Προς Κορινθιους Α΄ 4
1 ουτωσ ημασ λογιζεσθω ανθρωποσ ωσ υπηρετασ χριστου και οικονομουσ μυστηριων θεου
Let people look on us as Christ’s servants, and as stewards of the hidden truths of God.
2 ο δε λοιπον ζητειται εν τοισ οικονομοισ ινα πιστοσ τισ ευρεθη
Now what we look for in stewards is that they should be trustworthy.
3 εμοι δε εισ ελαχιστον εστιν ινα υφ υμων ανακριθω η υπο ανθρωπινησ ημερασ αλλ ουδε εμαυτον ανακρινω
But it weighs very little with me that I am judged by you or by any human tribunal. No, I do not even judge myself;
4 ουδεν γαρ εμαυτω συνοιδα αλλ ουκ εν τουτω δεδικαιωμαι ο δε ανακρινων με κυριοσ εστιν
for, though I am conscious of nothing against myself, that does not prove me innocent. It is the Lord who is my judge.
5 ωστε μη προ καιρου τι κρινετε εωσ αν ελθη ο κυριοσ οσ και φωτισει τα κρυπτα του σκοτουσ και φανερωσει τασ βουλασ των καρδιων και τοτε ο επαινοσ γενησεται εκαστω απο του θεου
Therefore do not pass judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes. He will throw light on what is now dark and obscure, and will reveal the motives in people’s minds; and then everyone will receive due praise from God.
6 ταυτα δε αδελφοι μετεσχηματισα εισ εμαυτον και απολλω δι υμασ ινα εν ημιν μαθητε το μη υπερ ο γεγραπται φρονειν ινα μη εισ υπερ του ενοσ φυσιουσθε κατα του ετερου
All this, friends, I have, for your sakes, applied to Apollos and myself, so that, from our example, you may learn to observe the precept – ‘Keep to what is written,’ that none of you may speak boastfully of one teacher to the disparagement of another.
7 τισ γαρ σε διακρινει τι δε εχεισ ο ουκ ελαβεσ ει δε και ελαβεσ τι καυχασαι ωσ μη λαβων
For who makes any one of you superior to others? And what have you that was not given you? But if you received it as a gift, why do you boast as if you had not?
8 ηδη κεκορεσμενοι εστε ηδη επλουτησατε χωρισ ημων εβασιλευσατε και οφελον γε εβασιλευσατε ινα και ημεισ υμιν συμβασιλευσωμεν
Are you all so soon satisfied? Are you so soon rich? Have you begun to reign without us? Would indeed that you had, so that we also might reign with you!
9 δοκω γαρ οτι ο θεοσ ημασ τουσ αποστολουσ εσχατουσ απεδειξεν ωσ επιθανατιουσ οτι θεατρον εγενηθημεν τω κοσμω και αγγελοισ και ανθρωποισ
For, as it seems to me, God has exhibited us, the apostles, last of all, as people doomed to death. We are made a spectacle to the universe, both to angels and to people!
10 ημεισ μωροι δια χριστον υμεισ δε φρονιμοι εν χριστω ημεισ ασθενεισ υμεισ δε ισχυροι υμεισ ενδοξοι ημεισ δε ατιμοι
We, for Christ’s sake, are fools, but you, by your union with Christ, are people of discernment. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are despised.
11 αχρι τησ αρτι ωρασ και πεινωμεν και διψωμεν και γυμνητευομεν και κολαφιζομεθα και αστατουμεν
To this very hour we go hungry, thirsty, and naked; we are beaten; we are homeless;
12 και κοπιωμεν εργαζομενοι ταισ ιδιαισ χερσιν λοιδορουμενοι ευλογουμεν διωκομενοι ανεχομεθα
we work hard, toiling with our own hands. We meet abuse with blessings, we meet persecution with endurance,
13 βλασφημουμενοι παρακαλουμεν ωσ περικαθαρματα του κοσμου εγενηθημεν παντων περιψημα εωσ αρτι
we meet slander with gentle appeals. We have been treated as the scum of the earth, the vilest of the vile, to this very hour.
14 ουκ εντρεπων υμασ γραφω ταυτα αλλ ωσ τεκνα μου αγαπητα νουθετω
It is with no wish to shame you that I am writing like this; but to warn you as my own dear children.
15 εαν γαρ μυριουσ παιδαγωγουσ εχητε εν χριστω αλλ ου πολλουσ πατερασ εν γαρ χριστω ιησου δια του ευαγγελιου εγω υμασ εγεννησα
Though you may have thousands of instructors in the faith of Christ, yet you have not many fathers. It was I who, through union with Christ Jesus, became your father by means of the good news.
16 παρακαλω ουν υμασ μιμηται μου γινεσθε
Therefore I entreat you – Follow my example.
17 δια τουτο επεμψα υμιν τιμοθεον οσ εστιν τεκνον μου αγαπητον και πιστον εν κυριω οσ υμασ αναμνησει τασ οδουσ μου τασ εν χριστω καθωσ πανταχου εν παση εκκλησια διδασκω
This is my reason for sending Timothy to you. He is my own dear faithful child in the Master’s service, and he will remind you of my methods of teaching the faith of Christ Jesus – methods which I follow everywhere in every church.
18 ωσ μη ερχομενου δε μου προσ υμασ εφυσιωθησαν τινεσ
Some, I hear, are puffed up with pride, thinking that I am not coming to you.
19 ελευσομαι δε ταχεωσ προσ υμασ εαν ο κυριοσ θεληση και γνωσομαι ου τον λογον των πεφυσιωμενων αλλα την δυναμιν
But come to you I will, and that soon, if it please the Lord; and then I will find out, not what words these people use who are so puffed up, but what power they possess;
20 ου γαρ εν λογω η βασιλεια του θεου αλλ εν δυναμει
for the kingdom of God is based, not on words, but on power.
21 τι θελετε εν ραβδω ελθω προσ υμασ η εν αγαπη πνευματι τε πραοτητοσ
What do you wish? Am I to come to you with a rod, or in a loving and gentle spirit?
