New Testament
1 Corinthians 4
Overview
Paul concludes the discussion of leaders by defining how the church should regard apostles: "as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God" (4:1), whose one requirement is faithfulness (4:2). He refuses to be judged by the Corinthians' verdicts or even his own conscience, because the only judge who matters is the Lord, who will come and "bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and... disclose the purposes of the heart" (4:5). Paul then turns sharply ironic, exposing the Corinthians' arrogance: "Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich!... Without us you have become kings!" (4:8). By contrast the apostles are "a spectacle to the world," "fools for Christ's sake," hungry, beaten, homeless, reviled — "the scum of the world" (4:9-13). Yet Paul writes not to shame but to admonish them "as my beloved children" (4:14), for he became their father through the gospel and urges them to imitate him (4:16). He is sending Timothy to remind them of his ways, and warns the "arrogant" that he will come to test "not the talk... but their power" (4:19). He ends with a pointed choice: "Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?" (4:21).
1So let a man think of us as Christ’s servants and stewards of God’s mysteries.
2Here, moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.
3But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you, or by a human court. Yes, I don’t even judge my own self.
4For I know nothing against myself. Yet I am not justified by this, but he who judges me is the Lord.
5Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each man will get his praise from God.
6Now these things, brothers, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that in us you might learn not to think beyond the things which are written, that none of you be puffed up against one another.
7For who makes you different? And what do you have that you didn’t receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?
8You are already filled. You have already become rich. You have come to reign without us. Yes, and I wish that you did reign, that we also might reign with you!
9For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last of all, like men sentenced to death. For we are made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and men.
10We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You have honor, but we have dishonor.
11Even to this present hour we hunger, thirst, are naked, are beaten, and have no certain dwelling place.
12We toil, working with our own hands. When people curse us, we bless. Being persecuted, we endure.
13Being defamed, we entreat. We are made as the filth of the world, the dirt wiped off by all, even until now.
14I don’t write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.
15For though you have ten thousand tutors in Christ, you don’t have many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, I became your father through the Good News.
16I beg you therefore, be imitators of me.
17Because of this I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in every assembly.
18Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you.
19But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing. And I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power.
20For God’s Kingdom is not in word, but in power.
21What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?