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1 Corinthians 4
Legacy Standard Bible

Servants of Christ

4 Let a man consider us in this manner, 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 faithful. 3 But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human [b]court. In fact, I do not even examine myself. 4 For I (D)am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this (E)acquitted. 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 make manifest the motives of hearts. And then each one’s (I)praise will come to him from God.

6 Now these things, brothers, I have applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us you may learn not to go beyond (J)what is written, so that no one of you will (K)become puffed up (L)on behalf of one against the other. 7 For who regards 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 ruled without us—and how I wish that you had ruled indeed so that we also might rule with you. 9 For, I think that God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men (O)condemned to death, because we (P)have become a spectacle to the world, and to angels, and to men. 10 We are (Q)fools for the sake of Christ, but (R)you are prudent in Christ! (S)We are weak, but you are strong! You are glorious, but we are without honor! 11 To this present hour we (T)hunger and thirst, and are poorly clothed, and roughly treated, and homeless; 12 and we labor, (U)working with our own hands; when we are (V)reviled, we bless; when we are (W)persecuted, we endure; 13 when we are slandered, we try to plead; we have (X)become as the scum of the world, the grime 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 exhort 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 who will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, (AI)just as I teach everywhere in every church. 18 Now some have become (AJ)puffed up, 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 know, not the [e]words of those who are (AN)puffed up but their power. 20 For the kingdom of God does (AO)not consist in [f]words but in power. 21 What do you desire? (AP)Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 4:2 Lit in
  2. 1 Corinthians 4:3 Lit day
  3. 1 Corinthians 4:5 Lit judging anything
  4. 1 Corinthians 4:5 The appointed time of judgment
  5. 1 Corinthians 4:19 Lit word
  6. 1 Corinthians 4:20 Lit word
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1 Corinthians 4
Christian Standard Bible

The Faithful Manager

4 A person should think of us in this way: as servants(A) of Christ and managers(B) of the mysteries of God.(C) 2 In this regard, it is required that managers be found faithful.(D) 3 It is of little(E) importance to me that I should be judged(F) by you or by any human court.[a] In fact, I don’t even judge myself. 4 For I am not conscious of anything against myself, but I am not justified(G) by this. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 So don’t judge(H) anything prematurely, before the Lord comes,(I) who will both bring to light what is hidden in darkness and reveal the intentions of the hearts. And then praise will come to each one from God.(J)

The Apostles’ Example of Humility

6 Now, brothers and sisters,(K) I have applied these things to myself and Apollos(L) for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying: “Nothing beyond what is written.” The purpose is that none of you will be arrogant, favoring one person over another. 7 For who makes you so superior? What do you have that you didn’t receive? If, in fact, you did receive it, why do you boast as if you hadn’t received it? 8 You are already full! You are already rich! You have begun to reign as kings without us—and I wish you did reign, so that we could also reign with you! 9 For I think God has displayed us, the apostles, in last place, like men condemned to die: We have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to people. 10 We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ!(M) We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! 11 Up to the present hour we are both hungry and thirsty; we are poorly clothed, roughly treated, homeless; 12 we labor, working(N) with our own hands.(O) When we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13 when we are slandered, we respond graciously. Even now, we are like the scum of the earth, like everyone’s garbage.(P)

Paul’s Fatherly Care

14 I’m not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my dear children.(Q) 15 For you may have countless instructors in Christ, but you don’t have many fathers. For I became your father(R) in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 17 This is why I have sent(S) Timothy to you. He is my dearly loved and faithful(T) child in the Lord. He will remind you about my ways in Christ Jesus, just as I teach everywhere in every church.

18 Now some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you soon,(U) if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk, but the power of those who are arrogant. 20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. 21 What do you want? Should I come to you with a rod,(V) or in love and a spirit of gentleness?(W)

Footnotes

  1. 4:3 Lit a human day
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