Servants of Christ

4 This is the way any person is to regard us: as ^(A)servants of Christ and ^(B)stewards of ^(C)the mysteries of God. ² In this case, moreover, it is required ^[a]of stewards that one be found trustworthy. ³ But to me it is an insignificant matter that I would be examined by you, or by any human ^[b]court; in fact, I do not even examine myself. ⁴ For I ^(D)am not aware of anything against myself; however I am not ^(E)vindicated by this, but the one who examines me is the Lord. ⁵ Therefore ^(F)do not go on ^[c]passing judgment before ^[d]the time, but wait ^(G)until the Lord comes, who will both ^(H)bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of human hearts; and then ^(I)praise will come to each person from God.

⁶ Now these things, brothers and sisters, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos on your account, so that in us you may learn not to exceed ^(J)what is written, so that no one of you will ^(K)become ^[e]arrogant ^(L)in behalf of one against the other. ⁷ For who considers you as superior? ^(M)What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

⁸ You are ^(N)already filled, you have already become rich, you have become kings without us; and indeed, I wish that you had become kings so that we also might reign with you! ⁹ For I think, God has exhibited us, the apostles, last of all as men ^(O)condemned to death, because we ^(P)have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to mankind. ¹⁰ We are ^(Q)fools on account of Christ, but ^(R)you are prudent in Christ! ^(S)We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are without honor! ¹¹ Up to this present hour we are both ^(T)hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed and roughly treated and homeless; ¹² and we labor, ^(U)working with our own hands; when we are ^(V)verbally abused, we bless; when we are ^(W)persecuted, we endure it; ¹³ when we are slandered, we ^[f]reply as friends; we have ^(X)become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.

¹⁴ I do not write these things to ^(Y)shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved ^(Z)children. ¹⁵ For if you were to have countless ^(AA)tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in ^(AB)Christ Jesus I ^(AC)became your father through the ^(AD)gospel. ¹⁶ Therefore I urge you, be ^(AE)imitators of me. ¹⁷ For this reason I ^(AF)have sent to you ^(AG)Timothy, who is my ^(AH)beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, ^(AI)just as I teach everywhere in every church. ¹⁸ Now some have become ^[g](AJ)arrogant, as though I were not ^(AK)coming to you. ¹⁹ But I ^(AL)will come to you soon, ^(AM)if the Lord wills, and I shall find out, not the ^[h]words of those who are ^(AN)arrogant, but their power. ²⁰ For the kingdom of God is ^(AO)not in ^[i]words, but in power. ²¹ What do you desire? ^(AP)That I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?

Keep Fervent in Your Love

4 Therefore, since ^(A)Christ has ^[a]suffered in the flesh, ^(B)arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because ^(C)the one who has ^[b]suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, ^2 (D)so as to live ^(E)the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human lusts, but for the ^(F)will of God. ³ For ^(G)the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, ^[c](H)having pursued a course of indecent behavior, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties, and wanton idolatries. ⁴ In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them in the same excesses of ^[d](I)debauchery, and they ^(J)slander you; ⁵ but they will give an account to Him who is ready to judge ^(K)the living and the dead. ⁶ For ^(L)the gospel has for this purpose been ^[e]preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as people, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.

^7 (M)The end of all things ^[f]is near; therefore, ^(N)be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of ^[g]prayer. ⁸ Above all, ^(O)keep fervent in your love for one another, because ^(P)love covers a multitude of sins. ^9 (Q)Be hospitable to one another without ^(R)complaint. ^10 (S)As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good ^(T)stewards of the ^[h]multifaceted grace of God. ^11 (U)Whoever speaks is to do so as one who is speaking ^(V)actual words of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving ^[i](W)by the strength which God supplies; so that ^(X)in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, ^(Y)to whom belongs the glory and ^[j]dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Share the Sufferings of Christ

^12 (Z)Beloved, do not be surprised at the ^(AA)fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though something strange were happening to you; ¹³ but to the degree that you ^(AB)share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that at the ^(AC)revelation of His glory ^(AD)you may also rejoice and be overjoyed. ¹⁴ If you are insulted ^[k](AE)for the name of Christ, ^(AF)you are blessed, ^(AG)because the Spirit of glory, and of God, rests upon you. ¹⁵ Make sure that ^(AH)none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a ^[l](AI)troublesome meddler; ¹⁶ but if anyone suffers as a ^(AJ)Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to ^(AK)glorify God in this name. ¹⁷ For it is time for judgment ^(AL)to begin ^[m]with ^(AM)the household of God; and if it ^(AN)begins ^[n]with us first, what will be the outcome for those ^(AO)who do not obey the ^(AP)gospel of God? ^18 (AQ)And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, ^[o]what will become of the ^(AR)godless man and the sinner? ¹⁹ Therefore, those also who suffer according to ^(AS)the will of God are to entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.