Jubilee2000 - I Corinthians - 4

4:1  Let us reckon men as ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

4:2  Moreover, it is required in stewards that each one be found faithful.

4:3  But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by man's judgment; I do not even judge my own self.

4:4  For although I have nothing on my conscience, yet am I not hereby justified, but he that judges me is the Lord.

4:5  Therefore, judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then shall each one have praise of God.

4:6  And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and [to] Apollos for your sakes, that in us ye might not learn above that which is written, lest because of one, some of you become puffed up against others.

4:7  For who makes thee to judge? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive [it], what dost thou glory of, as if thou hadst not received [it]?

4:8  Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye reign as kings without us, and I wish ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.

4:9  For I think that God has set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death; for we are made a spectacle unto the world and to angels and to men.

4:10  We [are] fools for Christ's sake, but ye [are] prudent in Christ; we [are] weak, but ye [are] strong; ye [are] honourable, but we [are] despised.

4:11  Even unto this present hour we both hunger and thirst and are ill clad and are buffeted and have no certain dwellingplace

4:12  and labour, working with our own hands; being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it;

4:13  being blasphemed, we intreat; we are made as the filth of this world [and are] the offscouring of all things unto this day.

4:14  I do not write these things to shame you, but [to] warn you, as to my beloved sons.

4:15  For though ye may have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet ye [shall] not [have] many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

4:16  Therefore, I beseech you that ye imitate me.

4:17  For this cause I have sent Timothy unto you, who is my beloved son and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which are in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.

4:18  Now some are puffed up as though I will never come to you.

4:19  But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and will know not the words of those who are puffed up, but the virtue.

4:20  For the kingdom of God [is] not in words, but in virtue.

4:21  What will ye? Shall I come unto you with a rod or in charity and [in] the spirit of meekness?: