1Corinthians 4

Paul’s Relationship with the Corinthians

4So look at Apollos and me as mere servants of Christ who have been put in charge of explaining God's mysteries.G3049G444G3779G3049G2248G5613G5257G5547G2532G3623G3466G23162Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful.G3739G1161G3063G2212G1722G3623G2443G5100G2147G41033As for me, it matters very little how I might be evaluated by you or by any human authority. I don't even trust my own judgment on this point.G1161G1698G2076G1519G1646G2443G350G5259G5216G2228G5259G442G2250G235G350G3761G16834My conscience is clear, but that doesn't prove I'm right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide.G1063G4894G3762G1683G235G1344G3756G1722G5129G1344G1161G350G3165G2076G29625So don't make judgments about anyone ahead of time—before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due.G5620G2919G3361G5100G4253G2540G2193G302G2962G2064G3739G2532G5461G2927G4655G2532G5319G1012G2588G2532G5119G1538G1096G1868G575G23166Dear brothers and sisters

, I have used Apollos and myself to illustrate what I've been saying. If you pay attention to what I have quoted from the Scriptures, you won't be proud of one of your leaders at the expense of another.G1161G5023G80G3345G1519G1683G2532G625G1223G5209G2443G3129G1722G2254G3361G5426G5228G2443G3739G1125G3363G1520G5448G5228G1520G2596G20877For what gives you the right to make such a judgment? What do you have that God hasn't given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?G1063G5101G1252G4571G1252G1161G5101G2192G3739G2983G3756G2983G1161G1499G2983G5101G2744G5613G2983G3361G29838You think you already have everything you need. You think you are already rich. You have begun to reign in God's kingdom without us! I wish you really were reigning already, for then we would be reigning with you.G2235G2075G2880G2235G4147G936G5565G2257G2532G3785G1065G936G2443G2249G2532G4821G52139Instead, I sometimes think God has put us apostles on display, like prisoners of war at the end of a victor's parade, condemned to die. We have become a spectacle to the entire world—to people and angels alike.G1063G1380G3754G2316G584G2248G652G2078G5613G1935G3754G1096G2302G2889G2532G32G2532G44410Our dedication to Christ makes us look like fools, but you claim to be so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are so powerful! You are honored, but we are ridiculed.G2249G3474G1223G5547G1223G1161G5210G5429G1722G5547G2249G772G1161G5210G2478G5210G1741G1161G2249G82011Even now we go hungry and thirsty, and we don't have enough clothes to keep warm. We are often beaten and have no home.G891G737G5610G3983G2532G3983G2532G1372G2532G1130G2532G2852G2532G79012We work wearily with our own hands to earn our living. We bless those who curse us. We are patient with those who abuse us.G2532G2872G2038G2398G5495G3058G2127G1377G43013We appeal gently when evil things are said about us. Yet we are treated like the world's garbage, like everybody's trash—right up to the present moment.G987G3870G1096G5613G4027G2889G4067G3956G2193G73714I am not writing these things to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children.G1125G3756G5023G1788G5209G235G5613G3450G27G5043G356015For even if you had ten thousand others to teach you about Christ, you have only one spiritual father. For I became your father in Christ Jesus when I preached the Good News to you.G1063G1437G2192G3463G3807G1722G5547G235G3756G4183G3962G1063G1722G5547G2424G1473G1080G5209G1223G209816So I urge you to imitate me.G3767G3870G5209G1096G3402G345017That's why I have sent Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of how I follow Christ Jesus, just as I teach in all the churches wherever I go.G1223G5124G1223G3992G5213G5095G3739G2076G3450G27G5043G2532G4103G1722G2962G3739G363G5209G363G3450G3598G3588G1722G5547G2531G1321G3837G1722G3956G157718Some of you have become arrogant, thinking I will not visit you again.G1161G5100G5448G5613G3450G2064G3361G2064G4314G520919But I will come—and soon—if the Lord lets me, and then I'll find out whether these arrogant people just give pretentious speeches or whether they really have God's power.G1161G2064G4314G5209G5030G1437G2962G2309G2532G1097G3756G3056G5448G235G141120For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God's power.G1063G932G2316G3756G1722G3056G235G1722G141121Which do you choose? Should I come with a rod to punish you, or should I come with love and a gentle spirit?G5101G2309G2064G4314G5209G1722G4464G2228G1722G26G5037G4151G4236