The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians

⭑ Catholic Public Domain :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 4 -

Accordingly, let man consider us to be ministers of Christ and attendants of the mysteries of God.

Here and now, it is required of attendants that each one be found to be faithful.

But as for me, it is such a small thing to be judged by you, or by the age of mankind. And neither do I judge myself.

For I have nothing on my conscience. But I am not justified by this. For the Lord is the One who judges me.

And so, do not choose to judge before the time, until the Lord returns. He will illuminate the hidden things of the darkness, and he will make manifest the decisions of hearts. And then each one shall have praise from God.

And so, brothers, I have presented these things in myself and in Apollo, for your sakes, so that you may learn, through us, that no one should be inflated against one person and for another, not beyond what has been written.

For what distinguishes you from another? And what do you have that you have not received? But if you have received it, why do you glory, as if you had not received it?

So, now you have been filled, and now you have been made wealthy, as if to reign without us? But I wish that you would reign, so that we, too, might reign with you!

For I think that God has presented us as the last Apostles, as those destined for death. For we have been made into a spectacle for the world, and for Angels, and for men.

So we are fools because of Christ, but you are discerning in Christ? We are weak, but you are strong? You are noble, but we are ignoble?(a)

Even to this very hour, we hunger and thirst, and we are naked and repeatedly beaten, and we are unsteady.

And we labor, working with our own hands. We are slandered, and so we bless. We suffer and endure persecution.

We are cursed, and so we pray. We have become like the refuse of this world, like the reside of everything, even until now.

Paul’s Fatherly Warning

I am not writing these things in order to confound you, but in order to admonish you, as my dearest sons.

For you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, but not so many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, through the Gospel, I have begotten you.

Therefore, I beg you, be imitators of me, just as I am of Christ.

For this reason, I have sent you Timothy, who is my dearest son, and who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my ways, which are in Christ Jesus, just as I teach everywhere, in every church.

Certain persons have become inflated in thinking that I would not return to you.

But I will return to you soon, if the Lord is willing. And I will consider, not the words of those who are inflated, but the virtue.

For the kingdom of God is not in words, but in virtue.

What would you prefer? Should I return to you with a rod, or with charity and a spirit of meekness?

Footnotes

(a)4:10 As also in verse 4:8, Paul is being sarcastic, because some who were mere infants in the Faith have acted as if they were teachers and leaders, even above true Apostles. Such is still the case today, where those who barely know the faith exalt themselves as if teachers and leaders.(Conte)

So let a man think of us as Christ’s servants and stewards of God’s mysteries.

Here, moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you, or by a human court. Yes, I don’t even judge my own self.

For I know nothing against myself. Yet I am not justified by this, but he who judges me is the Lord.

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 man will get his praise from God.

Now these things, brothers, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that in us you might learn not to think beyond the things which are written, that none of you be puffed up against one another.

For who makes you different? And what do you have that you didn’t receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

You are already filled. You have already become rich. You have come to reign without us. Yes, and I wish that you did reign, that we also might reign with you!

For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last of all, like men sentenced to death. For we are made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and men.

We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You have honor, but we have dishonor.

Even to this present hour we hunger, thirst, are naked, are beaten, and have no certain dwelling place.

We toil, working with our own hands. When people curse us, we bless. Being persecuted, we endure.

Being defamed, we entreat. We are made as the filth of the world, the dirt wiped off by all, even until now.

Paul’s Fatherly Warning

I don’t write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.

For though you have ten thousand tutors in Christ, you don’t have many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, I became your father through the Good News.

I beg you therefore, be imitators of me.

Because of this I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in every assembly.

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

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

For God’s Kingdom is not in word, but in power.

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