1 Corinthians 4

¹ Thus let a man be reckoning with us - as deputies of Christ, and administrators of God's secrets. ² Here, furthermore, it is being sought in administrators that any such may be found faithful. ³ Now to me it is the least trifle that I may be being examined by you or by man's day. But neither am I examining myself. ⁴ For of nothing am I conscious as to myself, but not by this am I justified. Now He Who is examining me is the Lord. ⁵ So that, be not judging anything before the season, till the Lord should be coming, Who will also illuminate the hidden things of darkness and manifest the counsels of the hearts. And then applause will be coming to each one from God. ⁶ Now these things, brethren, I transfer in a figure to myself and Apollos because of you, that in us you may be learning not to be disposed above what is written, that you may not be puffed up, one over the one, against the other. ⁷ For who is making you to discriminate? Now what have you which you did not obtain? Now if you obtained it also, why are you boasting as though not obtaining? ⁸ Already are you sated, already are you rich, apart from us you reign. And would that you surely reign, that we should be reigning together with you! ⁹ For I suppose that God demonstrates with us, the last apostles, as death-doomed, for we became a theater to the world and to messengers and to men. ¹⁰ We are stupid because of Christ, yet you are prudent in Christ. We are weak, yet you are strong. You are glorious, yet we are dishonored. ¹¹ Until the present hour we are hungering also and thirsting, and are naked and are buffeted and unsettled and toiling, working with our own hands. ¹² Being reviled, we are blessing; being persecuted, we are bearing with it; ¹³ being calumniated, we are entreating. As the offscourings of the world we became, the scum of all things, hitherto. ¹⁴ Not to be abashing you am I writing these things, but as my children beloved am I admonishing you. ¹⁵ For if you should be having ten thousand escorts in Christ, nevertheless not many fathers, for in Christ Jesus, through the evangel, I beget you. ¹⁶ I am entreating you, then, become imitators of me. ¹⁷ Therefore I send to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who will be reminding you of my ways which are in Christ Jesus, according as I am teaching everywhere in every ecclesia. ¹⁸ Now some were puffed up as though I were not coming to you. ¹⁹ Yet I shall be coming to you swiftly, if ever the Lord should be willing, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. ²⁰ For not in word is the kingdom of God, but in power. ²¹ What are you wanting? With a rod may I be coming to you, or in love and a spirit of meekness?