1Cor 4 | NASB2020 | STEP | This is the way any person is to regard us: as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God .

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. 2 In this case, moreover, it is required ^{▼▼Lit in}of stewards that one be found trustworthy. 3 But 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. 4 For I ^fam not aware of anything against myself; however I am not ^gvindicated by this, but the one who examines me is the Lord. 5 Therefore ^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. 7 For 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! 9 For 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. 10 We 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! 11 Up to this present hour we are both ^yhungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed and roughly treated and homeless; 12 and we labor, ^zworking with our own hands; when we are ^aaverbally abused, we bless; when we are ^abpersecuted, we endure it; 13 when 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. 15 For 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. 16 Therefore I urge you, be ^akimitators of me. 17 For 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. 18 Now some have become ^{▼▼Lit puffed up
,} ^aqarrogant, as though I were not ^arcoming to you. 19 But 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. 20 For the kingdom of God is ^awnot in ^{▼▼Lit word}words, but in power. 21 What do you desire? ^ayThat I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?