1 Corinthians 4

Servants of Christ

1This is the way any person is to regard us: 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 an insignificant matter that I would be examined by you, or by any human 5court; in fact, I do not even examine myself. 4For I 6am not aware of anything against myself; however I am not 7vindicated by this, 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 human hearts; and then 13praise will come to each person from God.

6Now 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 14what is written, so that no one of you will 15become 16arrogant 17in behalf of one against the other. 7For who considers 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, the apostles, last of all as men 20condemned to death, because we 21have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to mankind. 10We are 22fools on account of Christ, but 23you are prudent in Christ! 24We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are without honor! 11Up to this present hour we are both 25hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed and roughly treated and homeless; 12and we labor, 26working with our own hands; when we are 27verbally abused, we bless; when we are 28persecuted, we endure it; 13when we are slandered, we 29reply as friends; we have 30become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.

14I do not write these things to 31shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved 32children. 15For if you were to have countless 33tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in 34Christ Jesus I 35became your father through the 36gospel. 16Therefore I urge you, be 37imitators of me. 17For this reason I 38have sent to you 39Timothy, who is my 40beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, 41just as I teach everywhere in every church. 18Now some have become 4243arrogant, as though I were not 44coming to you. 19But I 45will come to you soon, 46if the Lord wills, and I shall find out, not the 47words of those who are 48arrogant, but their power. 20For the kingdom of God is 49not in 50words, but in power. 21What do you desire? 51That I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?