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?
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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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1 Corinthians 4
4
The Apostles’ Ministry
1 One#tn Here ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo") is both indefinite and general, “one”; “a person” (BDAG 81 s.v. 4.a.γ). should think about us this way – as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Now what is sought in stewards is that one be found faithful. 3 So for me, it is a minor matter that I am judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not acquitted because of this. The one who judges me is the Lord. 5 So then, do not judge anything before the time. Wait until the Lord comes. He will#tn Grk “time, until the Lord comes, who will bring to light.” bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the motives of hearts. Then each will receive recognition#tn Or “praise.” from God.
6 I have applied these things to myself and Apollos because of you, brothers and sisters,#tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:10. so that through us you may learn “not to go beyond what is written,” so that none of you will be puffed up in favor of the one against the other. 7 For who concedes you any superiority? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you boast as though you did not? 8 Already you are satisfied! Already you are rich! You have become kings without us! I wish you had become kings so that we could reign with you! 9 For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to die, because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to people. 10 We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, we are dishonored! 11 To the present hour we are hungry and thirsty, poorly clothed, brutally treated, and without a roof over our heads. 12 We do hard work, toiling with our own hands. When we are verbally abused, we respond with a blessing, when persecuted, we endure, 13 when people lie about us, we answer in a friendly manner. We are the world’s dirt and scum, even now.
A Father’s Warning
14 I am not writing these things to shame you, but to correct you as my dear children. 15 For though you may have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, because I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16 I encourage you, then, be imitators of me. 17 For this reason, I have sent Timothy to you, who is my dear and faithful son in the Lord. He will remind you of my ways in Christ,#tc ‡ Several important mss read ᾿Ιησοῦ (Ihsou, “Jesus”) after Χριστῷ (Cristw, “Christ”) in v. 17 (so Ì46 א C D1 33 1739 al). Western mss have κυρίῳ ᾿Ιησοῦ (kuriw Ihsou, “Lord Jesus”; D* F G), while several significant mss, as well as the majority, have only Χριστῷ here (A B D2 Ψ Ï sa). Once ᾿Ιησοῦ got into the text, it would continue to be copied. There is however no easy explanation for the word lacking in so many witnesses. Thus the shorter reading appears to be original. NA27 includes ᾿Ιησοῦ in brackets, indicating doubt as to its authenticity. as I teach them everywhere in every church. 18 Some have become arrogant,#tn Grk “puffed up”; “inflated.” as if I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord is willing, and I will find out not only the talk of these arrogant people, but also their power. 20 For the kingdom of God is demonstrated not in idle talk but with power. 21 What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline#tn Grk “rod.” Context indicates that this rod will be used for disciplinary purposes.sn Paul is using the term rod in this context to refer to his apostolic authority to discipline those who have become arrogant in the Corinthian church and have attempted to undermine his ministry (cf. 4:18-19). or with love and a spirit of gentleness?
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