The Nature of True Apostleship
1 Corinthians 4A human should think of us as Christ’s servants and stewards of God’s mysteries. Moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found faithful. But to me it is a very small matter that I should be judged by y’all or by a human court. Indeed, I don’t even judge myself. For I know nothing against myself. Yet I am not justified by this. Rather the one who judges me is the Lord. Therefore y’all judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each person will receive praise from God.
Now, siblings, I have figuratively applied these things to myself and Apollos for your* sakes, so that in us y’all may learn “not to go beyond what is written,” so that none of y’all be puffed up against one another. For who makes you superior? And what do you have that you didn’t receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?
Y’all are already satisfied. Y’all have already become rich. Y’all have come to reign without us. Yes, and I wish that y’all did reign, that we also might reign with y’all! For it seems to me that God has exhibited us, the apostles, last of all, like those sentenced to death. For we are made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and humans. We are fools through Christ, but y’all are wise in Christ. We are weak, but y’all are strong. Y’all are distinguished, but we are dishonored. To this present hour we are hungry, thirsty, naked, beaten, and homeless. We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless. When we are persecuted, we endure. When we are defamed, we console. Now we have become the scum of the world, the crud everyone wipes off, even until now.
A Fatherly Warning
I don’t write these things to shame y’all, but to admonish y’all as my beloved children. For though y’all have ten thousand tutors in Christ, y’all don’t have many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, I became y’all’s father through the gospel. Therefore I urge y’all, to become imitators of me. For this reason I have sent Timothy to y’all, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who will remind y’all of my ways which are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in every church. As though I were not coming to y’all, some have become arrogant. But I will come to y’all very soon if the Lord is willing. And I will find out, not just what the arrogant are saying, but about their power. For the Empire of God is not in words, but in power. So what do y’all want? Should I come to y’all with a rod or in love and a spirit of gentleness?