1 Corinthians 4
The Ministry of the
Apostles |
1 |
Let a man so account of us, as of the
ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
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2 |
Moreover it is required in stewards, that
a man be found faithful.
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3 |
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.
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4 |
For I know nothing by myself; yet am I
not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
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5 |
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.
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6 |
And these things, brethren, I have in a
figure transferred to myself and to Apol'los 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.
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7 |
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?
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8 |
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.
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9 |
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.
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10 |
We are fools for Christ's sake,
but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honorable, but we are despised.
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11 |
Even unto this present hour we both
hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no
certain dwelling place;
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12 |
and labor, working with our own hands: Acts
18.3 being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer
it:
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13 |
being defamed, we entreat: we are made as
the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things
unto this day.
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14 |
I write not these things to shame you,
but as my beloved sons I warn you.
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15 |
For though ye have ten thousand
instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in
Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
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16 |
Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers
of me. 1 Cor. 11.1 · Phil. 3.17
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17 |
For this cause have I sent unto you
Timothy, 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.
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18 |
Now some are puffed up, as though I would
not come to you.
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19 |
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.
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20 |
For the kingdom of God is not in
word, but in power.
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21 |
What will ye? shall I come unto you with
a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of
meekness?
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