1 Corinthians 4
Wycliffe Bible
4 So a man guess us [So a man guess, or deem, us], as ministers of Christ, and dispensers of the mysteries of God.
2 Now it is sought here among the dispensers, that a man be found true.
3 And to me it is for the least thing, that I be deemed of you, or of man's day; but neither I deem myself.
4 For I am nothing over-trusting to myself, but not in this thing I am justified [Soothly I am nothing guilty to myself, but not in this thing am I justified]; for he that deemeth me, is the Lord.
5 Therefore do not ye deem before the time, till that the Lord come, which shall lighten [alighten] the hid things of darknesses, and shall show the counsels of hearts; and then praising shall be to each man of God.
6 And, brethren, I have transfigured these things into me and into Apollos, for you; that in us ye learn, lest over that it is written, one against another be blown with pride for another.[a]
7 Who deemeth thee? And what hast thou, that thou hast not received? And if thou hast received, what gloriest thou, as thou haddest not received?
8 Now ye be filled [Now ye be full-filled], now ye be made rich; ye reign without us; and I would that ye reign, that also we reign with you.
9 And I guess, that God showed us the last apostles, as those that be sent to the death [Soothly I ween, that God showed us the last apostles, as made ready to death]; for we be made a spectacle to the world, and to angels, and to men.
10 We fools for Christ, but ye prudent in Christ; we frail [we sick], but ye strong; ye noble, but we unnoble.
11 Till into this hour we hunger, and thirst, and be naked, and be smitten with buffets, and we be unstable [and we be unstable, moving from place to place],
12 and we travail working with our hands; we be cursed, and we bless; we suffer persecution, and we abide long [and we sustain, or abide long];
13 we be blasphemed, and we beseech; as cleansings of this world we be made the out-casting [we be made the parings, or out-castings,] of all things till yet.
14 I write not these things, that I confound you, but I warn you as my most dear-worthy sons.
15 For why if ye have ten thousand of under-masters in Christ, but not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have engendered you by the gospel [for why in Christ Jesus I have gendered you by the gospel].
16 Therefore, brethren, I pray you [Therefore I pray you], be ye followers of me, as I of Christ.
17 Therefore I sent to you Timothy, which is my most dear-worthy son, and faithful in the Lord, which shall teach you my ways [which shall admonish you, or teach, my ways], that be in Christ Jesus; as I teach every where in each church.
18 As though I should not come to you, so some be blown with pride [so some be in-blown with pride];
19 but I shall come to you soon, if God will; and I shall know not the word of them that be blown with pride [that be in-blown with pride], but the virtue.
20 For the realm of God is not in word, but in virtue.
21 What will ye? Shall I come to you in a rod, or in charity, and in a spirit of mildness?
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 4:6 Soothly, brethren, this thing I have transfigured into me and into Apollos for you; that in us ye learn, lest over that that is written, one against another be in-blown with pride for another man.
1 Corinthians 4
New Matthew Bible
Those who preach are but servants. Judgment belongs to God only.
4 Let people esteem us this way: as the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the secrets of God. 2 Furthermore, it is required of the stewards that they be found faithful. 3 With me it is but a very small thing if I am judged by you, or by man’s day. No, I do not judge my own self. 4 I know nothing against myself, yet I am not thereby justified. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore, judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will shed light on things that are hid in darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. And then shall each have praise from God.
6 Brethren, I have explained these things with reference to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that you might learn from us: so that no one accounts of himself beyond what is written above, so that no one swells against another for any man’s cause. 7 For who prefers you? What do you have that was not given to you? If you have received it, why do you glory as though you had not received it? 8 Now you are full, now you are made rich; you reign as kings without us. And I would to God you did reign, so that we might reign with you.
9 It seems to me that God has set forth us who are apostles as the lowest of all – men appointed to death, as it were. For we are a gazing stock to the world, and to the angels, and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise through Christ. We are weak, and you are strong. You are honourable, and we are dishonoured. 11 Even to this day we both hunger and thirst, and are clothed in rags, and are buffeted with fists, and have no certain dwelling place, 12 and labour, working with our own hands. We are reviled, and yet we bless. We are persecuted, and suffer it. 13 We are ill spoken of, and we pray. We are made as if the refuse of the world, the off-scouring of all things, even to this time.
14 I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. 15 For though you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers. In Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16 So then, I want you to follow me. 17 For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, who is my dear son and faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my ways, which I have in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in all congregations.
18 Some swell, as though I will not be coming to you any more. 19 But I will come to you shortly, if God so wills, and will know not the words of those who swell, but the power. 20 For the kingdom of God is not in words, but in power. 21 What would you have? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and in the spirit of gentleness?
1 Corinthians 4
1599 Geneva Bible
4 1 Bringing in the definition of a true Apostle, 7 he showeth that humility ought rather to be an honor than a shame unto him. 9 He bringeth in proof, whereby it may evidently appear, 10 that he neither had care of glory, 11 nor of his belly. 17 He commendeth Timothy.
1 Let [a]a [b]man so think of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and disposers of the secrets of God:
2 [c]And as for the rest, it is required of the disposers, that every man be found faithful.
3 [d]As touching me, I pass very little to be judged of you, [e]or of man’s [f]judgment: no, [g]I judge not mine own self.
4 For I know nothing by myself, yet am I not thereby justified: but he that judgeth me, is the [h]Lord.
5 [i]Therefore (A)judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who will lighten things that are hid in darkness, and make the counsels of the hearts manifest: and then shall every man have [j]praise of God.
6 [k]Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied unto mine own self and Apollos, for your sakes, that ye might learn [l]by us, that no man presume above that which is written, that one swell not against another for any man’s cause.
