1 Corinthians 4:9-15

9For I think, God has exhibited us, the apostles, last of all as men 1condemned to death, because we 2have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to mankind. 10We are 3fools on account of Christ, but 4you are prudent in Christ! 5We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are without honor! 11Up to this present hour we are both 6hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed and roughly treated and homeless; 12and we labor, 7working with our own hands; when we are 8verbally abused, we bless; when we are 9persecuted, we endure it; 13when we are slandered, we 10reply as friends; we have 11become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.

14I do not write these things to 12shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved 13children. 15For if you were to have countless 14tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in 15Christ Jesus I 16became your father through the 17gospel.