Let a man regard
us in this
manner
, as aservants
of Christ
and bstewards
of cthe mysteries
of God
.
In this case
, moreover
, it is required
1of stewards
that one
be found
trustworthy
.
But to me it is a very small
thing
that I may be examined
by you, or
by any human
1court
; in fact
, I do not even
examine
myself
.
For I aam conscious
of nothing
against myself
, yet
I am not by this
bacquitted
; but the one who examines
me is the Lord
.
Therefore ado not go on 1passing
judgment
before
2the time
, but wait buntil
the Lord
comes
who
will both
cbring
to light
the things
hidden
in the darkness
and disclose
the motives
of men's hearts
; and then
each
man's
dpraise
will come
to him from God
.
Now these
things
, brethren
, I have figuratively
applied
to myself
and Apollos
for your sakes
, so
that in us you may learn
not to exceed
awhat
is written
, so
that no
one
of you will bbecome 1arrogant
cin behalf
of one
against
the other
.
For who regards
you as superior
? aWhat
do you have
that you did not receive
? And if
you did receive
it, why
do you boast
as if
you had not received
it?
You are aalready filled
, you have already
become
rich
, you have become
kings
without
us; and indeed
, I wish
that you had become
kings
so
that we also
might reign
with you.
For, I think, God
has exhibited
us apostles
last
of all
, as men
acondemned
to death
; because
we bhave become
a spectacle
to the world
, 1both
to angels
and to men
.
We are afools for Christ's
sake
, but byou are prudent
in Christ
; cwe are weak
, but you are strong
; you are distinguished
, but we are without
honor
.
To this present
hour
we are both
ahungry
and thirsty
, and are poorly
clothed
, and are roughly
treated
, and are homeless
;
and we toil, aworking
with our own
hands
; when we are breviled
, we bless
; when we are cpersecuted
, we endure
;
when we are slandered, we try to 1conciliate
; we have abecome
as the scum
of the world
, the dregs
of all
things
, even until
now
.
I do not write these
things
to ashame
you, but to admonish
you as my beloved
bchildren
.
For if you were to have
countless
atutors
in Christ
, yet
you would not have many
fathers
, for in bChrist
Jesus
I cbecame
your father
through
the dgospel
.
Therefore I exhort
you, be aimitators
of me.
For this reason
I ahave sent
to you bTimothy
, who
is my cbeloved
and faithful
child
in the Lord
, and he will remind
you of my ways
which are in Christ
, djust
as I teach
everywhere
in every
church
.
Now some
have become 1 aarrogant
, as though
I were not bcoming
to you.
But I awill come to you soon
, bif
the Lord
wills
, and I shall find
out, not the 1words
of those
who are carrogant
but their power
.
For the kingdom of God
does anot consist in 1words
but in power
.
What do you desire
? aShall I come
to you with a rod
, or
with love
and a spirit
of gentleness
?