1 Corinthians 4

Servants of Christ

1Let a man regard us in this manner, as 1servants of Christ and 2stewards of 3the mysteries of God. 2In this case, moreover, it is required 4of 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 5court; in fact, I do not even examine myself. 4For I 6am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this 7acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord. 5Therefore 8do not go on 9passing judgment before 10the time, but wait 11until the Lord comes who will both 12bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s 13praise 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 14what is written, so that no one of you will 15become 16arrogant 17in behalf of one against the other. 7For who regards you as superior? 18What 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 19already 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 20condemned to death; because we 21have become a spectacle to the world, 22both to angels and to men. 10We are 23fools for Christ’s sake, but 24you are prudent in Christ; 25we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor. 11To this present hour we are both 26hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless; 12and we toil, 27working with our own hands; when we are 28reviled, we bless; when we are 29persecuted, we endure; 13when we are slandered, we try to 30conciliate; we have 31become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.

14I do not write these things to 32shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved 33children. 15For if you were to have countless 34tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in 35Christ Jesus I 36became your father through the 37gospel. 16Therefore I exhort you, be 38imitators of me. 17For this reason I 39have sent to you 40Timothy, who is my 41beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, 42just as I teach everywhere in every church. 18Now some have become 4344arrogant, as though I were not 45coming to you. 19But I 46will come to you soon, 47if the Lord wills, and I shall find out, not the 48words of those who are 49arrogant but their power. 20For the kingdom of God does 50not consist in 51words but in power. 21What do you desire? 52Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?