1 Corinthians 4
4
The Ministry of the Apostles
1#Ro 16:25; Titus 1:7Let a man so regard us as the ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 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. 4#Ps 143:2; 130:3For I know nothing against myself. Yet I am not justified by this. But He who judges me is the Lord. 5#Ro 2:16; 2:1; 2:29Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time until the Lord comes. He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will reveal the purposes of the hearts. Then everyone will have commendation from God.
6#1Co 1:12; 13:4Brothers, I have figuratively applied these things to myself and to Apollos for your sakes, 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. 7#Jn 3:27; Ro 12:6For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you received it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?
8#Rev 3:17Now you are full, now you are rich; you have begun reigning as kings without us, and I wish to God you reigned, so that we also might reign with you. 9#Ro 8:36; Heb 10:33For I think that God has exhibited us, the apostles, last, as if we were sentenced to death. For we have been made a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men. 10#1Co 2:3; Ac 17:18; 26:24We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honorable, but we are despised. 11#Ro 8:35; 2Co 11:23–27Even to this present hour we both hunger and thirst, and are poorly clothed and beaten and homeless. 12#1Pe 3:9; Ac 18:3; Mt 5:11We labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless. Being persecuted, we endure. 13#La 3:45Being slandered, we encourage. We are made as the filth of the world, and are the refuse of all things to this day.
14#1Th 2:11; 1Co 4:15I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. 15#Gal 4:19; 1Co 3:10For 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. 16#1Co 11:1; Php 3:17So I implore you, be followers of me. 17#1Co 7:17; 1Ti 1:2Therefore I have sent Timothy to you. He is my beloved son and is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.
18Now some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. 19#Ac 18:21; 19:21But I will come to you shortly if the Lord wills. And I will know not only what those who are arrogant are saying, but also their power. 20#1Co 2:4For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. 21#2Co 13:2; 1:23What do you desire? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and in the spirit of meekness?
Currently Selected:
1 Corinthians 4: MEV
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Military Bible Association
1 Corinthians 4
4
Apostles of Christ Jesus
1You should think of us as servants of Christ, the ones God has trusted to do the work of making known his secret truths. 2Those who are trusted with such an important work must show that they are worthy of that trust. 3But I don’t consider your judgment on this point to be worth anything. Even an opinion from a court of law would mean nothing. I don’t even trust my own judgment. 4I don’t know of any wrong I have done, but that does not make me right. The Lord is the one who must decide if I have done well or not. 5So don’t judge anyone now. The time for judging will be when the Lord comes. He will shine light on everything that is now hidden in darkness. He will make known the secret purposes of our hearts. Then the praise each person should get will come from God.
6Brothers and sisters, I have used Apollos and myself as examples for you. I did this so that you could learn from us the meaning of the words, “Follow what the Scriptures say.” Then you will not brag about one person and criticize another. 7Who do you think you are? Everything you have was given to you. So, if everything you have was given to you, why do you act as if you got it all 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 rule together with you. 9But it seems to me that God has given me and the other apostles the last place. We are like prisoners condemned to die, led in a parade for the whole world to see—not just people but angels too. 10We are fools for Christ, but you think you are so wise in Christ. We are weak, but you think you are so strong. People give you honor, but they don’t honor us. 11Even now we still don’t have enough to eat or drink, and we don’t have enough clothes. We often get beatings. We have no homes. 12We work hard with our own hands to feed ourselves. When people insult us, we ask God to bless them. When people treat us badly, we accept it. 13When people say bad things about us, we try to say something that will help them. But people still treat us like the world’s garbage—everyone’s trash.
14I am not trying to make you feel ashamed, but I am writing this to counsel you as my own dear children. 15You may have ten thousand teachers in Christ, but you don’t have many fathers. Through the Good News I became your father in Christ Jesus. 16So I beg you to be like me. 17That is why I am sending Timothy to you. He is my son in the Lord. I love him and trust him. He will help you remember the way I live in Christ Jesus—a way of life that I teach in every meeting of the church wherever I am.
18Some of you are acting so proud, it seems as though you think I won’t be coming there again. 19But I will come to you very soon, the Lord willing. Then I will see if these proud talkers have the power to do anything more than talk. 20God’s kingdom is not seen in talk but in power. 21Which do you want: that I come to you with punishment, or that I come with love and gentleness?
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
© 1987, 2004 Bible League International