1 Corinthians 4
1This is how a person should regard us: as assistants of Christ and household managers of the sacred secrets of God. 2In this matter, what is fundamentally required of household managers is that they be found trustworthy. 3But to me, it is a very small thing that I should be interrogated by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even interrogate myself. 4For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not made just by this fact; the one who interrogates me is the Lord. 5Therefore, do not pass judgment before the proper time, until the Lord comes. He will bring to light the things hidden in darkness and will reveal the inner motives of hearts; at that time, each person’s commendation will come from God.
6Now I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers and sisters, so that through us you may learn the meaning of the saying: “Nothing beyond what is written,” so that none of you will be puffed up in favor of one person against another. 7For who makes you superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you hadn’t?
8You are already gorged! You have already become rich! You have begun to reign as kings without us! I wish you really were reigning, so that we might reign with you! 9For I think God has put us, the apostles, on display last of all, like men doomed to die in the arena; we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to humans alike. 10We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are held in honor, but we are in total dishonor! 11To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clothed, we are struck, we are homeless, 12and we exhaust ourselves working with our own hands. When we are slandered, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; 13when we are defamed, we speak kindly. We have become like the world’s garbage, the scum of the earth, even until now.
14I am not writing these things to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children. 15For even if you had ten thousand custodians in Christ, you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus, I became your father through the good news. 16Therefore, I urge you: become mimics of me. 17This is why I sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord; he will remind you of my ways in Christ Jesus, just as I teach everywhere in every assembly.
18Now some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. 19But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not what these arrogant people are saying, but what power they have. 20For the Kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. 21What do you prefer? Should I come to you with a rod of discipline, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?