1Cor 4 | ESV | STEP | This is how one should regard us , as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God .

1 Corinthians 4

The Ministry of Apostles

1 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and ^astewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 3 But 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 ^bFor I am not aware of anything against myself, ^cbut I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore ^ddo not pronounce judgment before the time, ^ebefore the Lord comes, ^fwho will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. ^gThen each one will receive his commendation from God.

6 I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, ^{▼▼Or brothers and sisters} that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may ⁱbe puffed up in favor of one against another. 7 For who sees anything different in you? ^jWhat do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?

8 Already 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! 9 For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, ^klike men sentenced to death, because we ^lhave become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. 10 ^mWe are fools for Christ’s sake, but ⁿyou are wise in Christ. ^oWe are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. 11 To the present hour ^pwe hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and ^qbuffeted and ^rhomeless, 12 and we ^slabor, working with our own hands. ^tWhen reviled, we bless; ^uwhen persecuted, we endure; 13 when slandered, we entreat. ^vWe have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, ^wthe refuse of all things.

14 I do not write these things ^xto make you ashamed, but to admonish you ^yas my beloved children. 15 For ^zthough you have countless ^{▼▼Greek you have ten thousand} guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For ^abI became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16 I urge you, then, ^acbe imitators of me. 17 That is why ^adI sent ^{▼▼Or am sending} you Timothy, ^afmy beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, ^{▼▼Some manuscripts add Jesus} ^ahas I teach them everywhere in every church. 18 Some are ^aiarrogant, ^ajas though I were not coming to you. 19 But ^akI will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power. 20 For ^althe kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. 21 What do you wish? ^amShall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?