1 Corinthians 4

1 So let a man think of us as Christ’s servants and stewards of God’s mysteries.

So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

2 Here, moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you, or by a human court. Yes, I don’t even judge my own self.

I care very little, however, if I am judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.

4 For I know nothing against myself. Yet I am not justified by this, but he who judges me is the Lord.

My conscience is clear, but that does not vindicate me. It is the Lord who judges me.

5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each man will get his praise from God.

Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

6 Now these things, brothers, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that in us you might learn not to think beyond the things which are written, that none of you be puffed up against one another.

Brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written. Then you will not take pride in one man over another.

7 For who makes you different? And what do you have that you didn’t receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

For who makes you so superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

8 You are already filled. You have already become rich. You have come to reign without us. Yes, and I wish that you did reign, that we also might reign with you!

Already you have all you want. Already you have become rich. Without us, you have become kings. How I wish you really were kings, so that we might be kings with you!

9 For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last of all, like men sentenced to death. For we are made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and men.

For it seems to me that God has displayed us apostles at the end of the procession, like prisoners appointed for death. We have become a spectacle to the whole world, to angels as well as to men.

10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You have honor, but we have dishonor.

We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are dishonored.

11 Even to this present hour we hunger, thirst, are naked, are beaten, and have no certain dwelling place.

To this very hour we are hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clothed, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.

12 We toil, working with our own hands. When people curse us, we bless. Being persecuted, we endure.

We work hard with our own hands. When we are vilified, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;

13 Being defamed, we entreat. We are made as the filth of the world, the dirt wiped off by all, even until now.

when we are slandered, we answer gently. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.

14 I don’t write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.

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

15 For though you have ten thousand tutors in Christ, you don’t have many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, I became your father through the Good News.

Even if you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.

16 I beg you therefore, be imitators of me.

Therefore I urge you to imitate me.

17 Because of this I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in every assembly.

That is why I have sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which is exactly what I teach everywhere in every church.

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

Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you.

19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing. And I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power.

But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only what these arrogant people are saying, but what power they have.

20 For God’s Kingdom is not in word, but in power.

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.

21 What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?

Which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and with a gentle spirit?