1 Corinthians 4 - EasyEnglish Bible 2024（EASY）

Chapter 4Church leaders serve God as their master

1This is how you should think about us, who are leaders in the church. We are Christ's servants. God has given us a special work to do. We must explain his message to people so that they understand it.

2Anyone who has that kind of job must do what his master wants. That is the important thing.

3So what you think about me does not matter to me. What you decide, or what any human authority decides, is not important. I do not even try to judge myself.

4I am sure in my own mind that I have not done anything wrong. But that does not make me right. The Lord himself is the one who judges me.

5So you should not judge anyone before the time is right. Wait until the Lord comes again. He will show everything clearly. He will show the bad things that people have done secretly. He will show the secret purpose of people's thoughts. Then God will praise each person in a way that they deserve.

6My Christian friends, I want to help you to understand these things. That is why I have used Apollos and myself as examples. You should learn from us what this means: ‘Obey the commands in the Bible.’ Remember that. Then nobody will be proud of one leader and not respect another leader.

7None of you should think that you are better than anyone else. You received from God everything that you have. So you have no reason to be proud of what you have. It is all a gift!

8You already have everything that you need, do you? You think that you are very rich already! You are ready to rule as kings. You no longer need us to help you. I think it would be good if you had really become kings. Then we could also rule together with you!

9This is what I think: as apostles, God has put us last of everyone. People see us as prisoners at the end of the line. We must die in a public place as our punishment. Everybody in the world has come to look at us, both people and angels.

10We have become like fools so that we can serve Christ. But you think that you are wise because you belong to Christ. We are weak people, but you are so strong! People respect you but they insult us!

11Until now, we continue to be hungry and thirsty. Our clothes have holes in them. Sometimes cruel people hit us for no reason. We do not have our own homes.

12We work hard, so that we become very tired. When people insult us, we ask God to bless them. When people give us trouble, we are patient and brave.

13When people say bad things against us, we answer with kind words. We have become like rubbish that people throw away. That is still true, even today.

Paul warns the Christians as their spiritual father

14I do not write these things to make you ashamed. You are like my own children that I love. So I want to teach you what is right.

15When I told you the good news about Jesus Christ, I became like a father for you. You may have ten thousand teachers to help you understand the message about Christ. But I am the only person who is like a father for you.

16That is why I want you to copy my example.

17To help you to do that, I have sent Timothy to visit you. He is like a son to me, and I love him very much. He continues to serve the Lord well. He will help you to remember how I live as a Christian. It is the same as I teach in all the churches everywhere.

18Some people among you have become proud. They think that I will never come back to warn them.

19But I will come to visit you again soon, if the Lord wants me to. Then I will find out what these proud people are really like. It is not just the words that they say. I will find out if they have the power of God.

20When people belong to God's kingdom, they have God's power. They do not just speak proud words.

21So you must choose what happens when I come to you. Will I need to be angry and punish you? Or will I speak kind words to show that I love you?