1 Corinthians 4

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

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

This being so, it follows that fidelity is what is required in stewards.

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 however am very little concerned at undergoing your scrutiny, or that of other men; in fact I do not even scrutinize myself.

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

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 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 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 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.

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 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?

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 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!

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 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.

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

To this very moment we endure both hunger and thirst, with scanty clothing and many a blow.

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

Homes we have none. Wearily we toil, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we bear it patiently;

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

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

I am not writing all this to shame you, but I am offering you advice as my dearly-loved 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.

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 I beg you therefore, be imitators of me.

I entreat you therefore to become like 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.

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

But some of you have been puffed up through getting the idea that I am not coming to Corinth.

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

For Apostolic authority is not a thing of words, 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 shall it be? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in a loving and tender spirit?