1 Corinthians 4

1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

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

2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

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

3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.

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

4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

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.

5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

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.

6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and [to] Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think [of men] above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.

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.

7 For who maketh thee to differ [from another]? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive [it], why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received [it]?

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?

8 Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.

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!

9 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.

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.

10 We [are] fools for Christ’s sake, but ye [are] wise in Christ; we [are] weak, but ye [are] strong; ye [are] honourable, but we [are] despised.

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!

11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;

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.

12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:

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

13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, [and are] the offscouring of all things unto this day.

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

14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn [you].

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

15 For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet [have ye] not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

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.

16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

So I'm pleading with you to imitate me!

17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.

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.

18 Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.

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

19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.

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.

20 For the kingdom of God [is] not in word, but in power.

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

21 What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and [in] the spirit of meekness?

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