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9 For it seems to me that God hath as it were exhibited us the apostles last upon the stage as appointed to death; for we are made a spectacle to 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 honoured, but we are despised. 11 Even to this present time we suffer both hunger, and thirst, and nakedness, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling: 12 and we labour working with our own hands. When we are reviled, we bless: when persecuted, we bear it: when defamed, we intreat. 13 We are made as the filth of the world, and the refuse of all things to this day. 14 I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I admonish you: 15 for if ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet ye have not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you by the gospel. 16 I beseech you therefore, be ye imitators of me. 17 For this end have I sent unto you Timothy, who is my beloved son and faithful in the Lord, who will bring to your remembrance my ways in Christ, how I teach every where in every church. 18 Now some are puffed up, as if I would not come to you. 19 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord please, and will know, not the speech of them that are puffed up, but the power: 20 for the kingdom of God consisteth not in speech, but in power. 21 What do ye chuse? that I should come to you with a rod? or in love, and in the spirit of meekness? 1 Corinthians 4:9-21, Worsley New Testament. Public domain.
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