‏ 1 Corinthians 4

Servants of Christ

1 This is the way any person is to regard us: 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 an insignificant matter that I would be examined by you, or by any human
Lit day
court; in fact, I do not even examine myself.
4For I fam not aware of anything against myself; however I am not gvindicated by this, 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 human hearts; and then mpraise will come to each person from God.

6 Now these things, brothers and sisters, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos on your account, 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 considers 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?

8 You 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, the apostles, last of all as men tcondemned to death, because we uhave become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to mankind. 10We are vfools on account of Christ, but wyou are prudent in Christ! xWe are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are without honor! 11Up to this present hour we are both yhungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed and roughly treated and homeless; 12and we labor, zworking with our own hands; when we are aaverbally abused, we bless; when we are abpersecuted, we endure it; 13when we are slandered, we
Or conciliate
reply as friends; we have adbecome as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.

14 I do not write these things to aeshame you, but to admonish you as my beloved afchildren. 15For if you were to have countless agtutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in ahChrist Jesus I aibecame your father through the ajgospel. 16Therefore I urge you, be akimitators of me. 17For this reason I alhave sent to you amTimothy, who is my anbeloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, aojust as I teach everywhere in every church. 18Now some have become
Lit puffed up
aqarrogant, as though I were not arcoming to you.
19But I aswill come to you soon, atif the Lord wills, and I shall find out, not the
Lit word
words of those who are avarrogant, but their power.
20For the kingdom of God is awnot in
Lit word
words, but in power.
21What do you desire? ayThat I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?
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