1 Corinthians 4

1 So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

1 Således agte man os; som Kristi Tjenere og Husholdere over Guds Hemmeligheder!

2 Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

2 I øvrigt kræves her af Husholdere, at man må findes tro,

3 I care very little, however, if I am judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.

3 Men mig er det såre lidet at bedømmes af eder eller af en menneskelig Ret; ja, jeg bedømmer end ikke mig selv.

4 My conscience is clear, but that does not vindicate me. It is the Lord who judges me.

4 Thi vel ved jeg intet med mig selv, dog er jeg ikke dermed retfærdiggjort; men den, som bedømmer mig, er Herren.

5 Therefore judge 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.

5 Derfor dømmer ikke noget før Tiden, førend Herren kommer, som både skal bringe for lyset det, som er skjult i Mørket, og åbenbare Hjerternes Råd; og da skal enhver få sin Ros fra Gud.

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 you will not take pride in one man over another.

6 Men dette, Brødre! har jeg anvendt på mig selv og Apollos for eders Skyld, for at I på os kunne lære dette “ikke ud over, hvad der står skrevet”, for at ikke nogen af eder for éns Skyld skal opblæse sig mod en anden.

7 For who makes you so 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?

7 Thi hvem giver dig Fortrin? og hvad har du, som du ikke har fået givet? men når du virkelig har fået det, hvorfor roser du dig da, som om du ikke havde fået det?

8 Already you have all you want. Already you have become rich. Without us, you have become kings. How I wish you really were kings, so that we might be kings with you!

8 I ere allerede mættede, I ere allerede blevne rige, I ere blevne Konger uden os, ja, gid I dog vare blevne Konger, for at også vi kunde være Konger med eder!

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.

9 Thi mig synes, at Gud har fremstillet os Apostle som de ringeste, ligesom dødsdømte; thi et Skuespillere vi blevne for Verden, både for Engle og Mennesker.

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.

10 Vi ere Dårer for Kristi Skyld, men I ere kloge i Kristus; vi svage, men I stærke; I hædrede, men vi vanærede.

11 To this very hour we are hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clothed, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.

11 Indtil denne Time lide vi både Hunger og Tørst og Nøgenhed og få Næveslag og have intet blivende Sted

12 We work hard with our own hands. When we are vilified, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;

12 og arbejde møjsommeligt med vore egne Hænder. Udskælder man os, velsigne vi; forfølger man os, finde vi os deri;

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.

13 spotter man os, give vi gode Ord; som Verdens Fejeskarn ere vi blevne, et Udskud for alle indtil nu.

14 I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children.

14 Ikke for at beskæmme eder skriver jeg dette; men jeg påminder eder som mine elskede Børn.

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.

15 Thi om I end have ti Tusinde Opdragere i Kristus, have I dog ikke mange Fædre; thi jeg har i Kristus Jesus avlet eder ved Evangeliet.

16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me.

16 Jeg formaner eder altså, vorder mine Efterfølgere!

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.

17 Derfor har jeg sendt Timotheus til eder, som er mit elskede og trofaste Barn i Herren, og han skal minde eder om mine Veje i Kristus, således som jeg lærer alle Vegne i enhver Menighed.

18 Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you.

18 Men nogle ere blevne opblæste, i den Tanke, at jeg ikke kommer til eder;

19 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.

19 men jeg skal snart komme til eder, om Herren vil, og gøre mig bekendt, ikke med de opblæstes Ord, men med deres Kraft.

20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.

20 Thi Guds Rige består ikke i Ord, men i Kraft.

21 Which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and with a gentle spirit?

21 Hvad ville I? Skal jeg komme til eder med Ris eller med Kærlighed og Sagtmodigheds Ånd?