Corinthios I 4

1 Sic nos existimet homo ut ministros Christi: et dispensatores mysteriorum Dei.

So, then, let a man consider us as servants only of Christ, and stewards of the secrets of God.

2 Hic iam quæritur inter dispensatores ut fidelis quis inveniatur.

Now, it is required in stewards, that every one be found faithful.

3 Mihi autem pro minimo est ut a vobis iudicer, aut ab humano die: sed neque meipsum iudico.

Therefore, to me it is a very small matter that I be condemned by you, or by human judgment, seeing I do not condemn myself.

4 Nihil enim mihi conscius sum: sed non in hoc iustificatus sum: qui autem iudicat me, Dominus est.

For I am conscious to myself of no fault. However, I am not by this justified; but he who judges me is the Lord.

5 Itaque nolite ante tempus iudicare, quoadusque veniat Dominus: qui et illuminabit abscondita tenebrarum, et manifestabit consilia cordium: et tunc laus erit unicuique a Deo.

Wherefore, do not, before the time, pass any judgment, till the Lord come; who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and lay open the counsels of the hearts; and then praise shall be to every one from God.

6 Hæc autem, fratres, transfiguravi in me et Apollo, propter vos: ut in nobis discatis, ne supra quam scriptum est, unus adversus alterum infletur pro alio.

Now, these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself, and Apollos, for your sakes, that by us you may learn not to esteem teachers above what has been written, that no one of you may, on account of one teacher, be puffed up against another.

7 Quis enim te discernit? Quid autem habes quod non accepisti? Si autem accepisti, quid gloriaris quasi non acceperis?

Besides, who makes you to differ? For what have you which you did not receive? And now, if you did receive it, why do you boast as not receiving it?

8 Iam saturati estis, iam divites facti estis: sine nobis regnatis: et utinam regnetis, ut et nos vobiscum regnemus.

Now you are filled! now you are become rich! you have reigned without it! and I wish, indeed, you had reigned, that we also might reign with you.

9 Puto enim quod Deus nos Apostolos novissimos ostendit, tamquam morti destinatos: quia spectaculum facti sumus mundo, et Angelis, et hominibus.

For I think that God has set forth us, the Apostles, last, as persons appointed to death; because we are made a spectacle to the world, even to angels, and to men.

10 Nos stulti propter Christum, vos autem prudentes in Christo: nos infirmi, vos autem fortes: vos nobiles, nos autem ignobiles.

We are fools on account of Christ; but you are wise in Christ: we are weak, but you are strong: you are honored, but we are despised.

11 Usque in hanc horam et esurimus, et sitimus, et nudi sumus, et colaphis cædimur, et instabiles sumus,

To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place,

12 et laboramus operantes manibus nostris: maledicimur, et benedicimus: persecutionem patimur, et sustinemus:

and labor, working with our own hands: when reviled, we bless: when persecuted, we bear:

13 blasphemamur, et obsecramus: tamquam purgamenta huius mundi facti sumus, omnium peripsema usque adhuc.

when defamed, we beseech: when we are become as the purgations of the world, the filth of all things until now.

14 Non ut confundam vos, hæc scribo, sed ut filios meos charissimos moneo.

I write not these things to shame you; but, as my beloved children, I instruct you.

15 Nam si decem millia pædagogorum habeatis in Christo: sed non multos patres. Nam in Christo Iesu per Evangelium ego vos genui.

For, though you have ten thousand teachers in Christ, yet you have not many fathers; for, to Christ Jesus, through the gospel, I have begotten you.

16 Rogo ergo vos, imitatores mei estote, sicut et ego Christi.

Wherefore, I beseech you, be imitators of me.

17 Ideo misi ad vos Timotheum, qui est filius meus charissimus, et fidelis in Domino: qui vos commonefaciet vias meas, quæ sunt in Christo Iesu, sicut ubique in omni Ecclesia doceo.

For this purpose I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord: he will put you in mind of my ways, which are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere, in every congregation.

18 Tamquam non venturus sim ad vos, sic inflati sunt quidam.

Now, some are puffed up, as if I were not coming to you.

19 Veniam autem ad vos cito, si Dominus voluerit: et cognoscam non sermonem eorum, qui inflati sunt, sed virtutem.

But I will come to you soon, if the Lord will, and shall know, not the speech of them who are puffed up, but the power.

20 Non enim in sermone est regnum Dei, sed in virtute.

For the Reign of God is not in word, but in power.

21 Quid vultis? in virga veniam ad vos, an in charitate, et spiritu mansuetudinis?

What do you incline? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?