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.
Let a man, so, be reckoning of us, as officers of Christ, and stewards of sacred secrets of God.
2 This being so, it follows that fidelity is what is required in stewards.
Here, furthermore, it is sought in stewards, that, faithful, one be found.
3 I however am very little concerned at undergoing your scrutiny, or that of other men; in fact I do not even scrutinize myself.
With me, however, it counteth for the very smallest thing, that, by you, I should be examined, or by a human day. Nay! I am not even examining myself,
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, of nothing, to myself, am I conscious: nevertheless, not hereby, am I declared righteous, but, he that doth examine 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.
So then, not before the fitting time, be judging anything, —until the Lord shall come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and, then, the praise shall come to each one, 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.
But, these things, brethren, have I transferred unto myself and Apollos, for your sakes, that, in us, ye might learn [the lesson] —Not beyond the things that are written…! that ye do not puff yourselves up, individually, for this one against that.
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 maketh thee to differ? and what hast thou which thou didst not receive? But, if thou didst even receive it, why dost thou boast, as though thou hadst 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!
Already, ye have become full, already, ye are become rich, —apart from us, ye are become kings! And I would indeed ye had become kings, that, we also, with you, might have together become kings!
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, hath set forth, us the apostles, to be last of all, as men devoted to death, —in that, a spectacle, have we been made, unto the world, —both unto messengers and unto men.
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 foolish for Christ’s sake, but, ye, prudent in Christ; we are weak, but, ye, mighty; ye, all-glorious, but, we, dishonoured.
11 To this very moment we endure both hunger and thirst, with scanty clothing and many a blow.
Until the present hour, we both hunger and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and are wanderers,
12 Homes we have none. Wearily we toil, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we bear it patiently;
And toil, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless, being persecuted, we hold on,
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 beseech: as the sweepings of the world have we become, the offscouring of all—until even now.
14 I am not writing all this to shame you, but I am offering you advice as my dearly-loved children.
Not, to shame you, write I these things; but, as my beloved children, I admonish you.
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 myriads of tutors ye should have in Christ, yet not many fathers; for, in Christ Jesus, through means of the joyful message, I, begat you.
16 I entreat you therefore to become like me.
I beseech you, therefore, —become 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.
For this cause, sent I unto you, Timothy, —who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who shall put, you, in mind of my ways which are in Christ [Jesus], even as, everywhere, in every assembly, I teach.
18 But some of you have been puffed up through getting the idea that I am not coming to Corinth.
But, as though I were not coming unto you, some are puffed up!
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.
Howbeit, I will come quickly unto you, —if, the Lord, please, —and will get to know—not the speech of them who are puffed up, but, the power;
20 For Apostolic authority is not a thing of words, but of power.
For, not in speech, is the kingdom of God, but, in power.
21 Which shall it be? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in a loving and tender spirit?
What will ye? that, with a rod, I should come unto you? or, with love, and a spirit of meekness?
