1 Corinthians 4
1 As for us Apostles, let any one take this view of us--we are Christ's officers, and stewards of God's secret truths.
ⲁ̅ⲧⲁⲓ ⲧⲉ ⲑⲉ ⲙⲁⲣⲉ ⲛⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲟⲡⲛ ϩⲱⲥ ϩⲩⲡⲏⲣⲉⲧⲏⲥ ⲙⲡⲉⲭⲥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲟⲓⲕⲟⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲛⲙⲙⲩⲥⲧⲏⲣⲓⲟⲛ ⲙⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ
2 This being so, it follows that fidelity is what is required in stewards.
ⲃ̅ⲉⲩϣⲓⲛⲉ ϭⲉ ⲙⲡⲉⲓⲙⲁ ϩⲛ ⲛⲟⲓⲕⲟⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲉⲩⲉϩⲉ ⲉⲩⲡⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥ
3 I however am very little concerned at undergoing your scrutiny, or that of other men; in fact I do not even scrutinize myself.
ⲅ̅ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲇⲉ ⲟⲩⲉⲗⲁⲭⲓⲥⲧⲟⲛ ⲛⲁⲓ ⲡⲉ ⲉⲧⲣⲉⲩⲁⲛⲁⲕⲣⲓⲛⲉ ⲙⲙⲟⲓ ϩⲓⲧⲛ ⲧⲏⲩⲧⲛ ⲏ ϩⲓⲧⲛ ⲟⲩϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲛⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲟⲩⲇⲉ ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲛϯⲁⲛⲁⲕⲣⲓⲛⲉ ⲙⲙⲟⲓ ⲁⲛ
4 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.
ⲇ̅ⲛϯⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲁⲛ ⲛⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲉⲁⲓⲁⲁϥ ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲛⲉⲓⲧⲙⲁⲓⲏⲩ ⲁⲛ ϩⲙ ⲡⲁⲓ ⲡⲉⲧⲁⲛⲁⲕⲣⲓⲛⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲙⲙⲟⲓ ⲡⲉ ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ
5 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.
ⲉ̅ϩⲱⲥⲧⲉ ⲙⲡⲣⲕⲣⲓⲛⲉ ⲛⲗⲁⲁⲩ ϩⲁⲑⲏ ⲙⲡⲉⲩⲟⲉⲓϣ ϣⲁⲛⲧⲉ ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲉⲓ ⲡⲁⲓ ⲉⲧⲛⲁⲣⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓⲛ ⲉⲛⲉⲑⲏⲡ ϩⲙ ⲡⲕⲁⲕⲉ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛϥⲟⲩⲱⲛϩ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛⲛϣⲟϫⲛⲉ ⲛⲛϩⲏⲧ ⲧⲟⲧⲉ ⲡⲧⲁⲉⲓⲟ ⲙⲡⲟⲩⲁ ⲡⲟⲩⲁ ⲛⲁϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲙ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ
6 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.
ⲋ̅ⲛⲁⲓ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲁⲥⲛⲏⲩ ⲛⲧⲁⲓϫⲓⲧⲟⲩ ⲛⲥⲙⲟⲧ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲉϫⲱⲓ ⲙⲛ ⲁⲡⲟⲗⲗⲱ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲧⲏⲩⲧⲛ ϫⲉⲕⲁⲥ ⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛⲉⲥⲃⲟ ⲛϩⲏⲧⲛ ⲉⲧⲙⲣϩⲟⲩⲟ ⲉⲛⲉⲧⲥⲏϩ ϫⲉ ⲛⲛⲉ ⲟⲩⲁ ϣⲟⲩϣⲟⲩ ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⲉϫⲛ ⲟⲩⲁ ϩⲁ ⲟⲩⲁ
7 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?
ⲍ̅ⲛⲓⲙ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲡⲉⲧⲇⲓⲁⲕⲣⲓⲛⲉ ⲙⲙⲟⲕ ⲟⲩ ⲇⲉ ⲡⲉⲧⲛⲧⲟⲟⲧⲕ ⲉⲙⲡⲕϫⲓⲧϥ ⲉϣϫⲉ ⲁⲕⲣⲡⲕⲉϫⲓ ⲁϩⲣⲟⲕ ⲕϣⲟⲩϣⲟⲩ ⲙⲙⲟⲕ ϩⲱⲥ ⲉⲙⲡⲕϫⲓ
8 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!
