Corinthios I 4
1 Sic nos existimet homo ut ministros Christi, et dispensatores mysteriorum Dei.
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 Hic jam quæritur inter dispensatores ut fidelis quis inveniatur.
This being so, it follows that fidelity is what is required in stewards.
3 Mihi autem pro minimo est ut a vobis judicer, aut ab humano die: sed neque meipsum judico.
I however am very little concerned at undergoing your scrutiny, or that of other men; in fact I do not even scrutinize myself.
4 Nihil enim mihi conscius sum, sed non in hoc justificatus sum: qui autem judicat me, Dominus est.
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 Itaque nolite ante tempus judicare, quoadusque veniat Dominus: qui et illuminabit abscondita tenebrarum, et manifestabit consilia cordium: et tunc laus erit unicuique a Deo.
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 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.
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 Quis enim te discernit? quid autem habes quod non accepisti? si autem accepisti, quid gloriaris quasi non acceperis?
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 Jam saturati estis, jam divites facti estis: sine nobis regnatis: et utinam regnetis, ut et nos vobiscum regnemus.
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 Puto enim quod Deus nos Apostolos novissimos ostendit, tamquam morti destinatos: quia spectaculum facti sumus mundo, et angelis, et hominibus.
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 Nos stulti propter Christum, vos autem prudentes in Christo: nos infirmi, vos autem fortes: vos nobiles, nos autem ignobiles.
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 Usque in hanc horam et esurimus, et sitimus, et nudi sumus, et colaphis cædimur, et instabiles sumus,
To this very moment we endure both hunger and thirst, with scanty clothing and many a blow.
12 et laboramus operantes manibus nostris: maledicimur, et benedicimus: persecutionem patimur, et sustinemus:
Homes we have none. Wearily we toil, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we bear it patiently;
13 blasphemamur, et obsecramus: tamquam purgamenta hujus mundi facti sumus, omnium peripsema usque adhuc.
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 Non ut confundam vos, hæc scribo, sed ut filios meos carissimos moneo.
I am not writing all this to shame you, but I am offering you advice as my dearly-loved children.
15 Nam si decem millia pædagogorum habeatis in Christo, sed non multos patres. Nam in Christo Jesu per Evangelium ego vos genui.
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 Rogo ergo vos, imitatores mei estote, sicut et ego Christi.
I entreat you therefore to become like me.
17 Ideo misi ad vos Timotheum, qui est filius meus carissimus, et fidelis in Domino: qui vos commonefaciet vias meas, quæ sunt in Christo Jesu, sicut ubique in omni ecclesia doceo.
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 Tamquam non venturus sim ad vos, sic inflati sunt quidam.
But some of you have been puffed up through getting the idea that I am not coming to Corinth.
19 Veniam autem ad vos cito, si Dominus voluerit: et cognoscam non sermonem eorum qui inflati sunt, sed virtutem.
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 Non enim in sermone est regnum Dei, sed in virtute.
For Apostolic authority is not a thing of words, but of power.
21 Quid vultis? in virga veniam ad vos, an in caritate, et spiritu mansuetudinis?
Which shall it be? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in a loving and tender spirit?
