1 Corinthians

4 Let a man so be reckoning of us, As officers of Christ And stewards of sacred secrets of God.

2 Here furthermore it is sought in stewards That faithful one be found.

3 With me however it counteth for the very smallest thing, That by you I should be examined Or by a human day. Nay! I am not even examining myself,

4 For of nothing to myself am I conscious; Nevertheless not hereby am I declared righteous, But he that doth examine me is the Lord.

5 So then not before the fitting time be judging anything,—Until the Lord shall come, Who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness And make manifest the counsels of the hearts; And then the praise shall come to each one from God.

6 But these things, brethren, have I transferred unto myself and Apollos for your sakes, That in us ye might learn [the lesson]—Not beyond the things that are written . . . ! That ye do not puff yourselves up individually for this one against that.

7 For who maketh thee to differ? and what hast thou which thou didst not receive? But if thou didst even receive it why dost thou boast as though thou hadst not received it?

8 Already ye have become full, Already ye are become rich,—Apart from us ye are become kings! And I would indeed ye had become kings, That we also with you might have together become kings!

9 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles to be last of all, as men devoted to death,—In that a spectacle have we been made unto the world,—both unto messengers and unto men.

10 We are foolish for Christ’s sake, but ye prudent in Christ; We are weak, but ye mighty; Ye all-glorious, but we dishonoured.

11 Until the present hour we both hunger and thirst and are naked and are buffeted and are wanderers,

12 and toil working with our own hands: Being reviled we bless, Being persecuted we hold on,

13 Being defamed we beseech: As the sweepings of the world have we become The offscouring of all—until even now.

14 Not to shame you write I these things; But as my beloved children I admonish you.

15 For though myriads of tutors ye should have in Christ Yet not many fathers; For in Christ Jesus through means of the joyful message I begat you.

16 I beseech you therefore,—become imitators of me.

17 For this cause sent I unto you Timothy,—Who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, Who shall put you in mind of my ways which are in Christ [Jesus], Even as everywhere in every assembly I teach.

18 But as though I were not coming unto you Some are puffed up!

19 Howbeit I will come quickly unto you,—If the Lord please,—And will get to know—Not the speech of them who are puffed up But the power;

20 For not in speech is the kingdom of God, But in power.

21 What will ye? That with a rod I should come unto you? Or with love and a spirit of meekness?