1 Corinthians 4
4
1Let a man so account of us as servants of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2Here, further, it is sought in stewards, that a man be found faithful. 3But for me it is the very smallest matter that I be examined of you or of man's day. Nor do I even examine myself. 4For I am conscious of nothing in myself; but I am not justified by this: but he that examines me is the Lord. 5So that do not judge anything before the time, until the Lord shall come, who shall also both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and shall make manifest the counsels of hearts; and then shall each have hispraise from God. 6Now these things, brethren, I have transferred, in their application, to myself and Apollos, for your sakes, that ye may learn in us the lesson of not letting your thoughts goabove what is written, that ye may not be puffed up one for such a one against another.
7For who makes thee to differ? and what hast thou which thou hast not received? but if also thou hast received, why boastest thou as not receiving? 8Already ye are filled; already ye have been enriched; ye have reigned without us; and I would that ye reigned, that we also might reign with you. 9For I think that God has set us the apostles for the last, as appointed to death. For we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and men. 10We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye prudent in Christ: we weak, but ye strong: ye glorious, but we in dishonour. 11To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and are in nakedness, and buffeted, and wander without a home, 12and labour, working with our own hands. Railed at, we bless; persecuted, we suffer it; 13insulted, we entreat: we are become as the offscouring of the world, the refuse of all, until now.
14Not as chiding do I write these things to you, but as my beloved children I admonish you. 15For if ye should have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the glad tidings. 16I entreat you therefore, be my imitators.
17For this reason I have sent to you Timotheus, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who shall put you in mind of my ways as they are in Christ, according as I teach everywhere in every assembly. 18But some have been puffed up, as if I were not coming to you; 19but I will come quickly to you, if the Lord will; and I will know, not the word of those that are puffed up, but the power. 20For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. 21What will ye? that I come to you with a rod; or in love, and in a spirit of meekness?
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First published in 1890. This edition is maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.
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