Epistula I ad Corinthios, 4

1. Sic nos existimet homo ut mi nistros Christi et dispensatores mysteriorum Dei.

1. This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

2. Hic iam quaeritur inter dispensatores, ut fidelis quis inveniatur.

2. Moreover it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.

3. Mihi autem pro minimo est, ut a vobis iudicer aut ab humano die. Sed neque meipsum iudico;

3. 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.

4. nihil enim mihi conscius sum, sed non in hoc iustificatus sum. Qui autem iudicat me, Dominus est!

4. I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.

5. Itaque nolite ante tempus quidquam iudicare, quoadusque veniat Dominus, qui et illuminabit abscondita tenebrarum et manifestabit consilia cordium; et tunc laus erit unicuique a Deo.

5. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then every man will receive his commendation from God.

6. Haec autem, fratres, transfiguravi in me et Apollo propter vos, ut in nobis discatis illud: “Ne supra quae scripta sunt”, ne unus pro alio inflemini adversus alterum.

6. I have applied all this to myself and Apol'los for your benefit, brethren, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another.

7. Quis enim te discernit? Quid autem habes, quod non accepisti? Si autem accepisti, quid gloriaris, quasi non acceperis?

7. For who sees anything different in you? What have you that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if it were not a gift?

8. Iam saturati estis, iam divites facti estis. Sine nobis regnastis; et utinam regnaretis, ut et nos vobiscum regnaremus.

8. Already you are filled! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you!

9. Puto enim, Deus nos apostolos novissimos ostendit tamquam morti destinatos, quia spectaculum facti sumus mundo et angelis et hominibus.

9. For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men.

10. Nos stulti propter Christum, vos autem prudentes in Christo; nos infirmi, vos autem fortes; vos gloriosi, nos autem ignobiles.

10. We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute.

11. Usque in hanc horam et esurimus et sitimus et nudi sumus et colaphis caedimur et instabiles sumus

11. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are ill-clad and buffeted and homeless,

12. et laboramus operantes manibus nostris; maledicti benedicimus, persecutionem passi sustinemus,

12. and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;

13. blasphemati obsecramus; tamquam purgamenta mundi facti sumus, omnium peripsema, usque adhuc.

13. when slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become, and are now, as the refuse of the world, the offscouring of all things.

14. Non ut confundam vos, haec scribo, sed ut quasi filios meos carissimos moneam;

14. I do not write this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children.

15. nam si decem milia paedagogorum habeatis in Christo, sed non multos patres, nam in Christo Iesu per evangelium ego vos genui.

15. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

16. Rogo ergo vos: imitatorcs mei estote!

16. I urge you, then, be imitators of me.

17. Ideo misi ad vos Timotheum, qui est filius meus carissimus et fidelis in Domino, qui vos commonefaciat vias meas, quae sunt in Christo, sicut ubique in omni ecclesia doceo.

17. Therefore I sent to you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.

18. Tamquam non venturus sim ad vos, sic inflati sunt quidam;

18. Some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you.

19. veniam autem cito ad vos, si Dominus voluerit, et cognoscam non sermonem eorum, qui inflati sunt, sed virtutem;

19. But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power.

20. non enim in sermone est regnum Dei sed in virtute.

20. For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.

21. Quid vultis? In virga veniam ad vos an in caritate et spiritu mansuetudinis?

21. What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?