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?
Currently Selected:
1 Corinthians 4: FBV
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
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
1So let a man consider us as Gabba'im of Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach and mefakkechim (stewards, supervisors) of the sodot (mysteries) of Hashem.
2Moreover, it is sought in mefakkechim that one be found that has ne'emanut (faithfulness).
3But to me it is a very small thing that I be brought, as it were, before your Bet Din for you to play dayanim (religious judges) judging me, or that I am judged by Bnei Adam on their merely human Yom HaDin; I do not even act as Dayan (Judge of a Rabbinical Court) of myself.
4I am aware of nothing against myself, but not in this have I been yitzdak (justified); it is the L-rd who is my Shofet (Judge).#4:4 Gn 18:25; Dan 7:13-14
5Therefore, do not judge anything before the time, until the Bias Adoneinu,#4:5 Moshiach who both will bring to Ohr (Light) the hidden things of the choshech (darkness) and manifest the motives of the levavot. And then the tehillah (praise) each one will receive will be from Hashem.#4:5 Job 12:22; Ps 90:8
6Now these things, Achim b'Moshiach, I made a dimyon (comparison) applied with respect to myself and Apollos for your sake, that through us you may learn not to go beyond what things have been written,#4:6 2:13 lest you are puffed up as ba'alei ga'avah (conceited, haughty persons) in favor of one or against the other.
7For who makes you so distinguished? And, by the way, what do you have which you did not receive? And if indeed you were given it, why this ga'avah, this boastfulness as if you had not received it?
8Already you have so much, already you ascended to osher (riches) and without us [Shlichim]! You became melechim (kings); I would that you did indeed become melechim that also we might reign as melechim with you.
9For, omein, I believe that Hashem has exhibited us, the Shlichim of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, as last in the program, condemned to death, because, like wretches under a mishpat mavet (death sentence), we became displayed in the arena for the eyes of the Olam Hazeh, malachim as well as Bnei Adam.#4:9 Ps 71:7
10We are kesilim (fools) because of Moshiach, but you are chachamim in Moshiach; we are weak, but you are strong; you are treated with honor; we dishonor.
11Until the present sha'ah (hour) we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are beaten and homeless.
12And we have parnasah, toiling with our own hands; being reviled, we make a bracha; being persecuted, we endure it:
13Being defamed by loshon hora, we conciliate. We have become what the earth wants swept out the door, something considered trash the Olam Hazeh wants removed.#4:13 Jer 20:18; Lam 3:45
14The purpose of this iggeret is not to bring you under bushah (shame). I write these things as admonishing my beloved yeladim.
15For, though you may have in Moshiach morei derech numbering ten thousand, you have not many avot, for in Moshiach through the Besuras HaGeulah I#4:15 T.N. Notice 1C 4:6 indicates the canon of inerrant Scripture is closed and may not be added to. became your abba.
16Therefore, I encourage you, imitate me.
17Because of this very thing, I sent Timotiyos to you who is my beni haahuv (beloved son) and ne'eman (faithful), trustworthy in Hashem, who will remind you of my derech baKodesh in Moshiach, even as I give shiurim everywhere in every kehillah.
18Now as to my coming to you, some were puffed up,#4:18 Jer 43:2
19But I will come shortly to you, im yirtzeh Hashem (if the L-rd wills), and I will find out not the speech of the ones having been puffed up but the ko'ach (power).
20For the Malchut Hashem depends not on the talk [of the ish sefatayim (the eloquent speaker)] but on ko'ach (power).
21What do you want? That I should come to you, so to speak, with an abbaʼs switch or in ahavah and an anavat ruach (a spirit of meekness)?
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
THE ORTHODOX JEWISH BIBLE
FOURTH EDITION © Artists For Israel Intl Inc., 2002-2011, 2021.