4
1 So
let a man
think of us
as Christ’s
servants and
stewards of God’s
mysteries.
2 Here,
moreover, it is
required of
stewards that they
be found faithful.
3 But
with me it
is a very
small thing that
I should be judged
by you, or
by a human court.
Yes, I don’t
even judge my own
self.
4 For
I know nothing
against myself.
Yet I am
not justified by
this, but he
who judges me is
the Lord.
5 Therefore
judge nothing
before the time,
until the Lord
comes, who will
both bring to
light the hidden
things of darkness
and reveal the
counsels of the
hearts. Then each
man will get
his praise from
God.
6 Now
these things, brothers,
I have in
a figure transferred
to myself
and Apollos for
your sakes, that
in us you
might learn not
to think beyond
the things which
are written, that
none of you
be puffed up
against one
another.
7 For
who makes you different?
And what do
you have that
you didn’t receive?
But if you
did receive it,
why do you
boast as if
you had not
received it?
8 You
are already filled.
You have already
become rich. You
have come to
reign without us.
Yes, and I wish
that you did
reign, that we
also might reign
with you!
9 For
I think that
God has displayed
us, the apostles,
last of all,
like men sentenced
to death. For
we are made
a spectacle to
the world, both
to angels and men.
10 We
are fools for
Christ’s sake, but
you are wise
in Christ. We
are weak, but you
are strong. You
have honor, but we
have dishonor.
11 Even
to this present
hour we hunger,
thirst, are naked,
are beaten, and
have no
certain dwelling place.
12 We
toil, working with
our own hands.
When people curse
us, we bless.
Being persecuted,
we endure.
13 Being defamed, we
entreat. We are
made as the
filth of the
world, the
dirt wiped off by
all, even until
now.
14 I don’t
write these things
to shame you,
but to admonish
you as my beloved
children.
15 For
though you have
ten thousand
tutors in Christ,
you don’t have
many fathers. For
in Christ Jesus,
I became your
father through the
Good News.
16 I
beg you therefore,
be imitators of
me.
17 Because
of this I
have sent Timothy
to you, who
is my beloved and
faithful child in
the Lord, who
will remind you of
my ways which
are in Christ,
even as I
teach everywhere
in every assembly.
18 Now
some are puffed up,
as though I
were not coming
to you.
19 But
I will come
to you shortly,
if the Lord
is willing. And
I will know,
not the word
of those who
are puffed up,
but the power.
20 For
God’s Kingdom is
not in word,
but in power.
21 What
do you want?
Shall I come
to you with
a rod, or
in love and
a spirit of
gentleness?