1Cor.4.1

Don't imagine us leaders to be something we aren't. We are servants of Christ, not his masters. We are guides into God's most sublime secrets, not security guards posted to protect them.

1Cor.4.1

So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God.

1Cor.4.1

Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

1Cor.4.1

So look at Apollos and me as mere servants of Christ who have been put in charge of explaining God's secrets.

1Cor.4.2

The requirements for a good guide are reliability and accurate knowledge.

1Cor.4.2

Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.

1Cor.4.2

Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

1Cor.4.2

Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful.

1Cor.4.3

It matters very little to me what you think of me, even less where I rank in popular opinion. I don't even rank myself. Comparisons in these matters are pointless.

1Cor.4.3

I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself.

1Cor.4.3

But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.

1Cor.4.3

What about me? Have I been faithful? Well, it matters very little what you or anyone else thinks. I don't even trust my own judgment on this point.

1Cor.4.4

I'm not aware of anything that would disqualify me from being a good guide for you, but that doesn't mean much. The Master makes that judgment.

1Cor.4.4

My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.

1Cor.4.4

For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord.

1Cor.4.4

My conscience is clear, but that isn't what matters. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide.

1Cor.4.5

So don't get ahead of the Master and jump to conclusions with your judgments before all the evidence is in. When he comes, he will bring out in the open and place in evidence all kinds of things we never even dreamed of--inner motives and purposes and prayers. Only then will any one of us get to hear the "Well done!" of God.

1Cor.4.5

Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

1Cor.4.5

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God.

1Cor.4.5

So be careful not to jump to conclusions before the Lord returns as to whether or not someone is faithful. When the Lord comes, he will bring our deepest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. And then God will give to everyone whatever praise is due.

1Cor.4.6

All I'm doing right now, friends, is showing how these things pertain to Apollos and me so that you will learn restraint and not rush into making judgments without knowing all the facts. It's important to look at things from God's point of view. I would rather not see you inflating or deflating reputations based on mere hearsay.

1Cor.4.6

Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, "Do not go beyond what is written." Then you will not take pride in one man over against another.

1Cor.4.6

Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other.

1Cor.4.6

Dear brothers and sisters, I have used Apollos and myself to illustrate what I've been saying. If you pay attention to the Scriptures, you won't brag about one of your leaders at the expense of another.

1Cor.4.7

For who do you know that really knows you, knows your heart? And even if they did, is there anything they would discover in you that you could take credit for? Isn't everything you have and everything you are sheer gifts from God? So what's the point of all this comparing and competing?

1Cor.4.7

For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

1Cor.4.7

For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

1Cor.4.7

What makes you better than anyone else? What do you have that God hasn't given you? And if all you have is from God, why boast as though you have accomplished something on your own?

1Cor.4.8

You already have all you need. You already have more access to God than you can handle. Without bringing either Apollos or me into it, you're sitting on top of the world--at least God's world--and we're right there, sitting alongside you!

1Cor.4.8

Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have become kings--and that without us! How I wish that you really had become kings so that we might be kings with you!

1Cor.4.8

You are already full! You are already rich! You have reigned as kings without us--and indeed I could wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you!

1Cor.4.8

You think you already have everything you need! You are already rich! Without us you have become kings! I wish you really were on your thrones already, for then we would be reigning with you!

1Cor.4.9

It seems to me that God has put us who bear his Message on stage in a theater in which no one wants to buy a ticket. We're something everyone stands around and stares at, like an accident in the street.

1Cor.4.9

For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men.

1Cor.4.9

For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.

1Cor.4.9

But sometimes I think God has put us apostles on display, like prisoners of war at the end of a victor's parade, condemned to die. We have become a spectacle to the entire world--to people and angels alike.

1Cor.4.10

We're the Messiah's misfits. You might be sure of yourselves, but we live in the midst of frailties and uncertainties. You might be well-thought-of by others, but we're mostly kicked around.

