1Corinthians:4

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Seeker Overlay ON

* People should regard us as servants of Christ . God has trusted us with his secrets . * It is required of stewards that a man is trustworthy . * But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court . I do not even judge myself . * I know nothing against myself . Yet this does not acquit me , but he that judges me is God . * Do not judge anything before the time . Wait until the Lord comes . He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and make apparent the counsels of the hearts . Then each man ’s praise will come from God . * Brothers I have applied these things to myself and to Apollos for your sakes . That way you might learn the value of the saying : Do not go beyond the things written . None of you should be arrogant against one another . * For who made you superior to another ? What do you have that you did not receive ? If you did receive it , why do you brag , as if you did not receive it ? * You are full and now you are rich , you have reigned as kings without us . I would to God you did reign , that we also might reign with you . * For I think that God has placed us apostles last as men appointed to death . We are made a spectacle to the world , and to angels , and to men . * We are fools for Christ . But you are wise in Christ . We are weak , but you are strong . You are honorable , but we are despised . * Even to this present hour we both hunger and thirst . We are naked . We are treated badly and we are homeless . * We labor , working with our own hands . Being reviled , we bless ; being persecuted , we suffer it ; * being slandered , we answer kindly . We are made as the filth of the world and are the refuse of all things to this day . * I do not write these things to shame you , but as my beloved children I warn you . * Though you have ten thousand instructors in Christ , yet you do not have many fathers . For in Christ Jesus I have given birth to you through the good news . * For this reason I urge you to imitate me . * I send Timothy , my beloved son faithful in the Lord , to you for this purpose . He will remind you of my way of life in Christ , just as I teach it in every congregation . * Now some have become proud , thinking that I would not come to you . * But I will come to you shortly , if God wills , and I will get to know what the proud ones do and not what they say , but their power . * For the kingdom of God is not in word , but in power . * What do you want ? Shall I come to you with punishment or with love , and in the mild spirit of meekness ?

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