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!(A) 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(B) with our own hands.(C) 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.(D)

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For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as condemned to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world and to angels and to people. 10 We are fools for the sake of Christ, but you are prudent in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, but we are dishonored! 11 Until the present hour we are both hungry and thirsty and poorly clothed and roughly treated and homeless, 12 and we toil, working with our own hands. When we are[a] reviled, we bless; when we are[b] persecuted, we endure; 13 when we are[c] slandered, we encourage. We have become like the refuse of the world, the offscouring of all things, until now.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 4:12 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“reviled”) which is understood as temporal
  2. 1 Corinthians 4:12 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“persecuted”) which is understood as temporal
  3. 1 Corinthians 4:13 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“slandered”) which is understood as temporal

For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die(A) in the arena. We have been made a spectacle(B) to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings. 10 We are fools for Christ,(C) but you are so wise in Christ!(D) We are weak, but you are strong!(E) You are honored, we are dishonored! 11 To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.(F) 12 We work hard with our own hands.(G) When we are cursed, we bless;(H) when we are persecuted,(I) we endure it; 13 when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage(J) of the world—right up to this moment.

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