< 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 reckon us as officers of Christ, and stewards of the secrets of God,
2 This being so, it follows that fidelity is what is required in stewards.
and as to the rest, it is required in the stewards that one may 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.
and to me it is for a very little thing that by you I may be judged, or by man's day, but not even myself do I judge,
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 have I been conscious, but not in this have I been declared right — and he who is discerning 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, nothing before the time judge ye, till the Lord may come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of the darkness, and will manifest the counsels of the hearts, and then the praise shall come to each 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.
And these things, brethren, I did transfer to myself and to Apollos because of you, that in us ye may learn not to think above that which hath been written, that ye may not be puffed up one for one against the other,
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 doth make thee to differ? and what hast thou, that thou didst not receive? and if thou didst also receive, why dost thou glory as not having received?
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 are having been filled, already ye were rich, apart from us ye did reign, and I would also ye did reign, that we also with you may reign together,
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 did set forth us the apostles last — as appointed to death, because a spectacle we became to the world, and messengers, and 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] fools because of Christ, and ye wise in Christ; we [are] ailing, and ye strong; ye glorious, and we dishonoured;
11 To this very moment we endure both hunger and thirst, with scanty clothing and many a blow.
unto the present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and wander about,
12 Homes we have none. Wearily we toil, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we bear it patiently;
and labour, working with [our] own hands; being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer;
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 spoken evil of, we entreat; as filth of the world we did become — of all things an offscouring — till now.
14 I am not writing all this to shame you, but I am offering you advice as my dearly-loved children.
Not [as] putting you to shame do I write these things, but as my beloved children I do admonish,
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 if a myriad of child-conductors ye may have in Christ, yet not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus, through the good news, I — I did beget you;
16 I entreat you therefore to become like me.
I call upon you, therefore, become ye followers 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 sent to you Timotheus, who is my child, beloved and faithful in the Lord, who shall remind you of my ways in Christ, according 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.
And as if I were not coming unto you certain were 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.
but I will come quickly unto you, if the Lord may will, and I will know not the word of those puffed up, but the power;
20 For Apostolic authority is not a thing of words, but of power.
for not in word is the reign 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 do ye wish? with a rod shall I come unto you, or in love, with a spirit also of meekness?