1 Corinthians 4

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

Let us be judged as servants of Christ, and as those who are responsible for the secret things of God.

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

And it is right for such servants to be safe persons.

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.

But it is a small thing to me that I am judged by you or by man's judging; I am not even a judge of myself.

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

For I am not conscious of any wrong in myself; but this does not make me clear, for it is the Lord who is my judge.

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.

For this reason let there be no judging before the time, till the Lord comes, who will make clear the secret things of the dark, and the designs of the heart; and then will every man have 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.

My brothers, it is because of you that I have taken Apollos and myself as examples of these things, so that in us you might see that it is not wise to go farther than what is in the holy Writings, so that no one of you may be lifted up against his brother.

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 made you better than your brother? or what have you that has not been given to you? but if it has been given to you, what cause have you for pride, as if it had not been given to you?

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!

For even now you are full, even now you have wealth, you have been made kings without us: truly, I would be glad if you 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 put us the Apostles last of all, as men whose fate is death: for we are put on view to the world, and 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 are made to seem foolish for Christ, but you are wise in Christ; we are feeble, but you are strong; you have glory, but we have shame.

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

Even to this hour we are without food, drink, and clothing, we are given blows and have no certain resting-place;

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

And with our hands we do the hardest work: when they give us curses we give blessings, when we undergo punishment we take it quietly;

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

When evil things are said about us we give gentle answers: we are made as the unclean things of the world, as that for which no one has any use, even till now.

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

I am not saying these things to put you to shame, but so that, as my dear children, you may see what is right.

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 had ten thousand teachers in Christ, you have not more than one father: for in Christ Jesus I have given birth to you through the good news.

16 I beg you therefore, be imitators of me.

So my desire is that you take me as your example.

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 cause I have sent Timothy to you, who is my dear and true child in the Lord; he will make clear to you my ways in Christ, even as I am teaching everywhere in every church.

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

Now some are full of pride, as if I was 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 in a short time, if it is pleasing to the Lord, and I will take note, not of the word of those who are full of pride, but of the power.

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

For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.

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

What is your desire? is my coming to be with punishment, or is it to be in love and a gentle spirit?