Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians, Chapter 4
{4:1} So let a man think of us as Christ's servants, and stewards of
God's mysteries. {4:2} Here, moreover, it is required of stewards,
that they be found faithful. {4:3} But with me it is a very small
thing that I should be judged by you, or by man's judgment. Yes, I
don't judge my own self. {4:4} For I know nothing against myself. Yet
I am not justified by this, but he who judges me is the Lord. {4:5}
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.
{4:6} 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. {4:7} 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? {4:8} 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.
{4:9} 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. {4:10} 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. {4:11} Even to this present hour we
hunger, thirst, are naked, are beaten, and have no certain dwelling
place. {4:12} We toil, working with our own hands. When people curse
us, we bless. Being persecuted, we endure. {4:13} Being defamed, we
entreat. We are made as the filth of the world, the dirt wiped off by
all, even until now. {4:14} I don't write these things to shame you,
but to admonish you as my beloved children. {4:15} For though you have
ten thousand tutors in Christ, yet not many fathers. For in Christ
Jesus, I became your father through the Good News. {4:16} I beg you
therefore, be imitators of me. {4:17} 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. {4:18} Now some are puffed up, as though
I were not coming to you. {4:19} 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. {4:20} For the Kingdom of God is not in
word, but in power. {4:21} What do you want? Shall I come to you with
a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?
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