1 Corinthians 4

1 So then, men [a human, people] ought to regard us as [consider, think of] servants [ministers, officers] of Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah] and stewards [managers, overseers] of the mysteries [secret truths, hidden things] of God [the Supreme Being, Creator]. word study 2 Now [moreover, in addition] it is required [demanded, necessary] of stewards [managers, household overseers] that they be found [discovered, proven] faithful [trustworthy, reliable, having unwavering loyalty]. word study 3 I care very little [it is a small thing to me], however, if I am judged [investigated, examined] by you [by your opinion] or by any human [man’s, earthly] court [judgment, day]. In fact, I do not even [nor, neither] judge [examine, investigate] myself [my own self]. word study 4 My conscience [is clear of guilt, has no awareness of wrong] is clear, but that does not vindicate [justify, make right] me. It is the Lord [God, the supreme Judge] who judges [examines, evaluates] me. word study 5 Therefore [do not make a hasty decision] judge nothing [do not condemn or criticize] before the appointed [right, opportune] time; wait [be patient, endure] until the Lord [God, the supreme authority] comes. He will bring to light [reveal, make visible] what is hidden [concealed, secret] in darkness [the absence of spiritual light] and will expose [reveal, lay bare] the motives [thoughts, intentions] of men’s hearts [the seat of thoughts, feelings, and emotions]. At that time [then, in the future] each will receive his praise [honor, approval] from God [the one true deity, the ultimate Judge]. word study 6 Brothers [fellow believers, brethren], I have applied these things [as illustrations, figuratively] to myself [personally, as an example] and Apollos [a Jewish Christian leader] for your benefit [sakes, advantage], so that you may learn [understand, gain insight] from us not to go [think, reason] beyond what is written [in Scripture, the holy Writings]. Then you will not take pride in one man [leader, person] over another [against his brother, in comparison]. word study 7 For who [makes you superior, sets you apart] makes you so superior? What do you have [possess, own] that you did not receive [get, obtain]? And if you did receive [accept, take] it, why do you boast [glory, pride] as though you did not [without recognition, ungratefully]? word study 8 Already [even now, at this moment] you have all you want [need, desire]. Already [from the very start] you have become rich [wealthy, prosperous, spiritually abundant]. Without [apart from, separately from] us, you have become kings [rulers, reigning with authority] [having God’s power, ruling with Christ]. How I wish [it would be good, I desire] you really were kings [truly reigning, exercising spiritual authority], so that we might be kings [co-rulers, sharing power] with you [together, in harmony]! word study 9 For it seems to me [I think, I reckon] that God [the supreme deity, Creator] has displayed [set forth, exhibited] us apostles [messengers, delegates of Jesus Christ] at the end [last, final] of the procession [victor’s parade], like prisoners [men doomed, condemned] appointed for death [condemned to die, sentenced to death]. We have become [been made] a spectacle [public show, gazing stock] to the whole world [the entire universe, all creation], to angels [heavenly messengers, spiritual beings] as well as to men [human beings, people]. word study 10 We are fools [spiritually foolish] for Christ [the Anointed One], but you are wise [thoughtful and discerning] in Christ. We are weak [lacking strength], but you are strong [powerful and mighty]. You are honored [held in high esteem], but we are dishonored [without respect or dignity]. word study 11 To this very [present, current] hour we are hungry [without food, in need of nourishment] and thirsty [having a strong desire for drink], we are poorly [badly, inadequately] clothed, we are brutally [physically, violently] treated, we are homeless [without a certain dwelling place, unsettled]. word study 12 We work hard [toil, laboring with effort] with our own [private, personal] hands [instruments, means of work]. When we are vilified [reviled, insulted, spoken badly of], we bless [praise, speak well of]; when we are persecuted [pursued, followed with hostility], we endure [bear with patience, put up with] it; word study 13 when we are slandered [defamed, spoken evil of], we answer gently [with kindness, entreating]. Up to this moment [even until now, at this time] we have become the scum [filth, refuse] of the earth [world, the orderly arrangement], the refuse [offscouring, garbage] of the world [all things, everything]. word study 14 I am not writing [to cause shame, for the purpose of embarrassing] this to shame [to embarrass, to bring to shame] you, but [on the contrary, as a contrast] to warn [to caution, to admonish] you as my beloved [cherished, dearly loved] children [sons and daughters, those born of God]. word study 15 Even if you have ten thousand [innumerable, countless] guardians [tutors, instructors] in Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah], you do not have many [numerous, abundant] fathers [spiritual parents, caregivers]; for in Christ Jesus [the Lord, Savior] I became your father [spiritual parent, begetter] through the gospel [good news, message of salvation]. word study 16 Therefore [as a consequence, then] I urge [plead with, comfort] you to imitate [be followers of, live like] me [as I also am of Christ, in my role as a servant of God]. word study 17 That is why [because of this cause, for this reason] I have sent [dispatched, entrusted] you Timothy, my beloved [dearly loved, cherished] and faithful [trustworthy, dependable] child [son, spiritual offspring] in the Lord [Christ, the Messiah]. He will remind [bring to remembrance, recall] you of my way [manner, conduct] of life [behavior, walk] in Christ Jesus [the Anointed One, the Savior], which is exactly [just as, in the same way] what I teach [instruct, guide] everywhere [in all places, universally] in every [all, each] church [assembly, community]. word study 18 Some [certain, one] of you have become [puffed up, inflated with pride] arrogant [full of pride, thinking highly of oneself], as if [as though, when] I [the apostle] were not [not at all, lest] coming [to come, to go] to you [towards you, with you]. word study 19 But I will come [soon, quickly] to you [to your presence] shortly, if [if it is the Lord’s will] the Lord [God, Master] is willing [desires, intends], and then [at that time] I will find out [know, understand] not only [not merely] what these [those] arrogant [puffed up, inflated] people are saying [words, message], but [rather] what [the] power [strength, ability] they have [possess, exercise]. word study 20 For [as a reason, explaining why] the kingdom [reign, dominion] of God [the one true deity] is not [completely, utterly] a matter [issue, affair] of talk [words, speech] but [on the contrary, rather] of power [miraculous ability, divine strength]. word study 21 Which [what is your preference] do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod [a symbol of authority, for punishment], or in love [unconditional affection] and with a gentle [humble, mild] spirit [the vital principle] [meekness]? word study