1 Corinthians 4:1-21
4 Let a man so appraise us as being subordinates*+ of Christ and stewards+ of sacred secrets+ of God.
2 Besides, in this case, what is looked for in stewards*+ is for a man to be found faithful.+
3 Now to me it is a very trivial matter that I should be examined by YOU or by a human tribunal.*+ Even I do not examine myself.
4 For I am not conscious+ of anything against myself. Yet by this I am not proved righteous, but he that examines me is Jehovah.*+
5 Hence do not judge+ anything before the due time, until the Lord comes,+ who will both bring the secret things of darkness to light+ and make the counsels of the hearts manifest,+ and then each one will have his praise come to him* from God.+
6 Now, brothers, these things I have transferred so as to apply to myself and A·polʹlos+ for YOUR good, that in our case YOU may learn the [rule]: “Do not go beyond the things that are written,”+ in order that YOU may not be puffed up+ individually in favor of the one against the other.+
7 For who makes you to differ+ from another? Indeed, what do you have that you did not receive?+ If, now, you did indeed receive [it],+ why do you boast+ as though you did not receive [it]?
8 YOU men already have YOUR fill, do YOU? YOU are rich already, are YOU?+ YOU have begun ruling as kings+ without us, have YOU? And I wish indeed that YOU had begun ruling as kings, that we also might rule with YOU as kings.+
9 For it seems to me that God has put us the apostles last on exhibition+ as men appointed to death,+ because we have become a theatrical spectacle*+ to the world, and to angels,+ and to men.*+
10 We are fools+ because of Christ, but YOU are discreet+ in Christ; we are weak,+ but YOU are strong;+ YOU are in good repute,+ but we are in dishonor.*+
11 Down to this very hour we continue to hunger+ and also to thirst+ and to be scantily clothed*+ and to be knocked+ about and to be homeless+
12 and to toil,+ working with our own hands.+ When being reviled, we bless;+ when being persecuted, we bear up;+
13 when being defamed, we entreat;+ we have become as the refuse of the world, the offscouring of all things, until now.+
14 I am writing these things, not to shame YOU, but to admonish YOU as my beloved children.+
15 For though YOU may have ten thousand tutors+ in Christ, [YOU] certainly [do] not [have] many fathers;+ for in Christ Jesus I have become YOUR father through the good news.+
16 I entreat YOU, therefore, become imitators of me.+
17 That is why I am sending Timothy to YOU,+ as he is my beloved and faithful child+ in [the] Lord; and he will put YOU in mind of my methods in connection with Christ Jesus,*+ just as I am teaching everywhere in every congregation.
18 Some are puffed up+ as though I were in fact not coming to YOU.
19 But I will come to YOU shortly, if Jehovah* wills,+ and I shall get to know, not the speech of those who are puffed up, but [their] power.
20 For the kingdom of God [lies] not in speech, but in power.+
21 What do YOU want? Shall I come to YOU with a rod,+ or with love and mildness of spirit?+
Footnotes
^ Or, “attendants; assistants.” Gr., hy·pe·reʹtas; Lat., mi·niʹstros.
^ “Stewards.” Gr., oi·ko·noʹmois, “house managers”; Lat., di·spen·sa·toʹres; J17(Heb.), has·so·khenimʹ, “the stewards.”
^ “Human tribunal.” Lit., “human day,” that is, a day appointed by a human judge.
^ See App 1D.
^ Or, “his praise will come to each one.”
^ “Theatrical spectacle.” Lit., “a theater.” Gr., theʹa·tron; Lat., spec·taʹcu·lum.
^ Or, “both to angels and to men.”
^ “In dishonor.” Lit., “dishonorable (ones).” Gr., aʹti·moi.
^ Or, “naked.”
^ “Jesus,” P46אCVgc; ABVgSyp omit.
^ See App 1D.
