Léctio Epístolæ primæ beáti Pauli apóstoli ad Corínthios (4,6-15)
Fratres: In me et Apópplo discátis illud: “ Ne supra quæ scripta sunt ”, ne unus pro álio inflemini adversus álterum. Quis enim te discérnit? Quid autem habes, quod non accepísti? Si autem accepísti, quid gloriáris, quasi non accéperis? Iam saturáti estis, iam dívites facti estis. Sine nobis regnástis; et utinam regnarétis, ut et nos vobíscum regnarémus. Puto enim, Deus nos apóstolos novíssimos osténdit tamquam morti destinátos, quia spectáculum facti sumus mundo et ángelis et homínibus. Nos stulti propter Christum, vos autem prudéntes in Christo; nos infírmi, vos autem fortes; vos gloriósi, nos autem ignóbiles. Usque in hanc horam et esurímus et sitímus et nudi sumus et cólaphis cǽdimur et instábiles sumus et laborámus operántes manibus nostris; maledícti benedícimus, persecutiónem passi sustinémus, blasphemáti obsecrámus; tamquam purgamenta mundi facti sumus, ómnium peripséma, usque adhuc. Non ut confúndam vos, hæc scribo, sed ut quasi fílios meos carissimos moneam; nam si decem milia pædagogórum habeatis in Christo, sed non multos patres, nam in Christo Iesu per evangélium ego vos génui.
Brethren, I have transfigured into myself and Apollo, for you; that in us you may learn, one not to be puffed up against another, above that is written. For who discerneth thee? Or what hast thou that thou hast not received? And if thou hast received, what doest thou glory as though thou hast not received? Now you are filled, now are you become rich: without us you reign; & I would to God you did reign, that we also might reign with you. For I think that God hath shewed us Apostles the last, as it were deputed to death: because we are made a spectacle to the world, and to Angels and men. We are fools for Christ; but you wise in Christ. We weak; but you strong. You noble, but we base. Until this hour we do both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are beaten with buffets, and are wanderers, and labour working with our own hands. We are cursed; and do bless. We are persecuted; and sustain it. We are blasphemed; and we beseech. We are made the refuse of this world, the dross of all even until now. Not to confound you, do I write these things; but as my dearest children I admonish you. For if you have ten thousand Pædagogues in Christ; yet not many fathers. For in Christ Jesus by the Gospel I begat you.
