1Cor 4 | NASB1995 | STEP | Let a man regard us in this manner , as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God .

‏ 1 Corinthians 4

Servants of Christ

1 Let a man regard us in this manner, as ^aservants of Christ and ^bstewards of ^cthe mysteries of God. 2 In this case, moreover, it is required ^{▼▼ Lit in}of stewards that one be found trustworthy. 3 But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human ^{▼▼ Lit day}court; in fact, I do not even examine myself. 4 For I ^fam conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this ^gacquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord. 5 Therefore ^hdo not go on ^{▼▼ Lit judging anything}passing judgment before ^{▼▼ I.e. the appointed time of judgment}the time, but wait ^kuntil the Lord comes who will both ^lbring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s ^mpraise will come to him from God.

6 Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us you may learn not to exceed ⁿwhat is written, so that no one of you will ^obecome ^{▼▼ Lit puffed up}arrogant ^qin behalf of one against the other. 7 For who regards you as superior? ^rWhat do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

8 You are ^salready filled, you have already become rich, you have become kings without us; and indeed, I wish that you had become kings so that we also might reign with you. 9 For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men ^tcondemned to death; because we ^uhave become a spectacle to the world, ^{▼▼ Or and to angels and to men}both to angels and to men. 10 We are ^wfools for Christ’s sake, but ^xyou are prudent in Christ; ^ywe are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor. 11 To this present hour we are both ^zhungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless; 12 and we toil, ^aaworking with our own hands; when we are ^abreviled, we bless; when we are ^acpersecuted, we endure; 13 when we are slandered, we try to ^{▼▼ Or console}conciliate; we have ^aebecome as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.

14 I do not write these things to ^afshame you, but to admonish you as my beloved ^agchildren. 15 For if you were to have countless ^ahtutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in ^aiChrist Jesus I ^ajbecame your father through the ^akgospel. 16 Therefore I exhort you, be ^alimitators of me. 17 For this reason I ^amhave sent to you ^anTimothy, who is my ^aobeloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, ^apjust as I teach everywhere in every church. 18 Now some have become ^{▼▼ Lit puffed up
,} ^ararrogant, as though I were not ^ascoming to you. 19 But I ^atwill come to you soon, ^auif the Lord wills, and I shall find out, not the ^{▼▼ Lit word}words of those who are ^awarrogant but their power. 20 For the kingdom of God does ^axnot consist in ^{▼▼ Lit word}words but in power. 21 What do you desire? ^azShall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?