The Ministry of Apostles
1This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and nstewards of the mysteries of God. 2Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 3But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4oFor I am not aware of anything against myself, pbut I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. 5Therefore qdo not pronounce judgment before the time, rbefore the Lord comes, swho will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. tThen each one will receive his commendation from God.
6I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers,1 that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may ube puffed up in favor of one against another. 7For who sees anything different in you? vWhat do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?
8Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! 9For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, wlike men sentenced to death, because we xhave become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. 10yWe are fools for Christ's sake, but zyou are wise in Christ. aWe are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. 11To the present hour bwe hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and cbuffeted and dhomeless, 12and we elabor, working with our own hands. fWhen reviled, we bless; gwhen persecuted, we endure; 13when slandered, we entreat. hWe have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, ithe refuse of all things.
14I do not write these things jto make you ashamed, but to admonish you kas my beloved children. 15For lthough you have countless2 guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For mI became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16I urge you, then, nbe imitators of me. 17That is why oI sent3 you Timothy, pmy beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ,4 qas I teach them everywhere in every church. 18Some are rarrogant, sas though I were not coming to you. 19But tI will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power. 20For uthe kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. 21What do you wish? vShall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?
A Study in 1 Corinthians, Volume 1
A Firm Foundation 1 Corinthians 1:1–4:21 Series • ID: 14601Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.