1 Corinthians 4
1 Let a man so account of us, as the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
As for us Apostles, let any one take this view of us--we are Christ's officers, and stewards of God's secret truths.
2 Now it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
This being so, it follows that fidelity is what is required in stewards.
3 But to me it is of very small moment to be judged by you, or by any man's judgement; nor indeed do I judge myself:
I however am very little concerned at undergoing your scrutiny, or that of other men; in fact I do not even scrutinize myself.
4 (for I am conscious to myself of nothing; though I am not hereby justified; ) but He that judgeth me is the Lord.
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.
5 Wherefore judge nothing before the time; even until the Lord come, who will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every one have praise from God.
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.
6 These things, my brethren, I have by a figure transferred to myself, and Apollos, for your sakes, that ye may learn in us not to be wise above what is written, that ye may not be puffed up for one against another.
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.
7 For who maketh thee to differ? and what hast thou, which thou didst not receive? And if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it?
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?
8 Ye are now full, ye are now rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I wish ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.
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!
9 For it seems to me that God hath as it were exhibited us the apostles last upon the stage as appointed to death; for we are made a spectacle to the world, and to angels and to men.
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.
10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ: we are weak, but ye are strong: ye are honoured, but we are despised.
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.
11 Even to this present time we suffer both hunger, and thirst, and nakedness, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling:
To this very moment we endure both hunger and thirst, with scanty clothing and many a blow.
12 and we labour working with our own hands. When we are reviled, we bless: when persecuted, we bear it: when defamed, we intreat.
Homes we have none. Wearily we toil, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we bear it patiently;
13 We are made as the filth of the world, and the refuse of all things to this day.
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.
14 I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I admonish you:
I am not writing all this to shame you, but I am offering you advice as my dearly-loved children.
15 for if ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet ye have not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you by the gospel.
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.
16 I beseech you therefore, be ye imitators of me.
I entreat you therefore to become like me.
17 For this end have I sent unto you Timothy, who is my beloved son and faithful in the Lord, who will bring to your remembrance my ways in Christ, how I teach every where in every church.
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.
18 Now some are puffed up, as if I would not come to you.
But some of you have been puffed up through getting the idea that I am not coming to Corinth.
19 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord please, and will know, not the speech of them that are puffed up, but the power:
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.
20 for the kingdom of God consisteth not in speech, but in power.
For Apostolic authority is not a thing of words, but of power.
21 What do ye chuse? that I should come to you with a rod? or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?
Which shall it be? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in a loving and tender spirit?