1Cor.4.10

We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored!

1Cor.4.10

We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored!

1Cor.4.10

Our dedication to Christ makes us look like fools, but you are so wise! We are weak, but you are so powerful! You are well thought of, but we are laughed at.

1Cor.4.11

Much of the time we don't have enough to eat, we wear patched and threadbare clothes, we get doors slammed in our faces,

1Cor.4.11

To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.

1Cor.4.11

To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless.

1Cor.4.11

To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, without enough clothes to keep us warm. We have endured many beatings, and we have no homes of our own.

1Cor.4.12

and we pick up odd jobs anywhere we can to eke out a living. When they call us names, we say, "God bless you."

1Cor.4.12

We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;

1Cor.4.12

And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;

1Cor.4.12

We have worked wearily with our own hands to earn our living. We bless those who curse us. We are patient with those who abuse us.

1Cor.4.13

When they spread rumors about us, we put in a good word for them. We're treated like garbage, potato peelings from the culture's kitchen. And it's not getting any better.

1Cor.4.13

when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.

1Cor.4.13

being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.

1Cor.4.13

We respond gently when evil things are said about us. Yet we are treated like the world's garbage, like everybody's trash--right up to the present moment.

1Cor.4.14

I'm not writing all this as a neighborhood scold just to make you feel rotten. I'm writing as a father to you, my children. I love you and want you to grow up well, not spoiled.

1Cor.4.14

I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children.

1Cor.4.14

I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you.

1Cor.4.14

I am not writing these things to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children.

1Cor.4.15

There are a lot of people around who can't wait to tell you what you've done wrong, but there aren't many fathers willing to take the time and effort to help you grow up. It was as Jesus helped me proclaim God's Message to you that I became your father.

1Cor.4.15

Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.

1Cor.4.15

For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

1Cor.4.15

For even if you had ten thousand others to teach you about Christ, you have only one spiritual father. For I became your father in Christ Jesus when I preached the Good News to you.

1Cor.4.16

I'm not, you know, asking you to do anything I'm not already doing myself.

1Cor.4.16

Therefore I urge you to imitate me.

1Cor.4.16

Therefore I urge you, imitate me.

1Cor.4.16

So I ask you to follow my example and do as I do.

1Cor.4.17

This is why I sent Timothy to you earlier. He is also my dear son, and true to the Master. He will refresh your memory on the instructions I regularly give all the churches on the way of Christ.

1Cor.4.17

For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.

1Cor.4.17

For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.

1Cor.4.17

That is the very reason I am sending Timothy--to help you do this. For he is my beloved and trustworthy child in the Lord. He will remind you of what I teach about Christ Jesus in all the churches wherever I go.

1Cor.4.18

I know there are some among you who are so full of themselves they never listen to anyone, let alone me. They don't think I'll ever show up in person.

1Cor.4.18

Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you.

1Cor.4.18

Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you.

1Cor.4.18

I know that some of you have become arrogant, thinking I will never visit you again.

1Cor.4.19

But I'll be there sooner than you think, God willing, and then we'll see if they're full of anything but hot air.

1Cor.4.19

But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have.

1Cor.4.19

But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power.

1Cor.4.19

But I will come--and soon--if the Lord will let me, and then I'll find out whether these arrogant people are just big talkers or whether they really have God's power.

1Cor.4.20

God's Way is not a matter of mere talk; it's an empowered life.

1Cor.4.20

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.

1Cor.4.20

For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.

1Cor.4.20

For the Kingdom of God is not just fancy talk; it is living by God's power.

1Cor.4.21

So how should I prepare to come to you? As a severe disciplinarian who makes you toe the mark? Or as a good friend and counselor who wants to share heart-to-heart with you? You decide.

1Cor.4.21

What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit?

1Cor.4.21

What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?

1Cor.4.21

Which do you choose? Should I come with punishment and scolding, or should I come with quiet love and gentleness?