1 Corinthians 4
GOD’S WORD Translation
The Work of the Apostles
4 People should think of us as servants of Christ and managers who are entrusted with God’s mysteries. 2 Managers are required to be trustworthy.
3 It means very little to me that you or any human court should cross-examine me. I don’t even ask myself questions. 4 I have a clear conscience, but that doesn’t mean I have God’s approval. It is the Lord who cross-examines me. 5 Therefore, don’t judge anything before the appointed time. Wait until the Lord comes. He will also bring to light what is hidden in the dark and reveal people’s motives. Then each person will receive praise from God.
6 Brothers and sisters, I have applied this to Apollos and myself for your sake. You should learn from us not to go beyond what is written in Scripture. Then you won’t arrogantly place one of us in opposition to the other.
7 Who says that you are any better than other people? What do you have that wasn’t given to you? If you were given what you have, why are you bragging as if it weren’t a gift?
8 You already have what you want! You’ve already become rich! You’ve become kings without us! I wish you really were kings so that we could be kings with you.
9 As I see it, God has placed us apostles last in line, like people condemned to die. We have become a spectacle for people and angels to look at. 10 We have given up our wisdom for Christ, but you have insight because of Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are dishonored. 11 To this moment, we are hungry, thirsty, poorly dressed, roughly treated, and homeless. 12 We wear ourselves out doing physical labor. When people verbally abuse us, we bless them. When people persecute us, we endure it. 13 When our reputations are attacked, we remain courteous. Right now we have become garbage in the eyes of the world and trash in the sight of all people.
14 I’m not writing this to make you feel ashamed but to instruct you as my dear children. 15 You may have countless Christian guardians, but you don’t have many ⌞spiritual⌟ fathers. I became your father in the Christian life by telling you the Good News about Christ Jesus. 16 So I encourage you to imitate me. 17 That’s why I’ve sent Timothy to you to help you remember my Christian way of life as I teach it everywhere in every church. Timothy is my dear child, and he faithfully does the Lord’s work.
18 Some of you have become arrogant because you think I won’t pay you a visit. 19 If it’s the Lord’s will, I’ll visit you soon. Then I’ll know what these arrogant people are saying and what power they have. 20 God’s kingdom is not just talk, it is power.
21 When I come to visit you, would you prefer that I punish you or show you love and a gentle spirit?
1 Corinthians 4
The Voice
4 Rather than power brokers, think of us as servants of the Anointed One, the Liberating King, caretakers of the mysteries of God. 2 Because we are in this particular role, it is especially important that we are people of fidelity and integrity. 3 It makes little difference to me how you or any human court passes judgment on me. I even resist the temptation to compare myself to the ever-changing human standard. 4 Although I am not aware of any flaw that might exclude me from this divine service, that’s not the reason I stand acquitted—the only supreme judge, our Lord, will examine me in the proper time. 5 So resist the temptation to act as judges before all the evidence is in. When the Lord comes, He will draw our buried motives, thoughts, and deeds (even things we don’t know or admit to ourselves) out of the dark shadows of our hearts into His light. When this happens, the voice of God will speak to each of us the only praise that will ever matter.
6 Right now, brothers and sisters, the best thing I can do for you is to apply these principles to the situation with Apollos and me. Maybe we can show you the meaning of the saying, “not beyond the things written.” If you learn that, perhaps none of you will swell with pride because you fall into the seductive trap of pitting one against the other. 7 Is there any reason to consider yourselves better than others? What do you have that you didn’t receive? If you received it as a gift, why do you boast like it is something you achieved on your own?
8 Now let’s see if I have it straight. You suppose that you already have all you need. You already are rich and prosperous. And without us you’ve already begun to reign like kings. To be honest, I wish you did reign so that we could reign with you 9 because it seems to me that God has put His emissaries[a] at the end of the line, like convicts in their final walk to certain death. We have become a spectacle to the rest of the world—to all people and heaven’s messengers. 10 We are nothing but fools for the cause of the Anointed One while you are wise in Him. Am I right? We are feeble and tired while you are mighty and full of life. You are well respected by others while we’re treated as contemptuous creatures by pretty much everyone everywhere. 11 Up to this very minute, we are famished, we are thirsty, and our clothes are shabby, practically rotted to pieces. We are homeless, hapless wanderers. 12 But still we labor, working with our hands to meet our needs because, despite all of this, when a fist is raised against us, we respond with a blessing; when we face violence and persecution, we stay on mission; and 13 when others choose taunts and slander against us, we speak words of encouragement and reconciliation. We’re treated as the scum of the earth—and I am not talking in the past tense; I mean today! We’re the scraps of society, nothing more than the foulest human rubbish.