ⲏ̅ⲏⲇⲏ ⲧⲉⲧⲛⲥⲏⲩ ⲏⲇⲏ ⲁⲧⲉⲧⲛⲣⲣⲙⲙⲁⲟ ⲁϫⲛⲧⲛ ⲁⲧⲉⲧⲛⲣⲣⲣⲟ ⲛⲁⲛⲟⲩⲥ ⲇⲉ ⲉϣϫⲉ ⲁⲧⲉⲧⲛⲣⲣⲣⲟ ϫⲉⲕⲁⲥ ⲉⲛⲉⲣⲣⲣⲟ ϩⲱⲱⲛ ⲛⲙⲙⲏⲧⲛ
9 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.
ⲑ̅ⲁⲣⲏⲩ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲛⲧⲁⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲕⲁⲁⲛ ⲛⲁⲡⲟⲥⲧⲟⲗⲟⲥ ⲛϩⲁⲉ ⲛⲑⲉ ⲛⲛⲓⲉⲡⲓⲑⲁⲛⲁⲧⲏⲥ ϫⲉ ⲁⲛϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛⲑⲉⲁⲧⲣⲟⲛ ⲙⲡⲕⲟⲥⲙⲟⲥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲛⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ ⲙⲛ ⲛⲣⲱⲙⲉ
10 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.
ⲓ̅ⲁⲛⲟⲛ ⲁⲛⲣⲥⲟϭ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲡⲉⲭⲥ ⲛⲧⲱⲧⲛ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲧⲉⲧⲛ ϩⲉⲛⲥⲁⲃⲉ ϩⲙ ⲡⲉⲭⲥ ⲁⲛⲟⲛ ⲧⲛϭⲟⲟⲃ ⲛⲧⲱⲧⲛ ⲇⲉ ⲧⲉⲧⲛϫⲟⲟⲣ ⲛⲧⲱⲧⲛ ⲧⲉⲧⲛⲧⲁⲉⲓⲏⲩ ⲁⲛⲟⲛ ⲇⲉ ⲧⲛⲥⲏϣ
11 To this very moment we endure both hunger and thirst, with scanty clothing and many a blow.
ⲓ̅ⲁ̅ϣⲁϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲉⲧⲉⲉⲓⲟⲩⲛⲟⲩ ⲧⲛϩⲕⲁⲉⲓⲧ ⲧⲛⲟⲃⲉ ⲧⲛⲕⲏⲕⲁϩⲏⲩ ⲥⲉϯⲕⲗⲯ ⲉϫⲱⲛ ⲧⲛϣⲧⲣⲧⲱⲣ
12 Homes we have none. Wearily we toil, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we bear it patiently;
ⲓ̅ⲃ̅ⲧⲛϩⲟⲥⲉ ⲉⲛⲣϩⲱⲃ ϩⲛ ⲛⲉⲛϭⲓϫ ⲙⲙⲓⲛ ⲙⲙⲟⲛ ⲉⲩⲥⲁϩⲟⲩ ⲙⲙⲟⲛ ⲧⲛⲥⲙⲟⲩ ⲉⲣⲟⲟⲩ ⲉⲩⲡⲏⲧ ⲛⲥⲱⲛ ⲧⲛⲁⲛⲉⲭⲉ ⲙⲙⲟⲟⲩ
13 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.
ⲓ̅ⲅ̅ⲉⲩϫⲓⲟⲩⲁ ⲉⲣⲟⲛ ⲧⲛⲡⲁⲣⲁⲕⲁⲗⲉⲓ ⲙⲙⲟⲟⲩ ⲛⲑⲉ ⲛⲛⲓⲡⲉⲣⲓⲕⲁⲑⲁⲣⲙⲁ ⲙⲡⲕⲟⲥⲙⲟⲥ ⲁⲛⲣϣϥⲉ ⲛⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲛⲓⲙ ϣⲁ ϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲉⲧⲉⲓⲟⲩⲛⲟⲩ
14 I am not writing all this to shame you, but I am offering you advice as my dearly-loved children.
ⲓ̅ⲇ̅ⲛⲛⲉⲉⲓϯϣⲓⲡⲉ ⲛⲏⲧⲛ ⲁⲛ ⲉⲓⲥϩⲁⲓ ⲛⲏⲧⲛ ⲛⲛⲁⲓ ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲉⲓϯ ⲥⲃⲱ ⲛⲏⲧⲛ ϩⲱⲥ ϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲙⲙⲉⲣⲓⲧ
15 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.
ⲓ̅ⲉ̅ⲕⲁⲛ ⲉϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲟⲩⲛⲧⲏⲧⲛ ⲙⲙⲁⲩ ⲛⲟⲩⲧⲃⲁ ⲙⲡⲁⲓⲇⲁⲅⲱⲅⲟⲥ ϩⲙ ⲡⲉⲭⲥ ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲛϩⲁϩ ⲛⲉⲓⲱⲧ ⲁⲛ ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲁⲓϫⲡⲉ ⲧⲏⲩⲧⲛ ϩⲙ ⲡⲉⲭⲥ ⲓⲏⲥ ϩⲓⲧⲙ ⲡⲉⲩⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲓⲟⲛ
16 I entreat you therefore to become like me.
ⲓ̅ⲋ̅ϯⲡⲁⲣⲁⲕⲁⲗⲉⲓ ϭⲉ ⲙⲙⲱⲧⲛ ⲧⲛⲧⲛⲧⲏ ⲩⲧⲛ ⲉⲣⲟⲓ
17 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.
ⲓ̅ⲍ̅ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲡⲁⲓ ⲁⲓⲧⲛⲛⲉⲩⲧⲓⲙⲟⲑⲉⲟⲥ ⲛⲏⲧⲛ ⲉⲧⲉ ⲡⲁⲓ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲁϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲙⲙⲉⲣⲓⲧ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲙⲡⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥ ϩⲙ ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲡⲁⲓ ⲉⲧⲛⲁⲧⲣⲉⲧⲛⲣⲡⲙⲉⲉⲩⲉ ⲛⲛⲁϩⲓⲟⲟⲩⲉ ⲉⲧϩⲙ ⲡⲉⲭⲥ ⲛⲑⲉ ⲉϯϯ ⲥⲃⲱ ⲙⲙⲟⲥ ϩⲛ ⲛⲉⲕⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ϩⲙ ⲙⲁ ⲛⲓⲙ
18 But some of you have been puffed up through getting the idea that I am not coming to Corinth.
ⲓ̅ⲏ̅ϩⲱⲥ ⲉⲛϯⲛⲏⲩ ⲇⲉ ⲁⲛ ϣⲁⲣⲱⲧⲛ ⲁϩⲟⲓⲛⲉ ϫⲓⲥⲉ ⲛϩⲏⲧ
19 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.
ⲓ̅ⲑ̅ϯⲛⲏⲩ ⲇⲉ ϣⲁⲣⲱⲧⲛ ϩⲛ ⲟⲩϭⲉⲡⲏ ⲉⲣϣⲁⲛ ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲣϩⲛⲁϥ ⲛⲧⲁⲉⲓⲙⲉ ⲁⲛ ⲉⲡϣⲁϫⲉ ⲛⲛⲉⲧϫⲟⲥⲉ ⲛϩⲏⲧ ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲧⲉⲩϭⲟⲙ
20 For Apostolic authority is not a thing of words, but of power.
ⲕ̅ⲧⲙⲛⲧⲣⲣⲟ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲙⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲛⲉⲥϩⲛϣⲁϫⲉ ⲁⲛ ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ϩⲛ ⲟⲩϭⲟⲙ
21 Which shall it be? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in a loving and tender spirit?
ⲕ̅ⲁ̅ⲟⲩ ⲡⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛⲟⲩⲁϣϥ ⲧⲁⲉⲓ ϣⲁⲣⲱⲧⲛ ϩⲛ ⲟⲩϭⲉⲣⲱⲃ ϫⲛ ϩⲛ ⲟⲩⲁⲅⲁⲡⲏ ⲙⲛ ⲟⲩⲡⲛⲁ ⲙⲙⲛⲧⲣⲙⲣⲁϣ
