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Today's Bible Reading :: 1 Corinthians 1 - 4 (ESV)

1 Corinthians 1Listen to the passage

1 Corinthians 2Listen to the passage

1 Corinthians 3Listen to the passage

1 Corinthians 4Listen to the passage

1 Corinthians 1

Greeting

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 1:1

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 1:1 - Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes,

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 1:2

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 1:2 - To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 1:3

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 1:3 - Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 1:4

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 1:4 - I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus,

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 1:5

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 1:5 - that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge—

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 1:6

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 1:6 - even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you—

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 1:7

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 1:7 - so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ,

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 1:8

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 1:8 - who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 1:9

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 1:9 - God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Divisions in the Church

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 1:10

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 1:10 - I appeal to you, brothers,[fn] by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 1:11

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 1:11 - For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 1:12

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 1:12 - What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 1:13

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 1:13 - Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 1:14

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 1:14 - I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 1:15

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 1:15 - so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 1:16

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 1:16 - (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.)

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 1:17

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 1:17 - For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

Christ the Wisdom and Power of God

(cf. Isa 29:14 )

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 1:18

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 1:18 - For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 1:19

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 1:19 - For it is written,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 1:20

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 1:20 - Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 1:21

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 1:21 - For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach[fn] to save those who believe.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 1:22

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 1:22 - For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 1:23

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 1:23 - but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 1:24

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 1:24 - but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 1:25

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 1:25 - For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 1:26

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 1:26 - For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards,[fn] not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 1:27

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 1:27 - But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 1:28

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 1:28 - God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 1:29

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 1:29 - so that no human being[fn] might boast in the presence of God.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 1:30

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 1:30 - And because of him[fn] you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 1:31

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 1:31 - so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
ESV Footnotes
Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters; also verses 11, 26
Or the folly of preaching
Greek according to the flesh
Greek no flesh
Greek And from him

1 Corinthians 2

Proclaiming Christ Crucified

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 2:1

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 2:1 - And I, when I came to you, brothers,[fn] did not come proclaiming to you the testimony[fn] of God with lofty speech or wisdom.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 2:2

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 2:2 - For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 2:3

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 2:3 - And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling,

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 2:4

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 2:4 - and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 2:5

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 2:5 - so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men[fn] but in the power of God.

Wisdom from the Spirit

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 2:6

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 2:6 - Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 2:7

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 2:7 - But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 2:8

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 2:8 - None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 2:9

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 2:9 - But, as it is written,
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”—

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 2:10

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 2:10 - these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 2:11

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 2:11 - For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 2:12

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 2:12 - Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 2:13

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 2:13 - And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.[fn]

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 2:14

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 2:14 - The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 2:15

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 2:15 - The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 2:16

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 2:16 - “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
ESV Footnotes
Or brothers and sisters
Some manuscripts mystery (or secret)
The Greek word anthropoi can refer to both men and women
Or interpreting spiritual truths in spiritual language, or comparing spiritual things with spiritual

1 Corinthians 3

Divisions in the Church

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 3:1

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 3:1 - But I, brothers,[fn] could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 3:2

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 3:2 - I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready,

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 3:3

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 3:3 - for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 3:4

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 3:4 - For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human?

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 3:5

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 3:5 - What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 3:6

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 3:6 - I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 3:7

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 3:7 - So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 3:8

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 3:8 - He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 3:9

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 3:9 - For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 3:10

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 3:10 - According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled[fn] master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 3:11

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 3:11 - For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 3:12

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 3:12 - Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 3:13

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 3:13 - each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 3:14

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 3:14 - If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 3:15

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 3:15 - If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 3:16

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 3:16 - Do you not know that you[fn] are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 3:17

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 3:17 - If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 3:18

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 3:18 - Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 3:19

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 3:19 - For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 3:20

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 3:20 - and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 3:21

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 3:21 - So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours,

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 3:22

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 3:22 - whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours,

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 3:23

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 3:23 - and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.
ESV Footnotes
Or brothers and sisters
Or wise
The Greek for you is plural in verses 16 and 17

1 Corinthians 4

The Ministry of Apostles

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 4:1

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 4:1 - This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 4:2

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 4:2 - Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 4:3

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 4:3 - But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 4:4

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 4:4 - For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 4:5

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 4:5 - 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 each one will receive his commendation from God.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 4:6

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 4:6 - I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers,[fn] 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.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 4:7

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 4:7 - For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 4:8

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 4:8 - Already you have all you want! 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!

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 4:9

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 4:9 - 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.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 4:10

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 4:10 - 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.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 4:11

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 4:11 - To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless,

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 4:12

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 4:12 - and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 4:13

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 4:13 - when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 4:14

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 4:14 - I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 4:15

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 4:15 - For though you have countless[fn] guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 4:16

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 4:16 - I urge you, then, be imitators of me.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 4:17

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 4:17 - That is why I sent[fn] you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ,[fn] as I teach them everywhere in every church.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 4:18

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 4:18 - Some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 4:19

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 4:19 - 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.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 4:20

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 4:20 - For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 4:21

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 4:21 - What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?
See the ESV Preface
ESV Footnotes
Or brothers and sisters
Greek you have ten thousand
Or am sending
Some manuscripts add Jesus
ESV

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016, 2025 by Crossway Books and Bibles, a Publishing Ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

See detailed copyright information.

For more information on this translation, see the ESV Preface.

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