Apostles Last, Laboring and Blessing

Faithful Stewards, Costly Service, and Gentle Power · 1 Corinthians 4

Story guide: Paul’s irony exposes claims of fullness, riches, wisdom, strength, and honor. Apostolic service instead bears hunger, thirst, poor clothing, homelessness, hand labor, insults answered with blessing, persecution endured, and slander answered with appeal.

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8Already you have had your fill; already you have become rich; apart from us you have become kings. And I wish indeed that you had become kings, so that we also might reign with you.

9For it seems to me that God has displayed us, the apostles, last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.

10We are fools for Messiah, but you are wise in Messiah; we are weak, but you are strong; you are honored, but we are dishonored.

11Up to this present hour we are hungry and thirsty, and poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless.

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

13When slandered, we appeal; we have become like the world's refuse, the scum of all things, until now.

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