1 Corinthians 4

1 So let a man think of us as Christ’s servants and stewards of God’s mysteries.

People ought to regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

2 Here, moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

Now 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.

But for me it is a very small thing if I am judged by you, or by any human court. Indeed, I do not even judge myself.

4 For I know nothing against myself. Yet I am not justified by this, but he who judges me is the Lord.

For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not thereby acquitted; 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.

So then, do not judge anything before the appointed time. Wait until the Lord comes, who will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and reveal the intentions of the heart. At that time each person will receive 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.

Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your sake, so that through us you may learn not to think beyond what is written, so that you may not be puffed up, with each one of you supporting one man against 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?

For who regards yoʋ as superior? What do yoʋ have that yoʋ did not receive? And if yoʋ received it, why do yoʋ boast as though yoʋ did not receive 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!

You are already full! You have already become rich! You have begun to reign without us! And how I wish that you really were reigning, so that we could 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.

For I think that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, as sentenced to death, because we have become 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.

We are fools for the sake of Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are esteemed, but we are dishonored.

11 Even to this present hour we hunger, thirst, are naked, are beaten, and have no certain dwelling place.

To the present hour we hunger and thirst; we are poorly clothed and beaten down, with no home of our own.

12 We toil, working with our own hands. When people curse us, we bless. Being persecuted, we endure.

We labor, working with our own hands. When we are reviled, we bless; when we are 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.

when we are slandered, we encourage. We have become like the refuse of the world, the scum of all things, even to this present time.

14 I don’t write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.

I am not writing this to shame you, but rather I am admonishing 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.

For even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you would not have many fathers. For in Christ Jesus I became a father to you through the gospel.

16 I beg you therefore, be imitators of me.

Therefore I urge you to 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.

That is why I have sent you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of my ways in Christ, just as I teach them everywhere in every church.

18 Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you.

But some of you have become 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.

But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of those who have become puffed up, but their power.

20 For God’s Kingdom is not in word, but in power.

For the kingdom of God is demonstrated not by talk but by power.

21 What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?

What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?