Paul explains and exemplifies the goals of a mature believer in a way that may be easily contrasted with the desires of an immature believer. He is seeking love and truth more than popularity, embracing suffering rather than comfort. In fact, he disregards popularity and comfort completely so that he isn’t distracted from the love and truth of Jesus. This could be a powerful force in the world if believers embraced this kind of maturity.
14 I am not telling you all this so that you’ll feel guilty or be ashamed of how you have acted. I am only trying to warn you, just as a father would warn his children. 15 You may have 10,000 instructors in the faith of the Anointed One, but you have only one father. In Jesus the Anointed I have become your father through my efforts in spreading the good news. 16 So as your father in the faith, I want to encourage you to live as I have lived. Imitate my life. 17 This is one of the reasons I sent Timothy to be with you. He is my dearly loved and faithful child in the Lord. His mission is to remind you of the way I experience life in the Anointed. In all the churches everywhere I go, I teach the same lessons the same way, and I live out those lessons. 18 But the reality is, some of you have put yourselves on pedestals and live like you are high above the rest—it’s as if you assumed I would not return to confront your misguided pride. 19 But I am coming. Lord willing, I will be with you soon. Then I will know what power is backing those arrogant folks and their words. 20 The kingdom of God is not a realm of grandiose talk; it is a realm of power. 21 So tell me what you want. Should I visit you, rod in hand ready to discipline a crew of self-important people; or should I embrace you, love you, and gently teach you as we celebrate the blessings of God together?
Footnotes
- 4:9 Literally, apostles
1 Corinthians 4
New American Standard Bible
Servants of Christ
4 This is the way any person is to regard us: as (A)servants of Christ and (B)stewards of (C)the mysteries of God. 2 In this case, moreover, it is required [a]of stewards that one be found trustworthy. 3 But to me it is an insignificant matter that I would be examined by you, or by any human [b]court; in fact, I do not even examine myself. 4 For I (D)am not aware of anything against myself; however I am not (E)vindicated by this, but the one who examines me is the Lord. 5 Therefore (F)do not go on [c]passing judgment before [d]the time, but wait (G)until the Lord comes, who will both (H)bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of human hearts; and then (I)praise will come to each person from God.
6 Now these things, brothers and sisters, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos on your account, so that in us you may learn not to exceed (J)what is written, so that no one of you will (K)become [e]arrogant (L)in behalf of one against the other. 7 For who considers you as superior? (M)What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?
8 You are (N)already filled, you have already become rich, you have become kings without us; and indeed, I wish that you had become kings so that we also might reign with you! 9 For I think, God has exhibited us, the apostles, last of all as men (O)condemned to death, because we (P)have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to mankind. 10 We are (Q)fools on account of Christ, but (R)you are prudent in Christ! (S)We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are without honor! 11 Up to this present hour we are both (T)hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed and roughly treated and homeless; 12 and we labor, (U)working with our own hands; when we are (V)verbally abused, we bless; when we are (W)persecuted, we endure it; 13 when we are slandered, we [f]reply as friends; we have (X)become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.
14 I do not write these things to (Y)shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved (Z)children. 15 For if you were to have countless (AA)tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in (AB)Christ Jesus I (AC)became your father through the (AD)gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you, be (AE)imitators of me. 17 For this reason I (AF)have sent to you (AG)Timothy, who is my (AH)beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, (AI)just as I teach everywhere in every church. 18 Now some have become [g](AJ)arrogant, as though I were not (AK)coming to you. 19 But I (AL)will come to you soon, (AM)if the Lord wills, and I shall find out, not the [h]words of those who are (AN)arrogant, but their power. 20 For the kingdom of God is (AO)not in [i]words, but in power. 21 What do you desire? (AP)That I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 4:2 Lit in
- 1 Corinthians 4:3 Lit day
- 1 Corinthians 4:5 Lit judging anything
- 1 Corinthians 4:5 I.e., the appointed time of judgment
- 1 Corinthians 4:6 Lit puffed up
- 1 Corinthians 4:13 Or conciliate
- 1 Corinthians 4:18 Lit puffed up
- 1 Corinthians 4:19 Lit word
- 1 Corinthians 4:20 Lit word
1 Corintios 4
Nueva Biblia de las Américas
Solo Dios es juez
4 Que todo hombre nos considere de esta manera: como servidores de Cristo(A) y administradores(B) de los misterios de Dios(C). 2 Ahora bien, lo que se requiere además de[a] los administradores es que cada uno sea hallado fiel. 3 En cuanto a mí, es de poca importancia que yo sea juzgado por ustedes o por cualquier tribunal[b] humano. De hecho, ni aun yo me juzgo a mí mismo. 4 Porque no estoy consciente(D) de nada en contra mía. Pero no por eso estoy sin culpa(E), pues el que me juzga es el Señor. 5 Por tanto, no juzguen(F) antes de tiempo[c], sino esperen hasta que el Señor venga(G), el cual sacará a la luz las cosas ocultas en las tinieblas y también pondrá de manifiesto los designios de los corazones(H). Entonces cada uno recibirá de parte de Dios(I) la alabanza que le corresponda.
