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Chapter 4
Servants of Christ
1
So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
Οὕτως ἄνθρωπος λογιζέσθω ἡμᾶς ὡς ὑπηρέτας Χριστοῦ καὶ οἰκονόμους μυστηρίων Θεοῦ Houtōs anthrōpos logizesthō hēmas hōs hypēretas Christou kai oikonomous mystēriōn Theou — NA/TR · 1
2
Now… it is required of stewards - that they be found faithful.
ὧδε λοιπὸν ζητεῖται τοῖς οἰκονόμοις ἐν τις ἵνα εὑρεθῇ πιστός hōde loipon zēteitai tois oikonomois en tis hina heurethē pistos — NA/TR · 2
3
I care very little…, however -, if I am judged by you or by any human court. In fact, vvv I do not even judge myself.
Ἐμοὶ ἐστιν ἐλάχιστόν δὲ εἰς ἵνα ἀνακριθῶ ὑφ’ ὑμῶν ἢ ὑπὸ ἀνθρωπίνης ἡμέρας ἀλλ’ οὐδὲ ἀνακρίνω ἐμαυτὸν Emoi estin elachiston de eis hina anakrithō hyph’ hymōn ē hypo anthrōpinēs hēmeras all’ oude anakrinō emauton — NA/TR · 3
4
- My conscience is clear…, but that vvv does not vindicate me. It is [the] Lord who judges me.
γὰρ σύνοιδα οὐδὲν ἐμαυτῷ ἀλλ’ ἐν τούτῳ οὐκ δεδικαίωμαι δὲ ἐστιν Κύριός ὁ ἀνακρίνων με gar synoida ouden emautō all’ en toutō ouk dedikaiōmai de estin Kyrios ho anakrinōn me — NA/TR · 4
5
Therefore judge vvv nothing before [the] appointed time; [wait] until the Lord comes. [He] will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of [ men’s ] hearts. At that time each will receive [his] praise from God.
Ὥστε κρίνετε μὴ τι πρὸ καιροῦ ἕως ὁ Κύριος ἂν ἔλθῃ ὃς καὶ φωτίσει τὰ κρυπτὰ τοῦ σκότους καὶ φανερώσει τὰς βουλὰς τῶν καρδιῶν καὶ τότε ἑκάστῳ γενήσεται ὁ ἔπαινος ἀπὸ τοῦ Θεοῦ Hōste krinete mē ti pro kairou heōs ho Kyrios an elthē hos kai phōtisei ta krypta tou skotous kai phanerōsei tas boulas tōn kardiōn kai tote hekastō genēsetai ho epainos apo tou Theou — NA/TR · 5
6
- Brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit…, so that you may learn from us not [to go] beyond what is written. Then vvv vvv you will not take pride in one [man] over vvv another.
δέ ἀδελφοί μετεσχημάτισα Ταῦτα εἰς ἐμαυτὸν καὶ Ἀπολλῶν δι’ ὑμᾶς ἵνα μάθητε ἐν ἡμῖν τό Μὴ ὑπὲρ ἃ γέγραπται ἵνα μὴ εἷς φυσιοῦσθε ὑπὲρ τοῦ ἑνὸς κατὰ τοῦ ἑτέρου de adelphoi meteschēmatisa Tauta eis emauton kai Apollōn di’ hymas hina mathēte en hēmin to Mē hyper ha gegraptai hina mē heis physiousthe hyper tou henos kata tou heterou — NA/TR · 6
7
For who makes you so superior…? What do you have that vvv you did not receive? And if vvv you did receive [it], why do you boast as though vvv [you did not]?
γάρ τίς διακρίνει σε δὲ τί ἔχεις ὃ οὐκ ἔλαβες δὲ εἰ καὶ ἔλαβες τί καυχᾶσαι ὡς μὴ λαβών gar tis diakrinei se de ti echeis ho ouk elabes de ei kai elabes ti kauchasai hōs mē labōn — NA/TR · 7
8
Already vvv you have all you want. Already you have become rich. Without us, you have become kings. How I wish vvv you really were kings, so that we might be kings with you!
ἤδη ἐστέ κεκορεσμένοι ἤδη ἐπλουτήσατε χωρὶς ἡμῶν ἐβασιλεύσατε καὶ ὄφελόν γε ἐβασιλεύσατε ἵνα ἡμεῖς καὶ συμβασιλεύσωμεν ὑμῖν Ēdē este kekoresmenoi ēdē eploutēsate chōris hēmōn ebasileusate kai ophelon ge ebasileusate hina hēmeis kai symbasileusōmen hymin — NA/TR · 8
9
For it seems to me that God has displayed us apostles at the end [ of the procession ], like [ prisoners ] appointed for death. We have become a spectacle to the whole world, to angels as well as to men.
γάρ δοκῶ ὁ Θεὸς ἀπέδειξεν ἡμᾶς τοὺς ἀποστόλους ἐσχάτους ὡς ἐπιθανατίους ὅτι ἐγενήθημεν θέατρον τῷ κόσμῳ καὶ ἀγγέλοις καὶ ἀνθρώποις gar dokō ho Theos apedeixen hēmas tous apostolous eschatous hōs epithanatious hoti egenēthēmen theatron tō kosmō kai angelois kai anthrōpois — NA/TR · 9
10
We [are] fools for Christ, but you [are] wise in Christ. We [are] weak, but you [are] strong. You [are] honored, but we [are] dishonored.
