4:3 - But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.
Tertullian On the Apparel of Women Book II
Perhaps some (woman) will say: "To me it is not necessary to be approved by men; for I do not require the testimony of men:[128]
4:4 - For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judges me is the Lord.
Epistle of Ignatius to the Romans
But I am the more instructed by their injuries [to act as a disciple of Christ]; "yet am I not thereby justified."[40]Irenaeus Against Heresies Book IV
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; but when that which is perfect has come, the things which are in part shall be done away."[109]Lactantius Divine Institutes Book VI
But that he may obtain the favour of God, and be free from every stain, let him always implore the mercy of God, and pray for nothing else but pardon for his sins, even though he has none.[199]
4:5 - Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
Tertullian Against Marcion Book V
From Him also shall "praise be had by every man,"[284]Origen Commentary on Matthew Book XI
"He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts,"[145]Origen Commentary on Matthew Book XIII
"until the Lord come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and make manifest the counsels of the hearts."[200]
4:7 - For who makes you to differ from another? and what have you that you did not receive? now if you did receive it, why do you glory, as if you had not received it?
Tertullian On Prayer
is a grace of God, and you have received it, "why do you boast," saith he, "as if you have not received it? "[149]Tertullian On the Veiling of Virgins
And if it is by God that the virtue of continence is conferred, "why gloriest thou, as if thou have not received? "[49]Tertullian On Modesty
to differ? What, moreover, hast thou which thou hast not received? Why gloriest thou as if thou have not received? "[146]Cyprian Treatise XII Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews
Also in the first Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians: "For what hast thou that thou hast not received? But if thou hast received it, why boastest thou, as if thou hadst not received it? "[388]
4:8 - Now all of you are full, now all of you are rich, all of you have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God all of you did reign, that we also might reign with you.
Tertullian On Modesty
Again, of how open censure (does) the free expression (find utterance), how manifest the edge of the spiritual sword, (in words like these): "Ye are already enriched! ye are already satiated! ye are already reigning!"[143]Tertullian On Fasting
For, by this time, in this respect as well as others, "you are reigning in wealth and satiety"[91]
4:9 - For I think that God has set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.
Clement of Alexandria Stromata Book IV
Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; being defamed, we entreat; we are become as it were the offscourings of the world."[79]Tertullian Against Marcion Book V
But here, at least, you say he interprets the world to be the God thereof, when he says: "We are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men."[285]Origen Commentary on John Book I
Paul shows that the world is something more than men when he writes to the Corinthians in his first Epistle:[125]
4:12 - And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
Origen Against Celsus Book V
We, however, who are followers of the word of Jesus, and have exercised ourselves in thinking, and saying, and doing what is in harmony with His words, "when reviled, bless; being persecuted, we suffer it; being defamed, we entreat; "[196]Origen Against Celsus Book VII
As for those, however, who, along with other lessons given by the Divine Word, have learned and practised this, "when reviled to bless, when persecuted to endure, when defamed to entreat,"[108]
4:13 - Being defamed, we implore: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the waste of all things unto this day.
Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians
Let my spirit be counted as nothing[122]Epistle of Barnabas
I write the more simply unto you, that ye may understand. I am the off-scouring of your love.[57]Dionysius Extant Fragments Part II
.[136]Origen Commentary on John Book VI
For if there is any point in these stories of the Greeks, and if what we have said of the martyrs is well rounded,-the Apostles, too, were for the same reason the filth of the world and the offscouring of all things,[163]
4:15 - For though all of you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have all of you not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
Clement of Alexandria Stromata Book III
Rursus ad Corinthios scribens: "Si enim decies mille paedagogos," inquit, "habeatis in Christo, sed non multos patres. In Christo enim per Evangelium ego vosgenui."[188]Clement of Alexandria Stromata Book V
For some procreate by the body, others by the soul; "since also with the barbarian philosophers to teach and enlighten is called to regenerate; and "I have begotten you in Jesus Christ,"[33]Tertullian Against Marcion Book V
and not men promiscuously; thus exhibiting to us those who were the children of men truly so called, choice men, apostles. "For," says he, "I have begotten you through the gospel; "[360]Tertullian On Monogamy
Grant, now, that Abraham is our father; grant, too, that Paul is. "In the Gospel," says he, "I have begotten you."[31]Methodius Discourse III. Thaleia
and again, "In Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the Gospel."[33]
4:16 - Wherefore I plead to you, be all of you followers of me.
Epistle of Ignatius to the Antiochians
Be ye followers of me.[31]
4:19 - But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.
Clement of Alexandria Stromata Book I
" In rebuke of those who are wise in appearance, and think themselves wise, but are not in reality wise, he writes: "For the kingdom of God is not in word."[142]Clement of Alexandria Stromata Book VII
" It teaches the magnificence of the wisdom implanted in her children by instruction. Now the apostle says, "I will know not the speech of those that are puffed up, but the power; "[178]Origen Commentary on John Book I
"The Lord shall give the word to those that preach with great power; the King of the powers of the beloved; "teaching at the same time that it is not skilfully composed discourse, nor the mode of delivery, nor well practised eloquence that produces conviction, but the communication of divine power. Hence also Paul says:[43]
4:20 - For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians
It is better for a man to be silent and be [a Christian], than to talk and not to be one. "The kingdom of God is not in word, but in power."[107]Cyprian Treatise XII Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews
And Paul, in the first to the Corinthians: "The kingdom of God is not in word, but in power."[771]
4:21 - What will all of you? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?
Clement of Alexandria The Instructor Book I
Thus also the apostle, in the Epistle to the Corinthians, being moved, says, "What will ye? Shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, in the spirit of meekness? "[136]