1 Corinthians 4
4
1So think of us as Christ's servants given the responsibility for “the mysteries of God.”#4:1. Again, in the NT mysteries are the revealed truths of God. 2More than this, those who have such responsibilities are required to be trustworthy. 3Personally it hardly matters to me if you or anyone else judges me—in fact I don't even judge myself. 4I don't know of anything I've done wrong, but that doesn't make me morally right. It's the Lord who judges me. 5So 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.
6Now, 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.#4:6. The meaning of original is debated. This is shown in the many differences in translations. 7Who 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? 8You think you have all you need. You think you're so wealthy. You think you're kings already, and don't need us.#4:8. Literally, “without us.” I wish you were really ruling as kings, so we could rule with you! 9The 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. 10We'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!#4:10. From the context Paul appears to be speaking rather ironically. 11Right 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. 12We struggle on doing manual work. When people curse us, we bless them. When they persecute us, we put up with it. 13When they insult us, we respond with kindness. Even now we are treated like dirt, the worst trash in the whole world.
14I'm not writing like this to make you feel ashamed, but to caution you as my children whom I love so much. 15Even 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. 16So I'm pleading with you to imitate me!
17That's why I sent Timothy to you, my trustworthy son in the Lord whom I love so much. He will remind you about the way I follow Christ, just as I always teach in every church I visit. 18Some among you have become arrogant, thinking I wouldn't bother coming to see you. 19But 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. 20For the kingdom of God is not about mere words, but about power. 21So what do you want? Shall I come with a stick to beat you, or in love and a gentle spirit?
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Dr. Jonathan Gallagher. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Unported License. Version 4.3. For corrections send email to jonathangallagherfbv@gmail.com
1 Corinthians 4
4
True Apostles of Christ
1So here is how you should think of us. We serve Christ. We are trusted with the mysteries God has shown us. 2Those who have been given a trust must prove that they are faithful. 3I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court. I don’t even judge myself. 4I don’t feel I have done anything wrong. But that doesn’t mean I’m not guilty. The Lord judges me. 5So don’t judge anything before the appointed time. Wait until the Lord returns. He will bring to light what is hidden in the dark. He will show the real reasons why people do what they do. At that time each person will receive their praise from God.
6Brothers and sisters, I have used myself and Apollos as examples to help you. You can learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Don’t go beyond what is written.” Then you won’t be proud that you follow one of us instead of the other. 7Who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you brag as though you did not?
8You already have everything you want, don’t you? Have you already become rich? Have you already begun to rule? And did you do that without us? I wish that you really had begun to rule. Then we could also rule with you! 9It seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of a parade. We are like people sentenced to die in front of a crowd. We have been made a show for the whole creation to see. Angels and people are staring at us. 10We are fools for Christ. But you are so wise in Christ! We are weak. But you are so strong! You are honored. But we are looked down on! 11Up to this very hour we are hungry and thirsty. We are dressed in rags. We are being treated badly. We have no homes. 12We work hard with our own hands. When others curse us, we bless them. When we are attacked, we put up with it. 13When others say bad things about us, we answer with kind words. We have become the world’s garbage. We are everybody’s trash, right up to this moment.
Paul Warns Against Pride
14I am not writing this to shame you. You are my dear children, and I want to warn you. 15Suppose you had 10,000 believers in Christ watching over you. You still wouldn’t have many fathers. I became your father by serving Christ Jesus and telling you the good news. 16So I’m asking you to follow my example. 17That’s the reason I have sent Timothy to you. He is like a son to me, and I love him. He is faithful in serving the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in serving Christ Jesus. And that agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.
18Some of you have become proud. You act as if I weren’t coming to you. 19But I will come very soon, if that’s what the Lord wants. Then I will find out how those proud people are talking. I will also find out what power they have. 20The kingdom of God is not a matter of talk. It is a matter of power. 21Which do you want? Should I come to you to correct and punish you? Or should I come in love and with a gentle spirit?
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