1 Corinthians 4
4
The Ministry of Apostles
1This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and #[ch. 9:17]; See 1 Pet. 4:10stewards of the mysteries of God. 2Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 3But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4#See Acts 23:1 For I am not aware of anything against myself, #Job 9:2, 15; Ps. 130:3; 143:2; [1 John 3:21]but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. 5Therefore #Matt. 7:1; Rom. 2:1; [Matt. 13:29] do not pronounce judgment before the time, #See John 21:22; Rom. 2:16 before the Lord comes, #ch. 3:13 who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. #2 Cor. 10:18; See ch. 3:8Then each one will receive his commendation from God.
6I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers,#4:6 Or brothers and sisters that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may #ver. 18, 19; ch. 5:2; 13:4be puffed up in favor of one against another. 7For who sees anything different in you? #John 3:27; [1 Chr. 29:14; James 1:17; 1 Pet. 4:10]What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?
8Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! 9For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, #See Rom. 8:36 like men sentenced to death, because we #Heb. 10:33 (Gk.); [Isa. 20:3]have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. 10#[Acts 17:18]; See ch. 1:18; Acts 26:24 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but #2 Cor. 11:19 you are wise in Christ. #ch. 2:3; 2 Cor. 13:9We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. 11To the present hour #Rom. 8:35; 2 Cor. 11:27; Phil. 4:12 we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and #2 Cor. 11:20, 23 buffeted and #[Matt. 8:20]homeless, 12and we #See Acts 18:3 labor, working with our own hands. #See 1 Pet. 3:9 When reviled, we bless; #See John 15:20when persecuted, we endure; 13when slandered, we entreat. #[Isa. 30:22; 64:6] We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, #Lam. 3:45the refuse of all things.
14I do not write these things #[ch. 6:5; 15:34] to make you ashamed, but to admonish you #2 Cor. 6:13; 1 Thess. 2:11; 3 John 4as my beloved children. 15For #[ch. 3:10] though you have countless#4:15 Greek you have ten thousand guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For #Philem. 10; [Gal. 4:19]I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16I urge you, then, #ch. 11:1; Phil. 3:17; 1 Thess. 1:6; [Phil. 4:9; 2 Thess. 3:9]be imitators of me. 17That is why #ch. 16:10 I sent#4:17 Or am sending you Timothy, #1 Tim. 1:2; 2 Tim. 1:2 my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ,#4:17 Some manuscripts add Jesus #ch. 7:17as I teach them everywhere in every church. 18Some are #See ver. 6 arrogant, #ver. 21; [2 Cor. 10:2]as though I were not coming to you. 19But #ch. 11:34; 16:5, 6; Acts 19:21; 20:2; 2 Cor. 1:15, 16I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power. 20For #See ch. 2:4the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. 21What do you wish? #2 Cor. 1:23; 2:1, 3; 12:20; 13:2, 10Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?
Currently Selected:
1 Corinthians 4: ESV
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Sign up to receive news and updates about the ESV:
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?
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
© British and Foreign Bible Society 2012