1 Corinthians 4

1 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Here, moreover, it is required in stewards, that one be found faithful. 3 But, with me, it is a very small thing, that I should be judged by you, or by man’s day; yea, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I am conscious to myself of nothing; yet have I not thereby been justified; but He Who judges me is the Lord. 5 Wherefore, judge nothing before 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 will each one have his praise from God. 6 Now these things, brethren, I have, in a figure, transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes; that in us ye may learn not beyond the things which have been written; that no one be puffed up for the one against the other. 7 For who makes you to differ? And what do you have, that you did not receive? But, if you did receive , why are you boasting, as if you did not receive ? 8 Have ye already become satisfied? Did ye already become rich? Did ye reign without us? I wish, at least, that ye did reign, that we also might reign with you. 9 For, I think, God did set forth us the apostles last, as doomed to death; because we became a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye highly esteemed; but we are without honor. 11 Even until this present hour, we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place; 12 and we toil, laboring with our own hands; being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; 13 being defamed, we entreat; we were made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things, until now. 14 Not as shaming you, do I write these things, but as my beloved children, admonishing . 15 For, though ye have ten thousand tutors in Christ, yet not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I begat you through the Gospel. 16 I beseech you, therefore, become imitators of me. 17 For this cause, I sent to you Timothy, who is my child, beloved and faithful in the Lord, who will bring to your remembrance my ways which in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in every assembly. 18 Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you; 19 but I will come to you shortly if the Lord will; and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power; 20 for the Kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. 21 What do ye wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?