1 Corinthians 4

All 21 verses in the Clear Bible Translation. Tap a verse to compare the KJV and read what it means.

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1. 1Think of us this way: we are servants of Christ and people entrusted with the mysteries of God.
2. 2Now, the one thing required of someone given that kind of trust is that they prove faithful.
3. 3Honestly, it matters very little to me whether you judge me or whether any human court does. I don't even judge myself.
4. 4My conscience is clear, but that doesn't prove I'm in the right. The Lord is the one who judges me.
5. 5Therefore, do not judge anything before the time, until the Lord comes. He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the intentions of the hearts. Then every person will receive praise from God.
6. 6Brothers, I've applied all of this to myself and Apollos as examples for your benefit. The point is that you learn from us not to go beyond what Scripture says, so that none of you become arrogant by picking one leader over another.
7. 7Who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you glory as if you had not received it?
8. 8Now you are full, now you are rich, you have become kings without us. I wish you really were reigning, so we could reign with you.
9. 9For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display last, as if we were sentenced to death. We have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to people.
10. 10We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are despised.
11. 11Right up to this very moment, we go hungry and thirsty. We're poorly clothed, roughly treated, and have no permanent home.
12. 12We work hard with our own hands to support ourselves. When people curse us, we bless them. When we're persecuted, we endure it.
13. 13When we are slandered, we plead. We have become like the filth of the world and the scum of all things to this day.
14. 14I am not writing these things to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved sons.
15. 15Even if you had 10,000 tutors in Christ, you don't have many fathers. I became your father in Christ Jesus when I brought you the gospel.
16. 16Therefore, I urge you to be followers of me.
17. 17That's exactly why I'm sending Timothy to you. He is my dear and faithful son in the Lord. He'll remind you of how I live in Christ — the same way I teach in every church everywhere.
18. 18Some of you have gotten arrogant, acting as if I'm never going to show up.
19. 19But I will come to you soon, if the Lord is willing, and I will know not the speech of those who are puffed up, but the power.
20. 20For the kingdom of God is not about words, but about power.
21. 21What do you want? Should I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of meekness?