THE FIRST EPISTLE
OF
PAUL THE APOSTLE
TO THE
CORINTHIANS

1 Corinthians 4 ©

1 The apostle teaches for what the teachers of the congregation must be accounted, and what is required of them. 3 Regards little the judgment of men, and shows by his own example that they shall principally give an account of their ministry before God. 6 Exhorts not only the teachers, but also all believers to a modest opinion of themselves. 7 Seeing not they themselves, but God by His gifts makes them to differ. 8 Puts a difference between the great opinion they had of themselves, and the low and miserable estate of the last apostles in this world. 14 That by this comparison they might also have a lower opinion of themselves. 17 Declares that he also sends Timothy to them for that end. 18 Again reprehends their loftiness, and threatens them with his coming. 20 That they might in time reprove the evil from among them, and escape the rod.

1

LET a man so account of us, asa of the ministers of Christ, and 1stewards of the mysteries of God.

2

Moreover it is required in stewards, thatb a man be found 2faithful.

3

But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of 3man’s judgment: yea, I 4judge not mine own self.

4

For I know 5nothing byc myself; yetd am I not 6hereby justified: but he that judgeth 7me is the Lord.

5

Thereforee judge nothing 8before the time, until the Lord come, whof both will bring to light 9the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest 10the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have 11praise of God.

6

And 12these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos 13for your sakes; that ye might learn in us 14notg to think of men 15above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for 16one against another.

7

For 17who maketh thee to differ from another? andh 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?

8

18Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings 19without us: and I 20would to God ye did reign, that 21we also might reign with you.

9

22For I think that God hath set forth 23us the apostles last, asi it were 24appointed to death: for we are made aj spectacle 25unto the world, and to angels, and to men.

10

26Wekare fools for Christ's sake, but 27ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.

11

Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted,l and have no certain dwellingplace;

12

Andm labour, 28working with our own hands: being reviled, wen bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:

13

Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the 29filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things 30unto this day.

14

I write not these things to shame you, but aso my beloved sons I 31warn you.

15

For though ye have ten thousand 32instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: forp in Christ Jesus I have 33begotten you through the gospel.

16

Wherefore I beseech you, beq ye 34followers of me.

17

For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is 35my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of 36my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.

18

Now 37some are puffed up, as though I would 38not come to you.

19

But I will come to you shortly, ifr the Lord will, and will know, 39not the speech of them which are puffed up, 40but the power.

20

Fors41the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

21

What will ye? shall I come unto you 42with a rod, or 43in love, and in the spirit of meekness?