like men sentenced to death. For we are made 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 held in honor, but we are held in dishonor.

We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You have honor, but we have dishonor.

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

Even to this present hour we hunger, thirst, are naked, are beaten, and have no certain dwelling place.

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

We toil, working with our own hands. When people curse us, we bless. Being persecuted, we endure.

13 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.

Being defamed, we entreat. We are made as the filth of the world, the dirt wiped off by all, even until now.

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

I don’t write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.

15 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.

For though you have ten thousand tutors in Christ, you don’t have many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, I became your father through the Good News.

16 So I urge you to be imitators of me.

I beg you therefore, be imitators of me.

17 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.

Because of this I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in every assembly.

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

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

19 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.

But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing. And I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power.

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

For God’s Kingdom is not in word, but in power.

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

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