7 [m]For who separateth thee? and what hast thou, that thou hast not received? if thou hast received it, why rejoicest thou, as though [n]thou hadst not received it?
8 [o]Now ye are full: now ye are made rich: ye reign as kings without us, and would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.
9 For I think that God hath set forth us the last Apostles, as men appointed to death, for we are made a [p]gassing stock unto the world, and to the Angels, and to men.
10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, and ye are wise in Christ: we are weak, and ye are strong: ye are honorable, and we are despised.
11 Unto this hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place,
12 (B)And labor, working with our own hands: we are reviled, and yet we bless: we are persecuted, and suffer it.
13 (C)We are evil spoken of, and we pray: we are made as the [q]filth of the world, the offscouring of all things, unto this time.
14 [r]I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I admonish you.
15 For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the Gospel.
16 Wherefore, I pray you, be followers of me.
17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timothy, which is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, which shall put you in remembrance of my [s]ways in Christ as I teach everywhere in every Church.
18 [t]Some are puffed up as though I would not come unto you.
19 But I will come to you shortly, (D)if the Lord will, and I will know, not the [u]words of them which are puffed up, but the power.
20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
21 [v]What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the [w]spirit of meekness?
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 4:1 He concludeth the duty of the hearers towards their ministers: that they esteem them not as lords: and yet notwithstanding, that they give ear unto them, as to them that are sent from Christ, sent I say to this end and purpose, that they may receive as it were at their hands, the treasure of salvation which is drawn out of the secrets of God.
- 1 Corinthians 4:1 Every man.
- 1 Corinthians 4:2 Last of all, he warneth the ministers that they also behave themselves not as lords, but as faithful servants, because they must render an account of their stewardship unto God.
- 1 Corinthians 4:3 Because in reprehending others, he set himself for an example, he useth a preoccupation or preventing of an objection, and using the gratuity of an Apostle, he showeth that he careth not for the contrary judgments that they have of him, in that they esteemed him as a vile person, because he did not set forth himself as they did. And he bringeth good reasons why he was nothing moved with the judgments which they had of him.
- 1 Corinthians 4:3 First, because that that which men judge in these cases of their own brains, is no more to be accounted of, than when the unlearned do judge of wisdom.
- 1 Corinthians 4:3 Word for word, Day, after the manner of speech of the Cilicians.
- 1 Corinthians 4:3 Secondly, saith he, how can you judge how much or how little I am to be accounted of, seeing that I myself which know myself better than you do, and which dare profess that I have walked in my vocation with a good conscience, dare not yet notwithstanding challenge anything to myself? for I know that I am not unblameable, all this notwithstanding: much less therefore should I please myself as you do.
- 1 Corinthians 4:4 I permit myself to the Lord’s judgment.
- 1 Corinthians 4:5 A third reason proceeding of a conclusion as it were, out of the former reasons. It is God’s office, to esteem every man according to his value, because he knoweth the secrets of the heart, which men for the most part are ignorant of. Therefore this judgment pertaineth not to you.
- 1 Corinthians 4:5 One could not be praised above the rest, but the other should be blamed: and he mentioneth praise rather than dispraise, for that the beginning of this sore was this, that they gave more to some men than meet was.
- 1 Corinthians 4:6 Having rejected their judgment, he setteth forth himself again as a singular example of modesty, as one which concealing in this Epistle those factious teacher’s names, doubted not to put down his own name and Apollos’ in their place, and took upon him, as it were, their shame: so far was he from preferring himself to any.
- 1 Corinthians 4:6 By our example, which chose rather to take other men’s faults upon us, than to carpe any by name.
- 1 Corinthians 4:7 He showeth a good means to bridle pride: first, if thou consider how rightly thou exemptest thyself out of the number of others, seeing thou art a man thyself: again, if thou consider that although thou have something more than other men have, yet thou hast it not but by God’s bountifulness. And what wise man is he that will brag of another’s goodness, and that against God?
- 1 Corinthians 4:7 There is nothing then in us of nature, that is worthy of commendation: but all that we have, we have it of grace, which the Pelagians and half Pelagians will not confess.
- 1 Corinthians 4:8 He descendeth to a most grave mock, to cause these ambitious men to blush even against their wills.
- 1 Corinthians 4:9 He that will take a right view how like Paul and the Pope are, who lyingly boasteth that he is his successor, let him compare the delicates of the Popish court with Saint Paul’s state, as we see it here.
- 1 Corinthians 4:13 Such as by sweeping is gathered together.
- 1 Corinthians 4:14 Moderating the sharpness of his mock, he putteth them in mind to remember of whom they were begotten in Christ, and that they should not doubt to follow him for an example, although he seem vile according to the outward show, in respect of others, yet mighty by the efficacy of God’s Spirit, as they had trial thereof in themselves.
- 1 Corinthians 4:17 What way and rule I follow everywhere in teaching the Churches.
- 1 Corinthians 4:18 Last of all he descendeth also to Apostolic threatenings, but yet chiding them as a father, lest by their disorder he be constrained to come to punish some among them.
- 1 Corinthians 4:19 By words, he meaneth their painted and colored kind of eloquence, against which he setteth the virtue of the Spirit.
- 1 Corinthians 4:21 A passing over to another part of this Epistle, wherein he reprehended more sharply a very heinous offence, showing the use of ecclesiastical correction.
- 1 Corinthians 4:21 Meekly affected towards you.
1 Corinthians 4
Authorized (King James) Version
4 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. 4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another. 7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? 8 Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you. 9 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. 11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; 12 and labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: 13 being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.
14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. 15 For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. 17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church. 18 Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you. 19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. 20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. 21 What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?
2001 by Terence P. Noble
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
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