1 Corinthians 4:9-16

New King James Version

⁹ For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a ^(A)spectacle ^[a]to the world, both to angels and to men. ¹⁰ We are ^(B)fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! ^(C)We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! ¹¹ To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. ^12 (D)And we labor, working with our own hands. ^(E)Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; ¹³ being defamed, we ^[b]entreat. ^(F)We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.

Paul’s Paternal Care

¹⁴ I do not write these things to shame you, but ^(G)as my beloved children I warn you. ¹⁵ For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for ^(H)in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. ¹⁶ Therefore I urge you, ^(I)imitate me.