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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>1 Corinthians 4 ISV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/1_corinthians/4.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/1_corinthians/4-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">ISV</a> > 1 Corinthians 4</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../1_corinthians/3.htm" title="1 Corinthians 3">◄</a> 1 Corinthians 4 <a href="../1_corinthians/5.htm" title="1 Corinthians 5">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">International Standard Version</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/isv/esv/1_corinthians/4.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="heading">Faithful Servants of the Messiah</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/4-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>Think of us as servants of the Messiah<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="4:1 Or Christ">a</a></span> and as servant managers entrusted with God’s secrets. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/4-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>Now it is required of servant managers that each one should prove to be trustworthy.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="4:2 Or should be found faithful">b</a></span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/4-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>It is a very small thing to me that I should be examined by you or by any human court. In fact, I don’t even evaluate myself. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/4-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>For my conscience is clear,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="4:4 Lit. I don’t know of anything against myself">c</a></span> but that does not vindicate me. It is the Lord who examines me. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/4-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>Therefore, stop judging prematurely, before the Lord comes, for he will bring to light what is now hidden in darkness and reveal the motives of our hearts. Then each person will receive his praise from God.</p> <p class="heading">Fools for the Messiah’s Sake</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/4-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>Brothers, I have applied all this to Apollos and myself for your benefit, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what the Scriptures say.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="4:6 Lit. what is written">d</a></span> Then you will stop boasting about one person at the expense of another.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/4-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>For who makes you superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not receive it? <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/4-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>You already have all you want! You have already become rich! You have become kings without us! I wish you really were kings so that we could be kings with you! <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/4-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display in last place, like men condemned to death. We have become a spectacle for the world, for angels, and for people to stare at. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/4-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>We are fools for the Messiah’s<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="4:10 Or Christ’s">e</a></span> sake, but you are wise in the Messiah.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="4:10 Or Christ">f</a></span> We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are dishonored. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/4-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>We are hungry, thirsty, dressed in rags, brutally treated, and homeless, right up to the present. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/4-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>We wear ourselves out from working with our own hands. When insulted, we bless. When persecuted, we endure. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/4-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>When slandered, we answer with kind words. Even now we have become the filth of the world, the scum of the universe.</p> <p class="heading">Fatherly Advice</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/4-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>I’m not writing this to make you feel ashamed, but to warn you as my dear children. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/4-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>You may have 10,000 mentors who work for the Messiah,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="4:15 Or Christ">g</a></span> but not many fathers. For in the Messiah<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="4:15 Or Christ">h</a></span> Jesus I became your father through the gospel. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/4-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>So I urge you to imitate me. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/4-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>That’s why I sent Timothy to you. He is my dear and dependable son in the Lord and will help you remember how I live for the Messiah<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="4:17 Or Christ">i</a></span> Jesus as I teach everywhere in every church.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/4-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>Some of you have become arrogant, as though I were not coming to evaluate<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="4:18 The Gk. lacks evaluate">j</a></span> you. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/4-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>But I will come to you soon if it’s the Lord’s will. Then I’ll discover not only what these arrogant people are saying but also what power they have, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/4-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>for the kingdom of God isn’t just talk, but also power. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/4-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>Which do you prefer? Should I come to you with a stick, or with love and a gentle spirit?</p><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><A name="ftn"></a><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="fn1"><span class="fnb">a</span> 4:1 Or <i>Christ</i><br /><span class="fnb">b</span> 4:2 Or <i>should be found faithful</i><br /><span class="fnb">c</span> 4:4 Lit. <i>I don’t know of anything against myself</i><br /><span class="fnb">d</span> 4:6 Lit. <i>what is written</i><br /><span class="fnb">e</span> 4:10 Or <i>Christ’s</i><br /><span class="fnb">f</span> 4:10 Or <i>Christ</i><br /><span class="fnb">g</span> 4:15 Or <i>Christ</i><br /><span class="fnb">h</span> 4:15 Or <i>Christ</i><br /><span class="fnb">i</span> 4:17 Or <i>Christ</i><br /><span class="fnb">j</span> 4:18 The Gk. lacks <i>evaluate</i><br /></span><br><br><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><div align="center"><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1<br />Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation<br />ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/">Bible Hub</a></div></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="../1_corinthians/3.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="1 Corinthians 3"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="1 Corinthians 3" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../1_corinthians/5.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="1 Corinthians 5"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="1 Corinthians 5" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="rightbox"><div class="padright"><div id="pic"><iframe width="100%" height="860" scrolling="no" src="//biblescan.com/mpc/1_corinthians/4-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="rightbox4"><div class="padright2"><div id="spons1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tr><td class="sp1"><iframe width="122" height="860" scrolling="no" src="../sidemenu.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="bot"><div align="center" style="background-color:#F2FAFF"><br /><br /><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"><script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script></div></td></tr></table><br /><br /><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"><script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script></div></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /> </div><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/botmenubhnm2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe><div align="center"><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span></div></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>