1This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. (1Co 9:17; 1Pe 4:10)2Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.3But 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.4For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. (Job 9:2; Job 9:15; Ps 130:3; Ps 143:2; Ac 23:1; 1Jo 3:21)5Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God. (Mt 7:1; Mt 13:29; Joh 21:22; Ro 2:1; Ro 2:16; 1Co 3:8; 1Co 3:13; 2Co 10:18)6I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers,[1] that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. (1Co 4:18; 1Co 5:2; 1Co 13:4)7For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it? (1Ch 29:14; Joh 3:27; Jas 1:17; 1Pe 4:10)8Already 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!9For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. (Isa 20:3; Ro 8:36; Heb 10:33)10We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. (Ac 17:18; Ac 26:24; 1Co 1:18; 1Co 2:3; 2Co 11:19; 2Co 13:9)11To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, (Mt 8:20; Ro 8:35; 2Co 11:20; 2Co 11:23; 2Co 11:27; Php 4:12)12and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; (Joh 15:20; Ac 18:3; 1Pe 3:9)13when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things. (Isa 30:22; Isa 64:6; La 3:45)14I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. (1Co 6:5; 1Co 15:34; 2Co 6:13; 1Th 2:11; 3Jo 1:4)15For though you have countless[2] guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. (1Co 3:10; Ga 4:19; Phm 1:10)16I urge you, then, be imitators of me. (1Co 11:1; Php 3:17; Php 4:9; 1Th 1:6; 2Th 3:9)17That is why I sent[3] you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ,[4] as I teach them everywhere in every church. (1Co 7:17; 1Co 16:10; 1Ti 1:2; 2Ti 1:2)18Some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. (1Co 4:6; 1Co 4:21; 2Co 10:2)19But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power. (Ac 19:21; Ac 20:2; 1Co 11:34; 1Co 16:5; 2Co 1:15)20For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. (1Co 2:4)21What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness? (2Co 1:23; 2Co 2:1; 2Co 2:3; 2Co 12:20; 2Co 13:2; 2Co 13:10)
1 Corinthians 4
King James Version
1Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.2Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.3But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.4For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.5Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.6And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.7For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?8Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.9For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.10We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.11Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;12And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:13Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.14I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.15For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.16Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.17For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.18Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.19But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.20For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.21What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?