1 Corinthians 4

The Ministry of the Apostles

1Let a man so regard us as the ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. # Ro 16:25; Titus 1:7 2Moreover it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful. 3But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by man’s judgment. I do not even judge myself. 4For I know nothing against myself. Yet I am not justified by this. But He who judges me is the Lord. # Ps 130:3; 143:2 5Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time until the Lord comes. # Ro 2:1 He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will reveal the purposes of the hearts. # Ro 2:16 Then everyone will have commendation from God. # Ro 2:29

6Brothers, I have figuratively applied these things to myself and to Apollos for your sakes, # 1Co 1:12 so that you may learn from us not to think of men above that which is written, and that not one of you would be arrogant for one against another. # 1Co 13:4 7For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? # Jn 3:27; Ro 12:6 Now if you received it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

8Now you are full! Now you are rich! # Rev 3:17 You have begun reigning as kings without us! And I would that you did reign, so that we also might reign with you. 9For I think that God has exhibited us, the apostles, last, as if we were sentenced to death. # Ro 8:36 For we have been made a spectacle to the world, # Heb 10:33 to angels and to men. 10We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, # 1Co 2:3 but you are strong. You are honorable, but we are despised. # Ac 17:18; 26:24 11Even to this present hour we both hunger and thirst, and are poorly clothed and beaten and homeless. # Ro 8:35; 2Co 11:23–27 12We labor, working with our own hands. # Ac 18:3 Being reviled, we bless. Being persecuted, we endure. # Mt 5:11; 1Pe 3:9 13Being slandered, we encourage. We are made as the filth of the world, # La 3:45 and are the refuse of all things to this day.

14I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. # 1Th 2:11 15For if you were to have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers. In Christ Jesus I have become a father to you through the gospel. # Gal 4:19 16So I implore you, be followers of me. # 1Co 11:1; Php 3:17 17Therefore I have sent Timothy to you. He is my beloved son and is faithful in the Lord. # 1Ti 1:2 He will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church. # 1Co 7:17

18Now some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. 19But I will come to you shortly if the Lord wills. # Ac 18:21 And I will know not only what those who are arrogant are saying, but also their power. 20For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. # 1Co 2:4 21What do you desire? Shall I come to you with a rod, # 2Co 1:23; 13:2 or in love and in the spirit of meekness?

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1 Corinthians 4: MEV

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1 Corinthians 4

Apostles of Christ

1This is what people should think about us: We are servants of Christ. We are the ones God has trusted with his secret truths. 2A person who is trusted with something must show that he is worthy of that trust. 3I do not care if I am judged by you or if I am judged by any human court. I do not even judge myself. 4I know of no wrong that I have done. But this does not make me innocent. The Lord is the One who judges me. 5So do not judge before the right time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light things that are now hidden in darkness. He will make known the secret purposes of people’s hearts. Then God will give everyone the praise he should get.

6Brothers, I have used Apollos and myself as examples. I did this so that you could learn from us the meaning of the words, “Follow only what is written in the Scriptures.” Then you will not be proud of one man and hate another. 7Who says that you are better than others? Everything you have was given to you. And if this is so, why do you brag as if you got these things by your own power?

8You think you have everything you need. You think you are rich. You think you have become kings without us. I wish you really were kings! Then we could be kings together with you. 9But it seems to me that God has given me and the other apostles the last place. We are like men sentenced to die. We are like a show for the whole world to see—angels and people. 10We are fools for Christ’s sake. But you think you are very wise in Christ. We are weak, but you think you are strong. You receive honor, but we are hated. 11Even now we still do not have enough to eat or drink or enough clothes. We are often beaten. We have no homes. 12We work hard with our own hands for our food. People curse us, but we bless them. They hurt us, and we accept it. 13They say evil things against us, but we say only kind things to them. Even today, we are treated as though we are the garbage of the world—the dirt of the earth.

14I am not trying to make you feel ashamed. I am writing this to give you a warning as if you were my own dear children. 15For though you may have 10,000 teachers in Christ, you do not have many fathers. Through the Good News I became your father in Christ Jesus. 16So I beg you, please be like me. 17That is why I am sending Timothy to you. He is my son in the Lord. I love Timothy, and he is faithful. He will help you remember the way I live in Christ Jesus. This way of life is what I teach in all the churches everywhere.

18Some of you have become proud, thinking that I will not come to you again. 19But I will come very soon if the Lord wants me to. Then I will see what those who are proud can do, not what they say. 20I want to see this because the kingdom of God is not talk but power. 21Which do you want: that I come to you with punishment, or that I come with love and gentleness?

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