1 Corinthians 4
Servants of Christ
1Let a man regard us in this manner, as aservants of Christ and bstewards of cthe mysteries of God. 2In this case, moreover, it is required ▼▼ Lit in
of stewards that one be found trustworthy. 3But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human ▼▼ Lit day
court; in fact, I do not even examine myself. 4For I fam conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this gacquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord. 5Therefore hdo not go on ▼▼ Lit judging anything
passing judgment before ▼▼ I.e. the appointed time of judgment
the time, but wait kuntil the Lord comes who will both lbring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s mpraise will come to him from God. 6Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us you may learn not to exceed nwhat is written, so that no one of you will obecome ▼▼ Lit puffed up
arrogant qin behalf of one against the other. 7For who regards you as superior? rWhat do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? 8You are salready filled, you have already become rich, you have become kings without us; and indeed, I wish that you had become kings so that we also might reign with you. 9For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men tcondemned to death; because we uhave become a spectacle to the world, ▼▼ Or and to angels and to men
both to angels and to men. 10We are wfools for Christ’s sake, but xyou are prudent in Christ; ywe are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor. 11To this present hour we are both zhungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless; 12and we toil, aaworking with our own hands; when we are abreviled, we bless; when we are acpersecuted, we endure; 13when we are slandered, we try to ▼▼ Or console
conciliate; we have aebecome as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now. 14I do not write these things to afshame you, but to admonish you as my beloved agchildren. 15For if you were to have countless ahtutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in aiChrist Jesus I ajbecame your father through the akgospel. 16Therefore I exhort you, be alimitators of me. 17For this reason I amhave sent to you anTimothy, who is my aobeloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, apjust as I teach everywhere in every church. 18Now some have become ▼▼ Lit puffed up
,
ararrogant, as though I were not ascoming to you. 19But I atwill come to you soon, auif the Lord wills, and I shall find out, not the ▼▼ Lit word
words of those who are awarrogant but their power. 20For the kingdom of God does axnot consist in ▼▼ Lit word
words but in power. 21What do you desire? azShall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?
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