1 Corinthians 4 — ASVBT
4Verse 1Let a man so account of us, as of ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.Verse 2And moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.Verse 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.Verse 4For I know nothing against myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.Verse 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.Verse 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 think beyond that which is written; that no one of you be puffed up for the one against the other.Verse 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?Verse 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.Verse 9For I think that 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.Verse 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.Verse 11Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place;Verse 12and we toil, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;Verse 13being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things, even until now.Verse 14I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I admonish you.Verse 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.Verse 16I beseech you therefore, be ye imitators of me.Verse 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.Verse 18Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you.Verse 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.Verse 20For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.Verse 21What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?