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.
So a person should consider us as Messiah's servants, and stewards of God's mysteries.
2 This being so, it follows that fidelity is what is required in stewards.
Here, moreover, it is required of stewards, that they be found faithful.
3 I however am very little concerned at undergoing your scrutiny, or that of other men; in fact I do not even scrutinize myself.
But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you, or by man's judgment. Yes, I do not judge my own self.
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.
For I know nothing against myself. Yet I am not justified by this, but he who judges me is the Lord.
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.
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 one will get his praise from God.
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.
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 go beyond the things which are written, that none of you be puffed up against one another.
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?
For who makes you different? And what do you have that you did not receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?
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!
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 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.
For, I think that God has displayed us, the emissaries, last of all, like men sentenced to death. For we are made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and people.
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.
We are fools for Messiah's sake, but you are wise in Messiah. We are weak, but you are strong. You have honor, but we have dishonor.
11 To this very moment we endure both hunger and thirst, with scanty clothing and many a blow.
Even to this present hour we hunger, thirst, are naked, are beaten, and have no certain dwelling place.
12 Homes we have none. Wearily we toil, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we bear it patiently;
We toil, working with our own hands. When people curse us, we bless. Being persecuted, we endure.
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.
Being defamed, we entreat. We are made as the filth of the world, the dirt wiped off by all, even until now.
14 I am not writing all this to shame you, but I am offering you advice as my dearly-loved children.
I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.
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.
For though you have ten thousand tutors in Messiah, yet not many fathers. For in Messiah Yeshua, I became your father through the Good News.
16 I entreat you therefore to become like me.
I appeal to you therefore, be imitators of me.
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.
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 Messiah, even as I teach everywhere in every congregation.
18 But some of you have been puffed up through getting the idea that I am not coming to Corinth.
Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you.
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.
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 Apostolic authority is not a thing of words, but of power.
For the Kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
21 Which shall it be? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in a loving and tender spirit?
What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?
