1 L et a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

So then, let us be looked upon as ministering servants of Christ and stewards (trustees) of the mysteries (the secret purposes) of God.

2 M oreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

Moreover, it is required of stewards that a man should be found faithful.

3 B ut 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.

But it matters very little to me that I should be put on trial by you, and that you or any other human tribunal should investigate and question and cross-question me. I do not even put myself on trial and judge myself.

4 F or I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

I am not conscious of anything against myself, and I feel blameless; but I am not vindicated and acquitted before God on that account. It is the Lord Who examines and judges me.

5 T herefore 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.

So do not make any hasty or premature judgments before the time when the Lord comes, for He will both bring to light the secret things that are in darkness and disclose and expose the aims (motives and purposes) of hearts. Then every man will receive his commendation from God.

6 A nd these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.

Now I have applied all this to myself and Apollos for your sakes, brethren, so that from what I have said of us, you may learn not to go beyond that which is written, that none of you may be puffed up and inflated with pride and boast in favor of one against another.

7 F or who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

For who separates you from the others ? What have you that was not given to you? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you had not received ?

8 N ow ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.

'> You behave as if] you are already filled and think you have enough! Already you have become rich!, you have ascended your thrones and come into your kingdom without including us! And would that it were true and that you did reign, so that we might be sharing the kingdom with you!

9 F or I think that God hath 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.

For it seems to me that God has made an exhibit of us apostles, exposing us to view last sentenced to death. For we have become a spectacle to the world with both men and angels.

10 W e are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.

We are fools on account of Christ and for His sake, but you are so amazingly wise and prudent in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are highly esteemed, but we are in disrepute and contempt!

11 E ven unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;

To this hour we have gone both hungry and thirsty; we '> habitually] wear but one undergarment; we are roughly knocked about and wander around homeless.

12 a nd labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:

And we still toil unto weariness, working hard with our own hands. When men revile us '> wound us with an accursed sting], we bless them. When we are persecuted, we take it patiently and endure it.

13 b eing defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.

When we are slandered and defamed, we answer softly and bring comfort. We have been made and are now the rubbish and filth of the world.

14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.

I do not write this to shame you, but to warn and counsel you as my beloved children.

15 F or though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

After all, though you should have ten thousand teachers (guides to direct you) in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the glad tidings (the Gospel).

16 W herefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

So I urge and implore you, be imitators of me.

17 F or this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.

For this very cause I sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and trustworthy child in the Lord, who will recall to your minds my methods of proceeding and course of conduct and way of life in Christ, such as I teach everywhere in each of the churches.

18 N ow some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.

Some of you have become conceited and arrogant and pretentious, counting on my not coming to you.

19 B ut 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.

But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing, and then I will perceive and understand not what the talk of these puffed up and arrogant spirits amount to, but their force ( the moral power and excellence of soul they really possess).

20 F or the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

For the kingdom of God consists of and is based on not talk but power ( moral power and excellence of soul).

21 W hat will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?

Now which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of correction, or with love and in a spirit of gentleness?