1 Corinthians 4:1-13 ▼

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 the 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 to go 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 it , why are you boasting, as if you did not receive it ?

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 are 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.