1 Corinthians 41 Corinthians4

Berean Standard BibleKing James Version

1. Servants of Christ

2. 1BSBSo then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.KJVKJV: Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
3. 2BSBNow it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.KJVKJV: Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
4. 3BSBI care very little, however, if I am judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.KJVKJV: But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.
5. 4BSBMy conscience is clear, but that does not vindicate me. It is the Lord who judges me.KJVKJV: For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
6. 5BSBTherefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.KJVKJV: Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
7. 6BSBBrothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written. Then you will not take pride in one man over another.KJVKJV: And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.
8. 7BSBFor who makes you so superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?KJVKJV: 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?
9. 8BSBAlready you have all you want. Already you have become rich. Without us, you have become kings. How I wish you really were kings, so that we might be kings with you!KJVKJV: Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.
10. 9BSBFor it seems to me that God has displayed us apostles at the end of the procession, like prisoners appointed for death. We have become a spectacle to the whole world, to angels as well as to men.KJVKJV: For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.
11. 10BSBWe are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are dishonored.KJVKJV: We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.
12. 11BSBTo this very hour we are hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clothed, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.KJVKJV: Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
13. 12BSBWe work hard with our own hands. When we are vilified, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;KJVKJV: And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
14. 13BSBwhen we are slandered, we answer gently. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.KJVKJV: Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.

15. Paul’s Fatherly Warning

16. 14BSBI am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children.KJVKJV: I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.
17. 15BSBEven if you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.KJVKJV: For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
18. 16BSBTherefore I urge you to imitate me.KJVKJV: Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
19. 17BSBThat is why I have sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which is exactly what I teach everywhere in every church.KJVKJV: For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.
20. 18BSBSome of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you.KJVKJV: Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.
21. 19BSBBut I will come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only what these arrogant people are saying, but what power they have.KJVKJV: But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.
22. 20BSBFor the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.KJVKJV: For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
23. 21BSBWhich do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and with a gentle spirit?KJVKJV: What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?