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1 Corinthians 4
Revised Geneva Translation
1 Corinthians 4
Revised Geneva Translation
4 Let a man so think of us, as servants of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
2 And as for the rest, it is required of the stewards that everyone be found faithful.
3 As for me, however, it is my least concern to be examined by you, or by mankind. I do not even examine myself.
4 For though I am aware of nothing against myself, I am not thereby justified. But the One who judges me is the Lord.
5 Therefore, judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, Who will enlighten things that are hidden in darkness, and make manifest the counsels of the hearts. And then shall every man have praise of God.
6 Now these things, brothers, I have figuratively applied to my own self and Apollos, for your sakes, that you might learn by us; that no one presumes above that which is written, that no one is puffed up over another.
7 For who separates you? And what do you have, that you have not received? If you have received it, why do you boast as though you had not received it?
8 Now you are full. Now you are made rich. You reign as kings without us. And I would that you did reign, so that we also might reign with you.
9 For I think that God has set us forth, the last Apostles, as men appointed to death. For we are made a spectacle to the world, and to the angels, and to man.
10 We are fools for Christ’s sake; and you, wise in Christ. We are weak, and you strong. You honorable, and we despised.
11 Unto this hour, we both hunger and thirst, and are naked and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place;
12 and labor, working with our own hands. We are reviled, and we bless. We are persecuted. We suffer it.
13 We are slandered, and we pray. We are made as the filth of the world, the scum of all things, unto this time.
14 I do not write these things to shame you. But as my beloved children, I admonish you.
15 For though you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet not many fathers. For in Christ Jesus I have begotten you, through the Gospel.
16 Therefore, I encourage you, be followers of me.
17 For this cause have I sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord; who shall put you in remembrance of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.
18 Now, some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.
19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the words of those who are puffed up, but the power.
20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
21 What is your will? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and in the spirit of meekness?
1 Corinthians 4
New International Version
1 Corinthians 4
New International Version
The Nature of True Apostleship
4 This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants(A) of Christ and as those entrusted(B) with the mysteries(C) God has revealed. 2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. 4 My conscience(D) is clear, but that does not make me innocent.(E) It is the Lord who judges me.(F) 5 Therefore judge nothing(G) before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes.(H) He will bring to light(I) what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.(J)
6 Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.”(K) Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other.(L) 7 For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive?(M) And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
8 Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich!(N) You have begun to reign—and that without us! How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we also might reign with you! 9 For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die(O) in the arena. We have been made a spectacle(P) to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings. 10 We are fools for Christ,(Q) but you are so wise in Christ!(R) We are weak, but you are strong!(S) You are honored, we are dishonored! 11 To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.(T) 12 We work hard with our own hands.(U) When we are cursed, we bless;(V) when we are persecuted,(W) we endure it; 13 when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage(X) of the world—right up to this moment.
Paul’s Appeal and Warning
14 I am writing this not to shame you(Y) but to warn you as my dear children.(Z) 15 Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father(AA) through the gospel.(AB) 16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me.(AC) 17 For this reason I have sent to you(AD) Timothy,(AE) my son(AF) whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.(AG)
18 Some of you have become arrogant,(AH) as if I were not coming to you.(AI) 19 But I will come to you very soon,(AJ) if the Lord is willing,(AK) and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. 20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of(AL) talk but of power.(AM) 21 What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline,(AN) or shall I come in love and with a gentle spirit?
Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)
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New International Version (NIV) 
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