4:1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ,
and stewards of the mysteries of God.
4:2 Moreover, it is required in stewards that a man be found
faithful.
4:3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged
by you, or by man's judgment: yes, I judge not my own self.
4:4 For I know nothing against myself; yet am I not hereby
justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord
shall 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 from God.
4:6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred
to myself, and [to] Apollos, for your sakes; that ye may learn
in us not to think [of men] above that which is written, that
no one of you on account of one, may be puffed up against
another.
4:7 For who maketh thee to differ [from another]? and what hast
thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive
[it], why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received [it]?
4:8 Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings
without us: and I wish ye did reign, that we also might reign
with you.
4:9 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as
it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle to the
world, and to angels, and to men.
4:10 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.
4:11 Even to this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and
are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain
dwelling-place;
4:12 And labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we
bless; being persecuted, we suffer it;
4:13 Being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the
world, the offscouring of all things to this day.
4:14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved
sons I warn [you].
4:15 For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet
[have ye] not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten
you through the gospel.
4:16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
4:17 For this cause have I sent to you Timothy, who is my
beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who will bring you into
remembrance of my ways which are in Christ, as I teach every
where in every church.
4:18 Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.
4:19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will
know, not the speech of them who are puffed up, but the power.
4:20 For the kingdom of God [is] not in word, but in power.
4:21 What will ye? shall I come to you with a rod, or in love,
and [in] the spirit of meekness?
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