1 Corinthians 4

1 Let a man so account us as the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

2 Moreover it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful.

3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you, or by man's judgment. Yea, I judge not mine own self.

4 For I know nothing by myself, yet am I not hereby justified; but He that judgeth me is the Lord.

5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then shall every man have praise of God.

6 And these things, brethren, I have in a sense transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes, that ye may learn through us not to regard men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.

7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? And what hast thou that thou did not receive? Now if thou did receive it, why dost thou glory as if thou had not been given it?

8 Now ye are full, now ye are rich! Ye have reigned as kings without us! And I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you!

9 For I think that God hath set forth us, the apostles, last, as it were approved to death; for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and 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 are honorable, but we are despised.

11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger and thirst, and are naked and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place,

12 and we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it;

13 being defamed, we entreat. We are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.

14 I write these things not to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved sons.

15 For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet ye have not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the Gospel.

16 Therefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

17 For this cause I have sent unto you Timothy, who is my beloved son and faithful in the Lord, who shall put you in remembrance of my ways which are in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.

18 Now some are puffed up as though I would not come to you.

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

20 For the Kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

21 What will ye have? Shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love and in the spirit of meekness?