1 Corinthians 4
4
The work of the apostles
1Think of us as servants of Christ who have been given the work of explaining God's mysterious ways. 2And since our first duty is to be faithful to the one we work for, 3it doesn't matter to me if I am judged by you or even by a court of law. In fact, I don't judge myself. 4I don't know of anything against me, but that doesn't prove that I am right. The Lord is my judge. 5So don't judge anyone until the Lord returns. He will show what is hidden in the dark and what is in everyone's heart. Then God will be the one who praises each of us.
6Friends, I have used Apollos and myself as examples to teach you the meaning of the saying, “Follow the rules.” I want you to stop saying that one of us is better than the other. 7What is so special about you? What do you have that you were not given? And if it was given to you, how can you boast? 8Are you already satisfied? Are you now rich? Have you become kings while we are still nobodies? I wish you were kings. Then we could have a share in your kingdom.
9It seems to me that God has put us apostles in the worst possible place. We are like prisoners on their way to death. Angels and the people of this world just laugh at us. 10Because of Christ we are thought of as fools, but Christ has made you wise. We are weak and hated, but you are powerful and respected. 11Even today we go hungry and thirsty and don't have anything to wear except rags. We are ill-treated and don't have a place to live. 12We work hard with our own hands, and when people abuse us, we wish them well. When we suffer, we are patient.#Ac 18.3. 13When someone curses us, we answer with kind words. Until now we are thought of as nothing more than the trash and rubbish of this world.
14I am not writing to embarrass you. I want to help you, just as parents help their own dear children. 15Ten thousand people may teach you about Christ, but I am your only father. You became my children when I told you about Christ Jesus, 16and I want you to be like me.#1 Co 11.1; Phil 3.17. 17That's why I sent Timothy to you. I love him like a son, and he is a faithful servant of the Lord. Timothy will tell you what I do to follow Christ and how it agrees with what I always teach about Christ in every church.
18Some of you think I am not coming for a visit, and so you are boasting. 19But if the Lord lets me come, I will soon be there. Then I will find out if the ones who are doing all this boasting really have any power. 20God's kingdom isn't just a lot of words. It is power. 21What do you want me to do when I arrive? Do you want me to be hard on you or to be kind and gentle?
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© British and Foreign Bible Society 2012
1 Corinthians 4
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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The Holy Bible, Modern English Version
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