6 Esto, hermanos, lo he aplicado en sentido figurado a mí mismo y a Apolos por amor a ustedes, para que en nosotros aprendan a no sobrepasar lo que está escrito(J), para que ninguno de ustedes se vuelva arrogante[d](K) a favor del uno contra el otro(L). 7 Porque ¿quién te distingue? ¿Qué tienes que no recibiste? Y si lo recibiste, ¿por qué te jactas como si no lo hubieras recibido(M)? 8 Ya están saciados, ya se han hecho ricos(N), ya han llegado a reinar sin necesidad de nosotros. Ojalá hubieran llegado a reinar, para que nosotros reináramos también con ustedes. 9 Porque pienso que Dios nos ha exhibido a nosotros los apóstoles en último lugar, como a sentenciados a muerte(O). Porque hemos llegado a ser un espectáculo para el mundo(P), tanto para los ángeles como para los hombres.
10 Nosotros somos necios por amor de Cristo(Q), pero ustedes, prudentes en Cristo(R). Nosotros somos débiles(S), pero ustedes, fuertes. Ustedes son distinguidos, pero nosotros, sin honra. 11 Hasta el momento[e] presente pasamos hambre y sed, andamos mal vestidos[f], somos maltratados y no tenemos dónde vivir(T). 12 Nos agotamos trabajando con nuestras propias manos(U). Cuando nos ultrajan(V), bendecimos. Cuando somos perseguidos(W), lo soportamos. 13 Cuando hablan mal de nosotros, tratamos de reconciliar[g]. Hemos llegado a ser, hasta ahora, la basura del mundo, el desecho de todo(X).
14 No les escribo esto para avergonzarlos(Y), sino para amonestarlos como a hijos(Z) míos amados. 15 Porque aunque ustedes tengan innumerables maestros en Cristo(AA), sin embargo no tienen muchos padres; pues en Cristo Jesús(AB) yo los engendré(AC) por medio del evangelio(AD). 16 Por tanto, los exhorto: sean imitadores míos(AE).
17 Por esta razón les he enviado a Timoteo(AF), que es mi hijo amado(AG) y fiel en el Señor. Él les recordará mis caminos, los caminos en Cristo, tal como yo enseño en todas partes, en cada iglesia(AH). 18 Algunos de ustedes se han vuelto arrogantes[h](AI), como si yo no hubiera de ir a verlos(AJ). 19 Pero iré a verlos(AK) pronto, si el Señor quiere(AL), y conoceré, no las palabras[i] de los arrogantes[j](AM) sino el poder que tienen. 20 Porque el reino de Dios no consiste en palabras[k], sino en poder(AN). 21 ¿Qué quieren? ¿Iré a ustedes con vara(AO), o con amor y espíritu de mansedumbre?
Footnotes
- 1 Corintios 4:2 Lit. en.
- 1 Corintios 4:3 Lit. día.
- 1 Corintios 4:5 Lit. no sigan juzgando nada.
- 1 Corintios 4:6 Lit. hinchado o inflado.
- 1 Corintios 4:11 Lit. la hora.
- 1 Corintios 4:11 Lit. estamos desnudos.
- 1 Corintios 4:13 O consolar.
- 1 Corintios 4:18 Lit. hinchados o inflados.
- 1 Corintios 4:19 Lit. la palabra.
- 1 Corintios 4:19 Lit. hinchados o inflados.
- 1 Corintios 4:20 Lit. palabra.
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