1 Corinthians 4

1 So think of us as Christ's servants given the responsibility for “the mysteries of God.”

Let any man look upon us as servants of Christ, and stewards of the secret truths of God.

2 More than this, those who have such responsibilities are required to be trustworthy.

Now it is required of stewards, that a man be found faithful.

3 Personally it hardly matters to me if you or anyone else judges me—in fact I don't even judge myself.

But to me it matters very little that I am judged by you, or by any earthly court.

4 I don't know of anything I've done wrong, but that doesn't make me morally right. It's the Lord who judges me.

Indeed I do not even judge myself; for though I know nothing against myself, yet that does not vindicate me; for he who judges me is the Lord.

5 So don't judge anything before the right time—when the Lord comes. He will bring to light all the darkest secrets that are hidden, and he will reveal people's motives. God will give everyone whatever praise they deserve.

So make no hasty judgment until the Lord come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make plain the purpose of men’s hearts. Then each man’s due praise will come to him from God.

6 Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied this to Apollos and myself as an example for you. That way you will learn not to go beyond what has been written, and not in arrogance prefer one over the other.

Now these things, brothers, I have applied in a figure to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that in us you might learn not to go beyond what is written; that none of you be puffed up for the one, against the other.

7 Who made you so special? What do you have that you weren't given? Since you were given it, why do you proudly claim you weren't?

For who makes you a differ, brother? Or what have you that you did not receive? But if you did receive it, why are you boasting as if you had not received it?

8 You think you have all you need. You think you're so wealthy. You think you're kings already, and don't need us. I wish you were really ruling as kings, so we could rule with you!

But you, forsooth, are already full, are you? You are already rich? Without us you are already reigning? Yes, and I would that you did reign, so that we also might reign with you.

9 The way I see it, God has put us apostles on display as the last in the line, condemned to die. We have been made a public show before the entire universe, to angels and to human beings.

But it seems to me that God has exhibited us apostles, last of all, like men doomed to death; for we are made a spectacle to the whole world, both to men and to angels.

10 We're Christ's fools, but you are so wise in Christ! We're the weak ones, but you are so strong! You have the glory, but we are despised!

For Christ’s sake we are fools, but you are quite philosophic in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong; you are honorable, but we are outcast.

11 Right up till now we're hungry and thirsty. We have no clothes. We're badly beaten up, and we have no place to call home.

Even to his very hour we are enduring hunger and thirst and nakedness and blows.

12 We struggle on doing manual work. When people curse us, we bless them. When they persecute us, we put up with it.

Homeless men, we toil, working with our own hands.

13 When they insult us, we respond with kindness. Even now we are treated like dirt, the worst trash in the whole world.

When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when defamed, we conciliate. We have been made, as it were, scum-o’-the-earth, the very refuse of the world, to this very hour!

14 I'm not writing like this to make you feel ashamed, but to caution you as my children whom I love so much.

I am not writing this to shame you, but to admonish you, as my beloved children.

15 Even though you may have thousands of Christian instructors, you don't have many fathers—it was in Christ Jesus that I became your father when I shared the good news with you.

For though you have ten thousand tutors in Christ Jesus, you can have but one father. For in Christ Jesus I begot you through the gospel.

16 So I'm pleading with you to imitate me!

I beg you then to imitate my example.

17 That's why I sent Timothy to you, my trustworthy son in the Lord who I love so much. He will remind you about the way I follow Christ, just as I always teach in every church I visit.

With this in mind I have sent Timothy to you. He is my dear and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ; the manner in which I ever teach everywhere in every church.

18 Some among you have become arrogant, thinking I wouldn't bother coming to see you.

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

19 But I am coming to visit you soon, if that's what the Lord wants. Then I'll find out what these arrogant people are saying, and what kind of power they have.

But come to you I will, and that soon, if it please the Lord, and then I shall learn not the talk of these boasters, but their power.

20 For the kingdom of God is not about mere words, but about power.

For the kingdom of God is not in talk, but in power.

21 So what do you want? Shall I come with a stick to beat you, or in love and a gentle spirit?

Which do you want? Am I to come to you with a rod, or in a loving and tender spirit?