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1 Corinthians 4
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1Let a man so account of us, as of ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
1People should think of us simply as servants of Christ and managers who are trusted with the secret truths of God.
2Here, moreover, it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
2Now, the most important thing required of a manager is that he must be faithful and trustworthy.
3But 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.
3It matters very little to me if I am judged by you or by any human court; in fact, I don't even judge myself.
4For I know nothing against myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
4My conscience is clear, but that doesn't mean I am innocent. The Lord is the one who evaluates and judges me.
5Wherefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then shall each man have his praise from God.
5So do not pass judgment before the right time, but wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in the dark and reveal the secret motives of everyone's heart. Then God will give each person whatever praise they deserve.
6Now these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes; that in us ye might learn not to go beyond the things which are written; that no one of you be puffed up for the one against the other.
6Brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos as examples for your benefit. I want you to learn from us what it means not to go beyond what is written in the Scriptures. That way, none of you will become arrogant by favoring one person over another.
7For who maketh thee to differ? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? but if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it?
7What makes you any better than anyone else? What do you have that God didn't give you? And if you received it as a gift, why do you boast as if you achieved it on your own?
8Already are ye filled, already ye are become rich, ye have come to reign without us: yea and I would that ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.
8You think you already have everything you need! You think you are already rich! You have begun to reign like kings without us! I wish you really were reigning, so that we could reign with you.
9For, I think, God hath set forth us the apostles last of all, as men doomed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, both to angels and men.
9It seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the very end of the line, like prisoners condemned to die in a public arena. We have become a spectacle to the whole world, to angels and humans alike.
10We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye have glory, but we have dishonor.
10We are seen as fools for the sake of Christ, while you think you are so wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, while we are treated with contempt.
11Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling-place;
11To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are dressed in rags, we are beaten, and we have no permanent home.
12and we toil, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;
12We wear ourselves out working with our own hands. When people insult us, we bless them. When we are persecuted, we endure it patiently.
13being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things, even until now.
13When we are slandered, we answer kindly. Even now, we are treated like the world's garbage and the scum of the earth.
14I write not these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.
14I am not writing this to make you feel ashamed, but to warn you as my own dear children.
15For though ye have ten thousand tutors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I begat you through the gospel.
15You might have ten thousand teachers in Christ, but you don't have many fathers. I became your father in Christ Jesus when I brought you the Good News.
16I beseech you therefore, be ye imitators of me.
16So I urge you to follow my example and do as I do.
17For this cause have I sent unto you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who shall put you in remembrance of my ways which are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in every church.
17That is why I sent Timothy to you. He is my dear and faithful son in the Lord. He will remind you of how I follow Christ, just as I teach in every church everywhere.
18Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you.
18Some of you have become arrogant, thinking that I am not actually coming to visit you.
19But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will; and I will know, not the word of them that are puffed up, but the power.
19But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord wants me to. Then I will find out not just what these arrogant people are saying, but what power they actually have.