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

Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

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

Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

3 B ut 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.

But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.

4 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.

For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord.

5 S o 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.

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God. Fools for Christ’s Sake

6 N ow 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.

Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other.

7 F or 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 ?

For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

8 ' > 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!

You are already full! You are already rich! You have reigned as kings without us—and indeed I could wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you!

9 F or 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.

For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.

10 W e 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!

We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored!

11 T o this hour we have gone both hungry and thirsty; we '> habitually] wear but one undergarment; we are roughly knocked about and wander around homeless.

To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless.

12 A nd 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.

And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;

13 W hen 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.

being defamed, we entreat. 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 this to shame you, but to warn and counsel you as my beloved children.

I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you.

15 A fter 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).

For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

16 S o I urge and implore you, be imitators of me.

Therefore I urge you, imitate me.

17 F or 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.

For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.

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

Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you.

19 B ut 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).

But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power.

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

For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.

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

What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?