004:004 Though I am not conscious of having been in any way unfaithful, yet I do not for that reason stand acquitted; but He whose scrutiny I must undergo is the Lord. 004:005 Therefore form no premature judgements, but wait until the Lord returns. He will both bring to light the secrets of darkness and will openly disclose the motives that have been in people's hearts; and then the praise which each man deserves will come to him from God. 004:006 In writing this much, brethren, with special reference to Apollos and myself, I have done so for your sakes, in order to teach you by our example what those words mean, which say, "Nothing beyond what is written!"--so that you may cease to take sides in boastful rivalry, for one teacher against another. 004:007 Why, who gives you your superiority, my brother? Or what have you that you did not receive? And if you really did receive it, why boast as if this were not so? 004:008 Every one of you already has all that heart can desire; already you have grown rich; without waiting for us, you have ascended your thrones! Yes indeed, would to God that you had ascended your thrones, that we also might reign with you! 004:009 God, it seems to me, has exhibited us Apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; for we have come to be a spectacle to all creation--alike to angels and to men. 004:010 We, for Christ's sake, are labeled as "foolish"; you, as Christians, are men of shrewd intelligence. We are mere weaklings: you are strong. You are in high repute: we are outcasts. 004:011 To this very moment we endure both hunger and thirst, with scanty clothing and many a blow. 004:012 Homes we have none. Wearily we toil, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we bear it patiently; 004:013 when slandered, we try to conciliate. We have come to be regarded as the mere dirt and filth of the world-- the refuse of the universe, even to this hour. 004:014 I am not writing all this to shame you, but I am offering you advice as my dearly-loved children. 004:015 For even if you were to have ten thousand spiritual instructors-- for all that you could not have several fathers. It is I who in Christ Jesus became your father through the Good News. 004:016 I entreat you therefore to become like me. 004:017 For this reason I have sent Timothy to you. Spiritually he is my dearly-loved and faithful child. He will remind you of my habits as a Christian teacher-- the manner in which I teach everywhere in every Church. 004:018 But some of you have been puffed up through getting the idea that I am not coming to Corinth.