Ἡμεῖς μωροὶ διὰ Χριστόν δὲ ὑμεῖς φρόνιμοι ἐν Χριστῷ ἡμεῖς ἀσθενεῖς δὲ ὑμεῖς ἰσχυροί ὑμεῖς ἔνδοξοι δὲ ἡμεῖς ἄτιμοι Hēmeis mōroi dia Christon de hymeis phronimoi en Christō hēmeis astheneis de hymeis ischyroi hymeis endoxoi de hēmeis atimoi — NA/TR · 10
11
To [this] very hour we are hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clothed, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.
ἄχρι τῆς ἄρτι ὥρας καὶ πεινῶμεν καὶ διψῶμεν καὶ γυμνιτεύομεν καὶ κολαφιζόμεθα καὶ ἀστατοῦμεν achri tēs arti hōras kai peinōmen kai dipsōmen kai gymniteuomen kai kolaphizometha kai astatoumen — NA/TR · 11
12
- We work hard… with [our] own hands. When we are vilified, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure [it];
καὶ κοπιῶμεν ἐργαζόμενοι ταῖς ἰδίαις χερσίν λοιδορούμενοι εὐλογοῦμεν διωκόμενοι ἀνεχόμεθα kai kopiōmen ergazomenoi tais idiais chersin loidoroumenoi eulogoumen diōkomenoi anechometha — NA/TR · 12
13
when we are slandered, we answer gently. Up to this moment we have become [the] scum of the earth, [the] refuse of [the world].
δυσφημούμενοι παρακαλοῦμεν ἕως ἄρτι ἐγενήθημεν ὡς περικαθάρματα τοῦ κόσμου περίψημα πάντων dysphēmoumenoi parakaloumen heōs arti egenēthēmen hōs perikatharmata tou kosmou peripsēma pantōn — NA/TR · 13
Paul’s Fatherly Warning
14
vvv I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children.
Οὐκ γράφω ταῦτα ἐντρέπων ὑμᾶς ἀλλ’ νουθετῶν ὡς μου ἀγαπητὰ τέκνα Ouk graphō tauta entrepōn hymas all’ nouthetōn hōs mou agapēta tekna — NA/TR · 14
15
Even if you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, [you do] not [have] many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I became your father… through the gospel.
γὰρ ἐὰν ἔχητε μυρίους παιδαγωγοὺς ἐν Χριστῷ ἀλλ’ οὐ πολλοὺς πατέρας γὰρ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ ἐγὼ ἐγέννησα ὑμᾶς διὰ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου gar ean echēte myrious paidagōgous en Christō all’ ou pollous pateras gar en Christō Iēsou egō egennēsa hymas dia tou euangeliou — NA/TR · 15
16
Therefore I urge you vvv to imitate me.
οὖν παρακαλῶ ὑμᾶς γίνεσθε μιμηταί μου oun parakalō hymas ginesthe mimētai mou — NA/TR · 16
17
That is why… I have sent you Timothy, - my beloved and faithful child in [the] Lord. [He] will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which is exactly what I teach everywhere in every church.
Διὰ τοῦτο αὐτὸ ἔπεμψα ὑμῖν Τιμόθεον ὅς ἐστίν μου ἀγαπητὸν καὶ πιστὸν τέκνον ἐν Κυρίῳ ὃς ἀναμνήσει ὑμᾶς μου τὰς ὁδούς τὰς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ καθὼς διδάσκω πανταχοῦ ἐν πάσῃ ἐκκλησίᾳ Dia touto auto epempsa hymin Timotheon hos estin mou agapēton kai piston teknon en Kyriō hos anamnēsei hymas mou tas hodous tas en Christō Iēsou kathōs didaskō pantachou en pasē ekklēsia — NA/TR · 17
18
Some [of you] have become arrogant, as if I vvv were not coming to you.
τινες ἐφυσιώθησάν Ὡς μου μὴ ἐρχομένου δέ πρὸς ὑμᾶς tines ephysiōthēsan Hōs mou mē erchomenou de pros hymas — NA/TR · 18
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But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing, and [then] I will find out not [only] what these arrogant [people] are saying, but what power [they have].
δὲ ἐλεύσομαι πρὸς ὑμᾶς ταχέως ἐὰν ὁ Κύριος θελήσῃ καὶ γνώσομαι οὐ τὸν τῶν πεφυσιωμένων λόγον ἀλλὰ τὴν δύναμιν de eleusomai pros hymas tacheōs ean ho Kyrios thelēsē kai gnōsomai ou ton tōn pephysiōmenōn logon alla tēn dynamin — NA/TR · 19
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For the kingdom of God [is] not a matter of talk but of power.
γὰρ ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ Θεοῦ οὐ ἐν λόγῳ ἀλλ’ ἐν δυνάμει gar hē basileia tou Theou ou en logō all’ en dynamei — NA/TR · 20
21
Which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and [with] a gentle spirit?
τί θέλετε ἔλθω πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἐν ῥάβδῳ ἢ ἐν ἀγάπῃ τε πραΰτητος πνεύματί ti thelete elthō pros hymas en rhabdō ē en agapē te prautētos pneumati — NA/TR · 21