1CO 4
4
The Apostles and Their Calling
1 Let a person regard us in the proper light: as servants of Christ and stewards entrusted with managing the mysteries of God.
2 Furthermore, in this role as stewards, it is essential that a person be found faithful and trustworthy.
3 But as far as I am concerned, it matters very little to me whether I am examined and evaluated by you or by any human court. Indeed, I do not even evaluate and judge myself.
4 For although I am not conscious of anything I have done wrong, this does not mean I am thereby vindicated. The One who examines and judges me is the Lord.
5 Therefore, do not pronounce judgment on anything prematurely, before the appointed time, until the Lord comes. He will bring to light the hidden things concealed in darkness and will expose the motivations and intentions of human hearts. At that time, each person will receive whatever commendation is due from God.
6 Now, fellow believers, I have applied these principles figuratively to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that through our example you may learn the principle of not going beyond what Scripture teaches, so that none of you will become arrogant and prideful, siding with one leader against another.
7 For who gives you any basis for thinking you are superior to another believer? And what do you possess that you did not receive as a gift? And if you indeed received it as a gift, why do you boast as though you did not receive it but earned it yourself?
8 Already you act as though you are completely satisfied. Already you behave as though you have become wealthy. Without our guidance you have begun to reign as kings. And I sincerely wish you truly were reigning, so that we apostles might also reign together with you!
9 For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display as last in line, like prisoners condemned to death in the arena, because we have become a spectacle for the whole world to observe, both angels and human beings.
10 We are regarded as fools for the sake of Christ, but you consider yourselves wise in Christ. We are weak, but you see yourselves as strong. You are held in honour, but we are treated with contempt and dishonour!
11 Up to this very moment, we experience both hunger and thirst, we wear inadequate clothing, we are beaten and mistreated, and we have no permanent home.
12 We toil and labour, working with our own hands to support ourselves. When people insult and revile us, we respond with blessing. When we are persecuted, we endure it patiently.
13 When we are slandered, we respond with gentle encouragement. We have become like the scum and refuse of the world, the garbage that everyone despises, right up to this present moment.
Paul's Admonition
14 I am not writing these things to shame you, but rather to admonish you as my beloved children.
15 For even if you have ten thousand instructors or tutors in Christ, you do not have many spiritual fathers, because through the gospel I became your father in Christ Jesus.
16 Therefore, I urge you earnestly: Become imitators of me and follow my example.
17 For this very reason, I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of my ways and manner of life in Christ Jesus, which are the same as I teach in every place and in every church.
18 But some among you have become arrogant, assuming that I am not coming to visit you.
19 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord permits, and then I will discover not merely the talk and boasting of those who have become arrogant, but what actual power they possess.
20 For the kingdom of God does not consist in eloquent talk and empty words, but in the demonstration of power.
21 What is your preference? Shall I come to you with stern discipline like a rod, or shall I come in love and with a spirit of gentleness?
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1CO 4: AFINT
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Copyright © 2026 Michael Adeyemi Adegbola. This Scripture text is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).
