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.

Todos deben considerarnos servidores de Cristo y administradores de los misterios de Dios.

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

Ahora bien, de los administradores se espera que demuestren ser dignos de confianza.

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.

Por mi parte, no me preocupa mucho ser juzgado por ustedes o por algún tribunal humano; es más, ni siquiera yo mismo me juzgo.

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.

Y aunque mi conciencia no me acusa de nada, no por eso quedo justificado; quien me juzga es el Señor.

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.

Así que no juzguen ustedes nada antes de tiempo, hasta que venga el Señor, el cual sacará a la luz lo que esté escondido y pondrá al descubierto las intenciones de los corazones. Entonces Dios le dará a cada uno la alabanza que merezca.

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.

Pero esto, hermanos, lo digo para su propio bien, y pongo como ejemplo a Apolos y a mí, para que de nuestro ejemplo aprendan a no pensar más allá de lo que está escrito, no sea que se envanezcan por favorecer a uno en perjuicio del otro.

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 ?

Porque ¿quién te hace superior? ¿O qué tienes que no hayas recibido? Y si lo recibiste, ¿por qué te jactas como si no te lo hubieran dado?

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!

Ustedes ya están satisfechos. Ya son ricos, y aun sin nosotros reinan. ¡Pues cómo quisiera yo que reinaran, para que también nosotros reináramos juntamente con ustedes!

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.

Lo que creo es que Dios nos ha exhibido a nosotros los apóstoles como si fuéramos lo último, ¡como si estuviéramos sentenciados a muerte! Hemos llegado a ser el hazmerreír del mundo, de los ángeles y de los hombres.

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!

Por amor a Cristo, nosotros somos los insensatos, y ustedes los prudentes en Cristo; nosotros somos los débiles, y ustedes los fuertes; ustedes son respetados, y a nosotros se nos desprecia.

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.

Hasta el momento pasamos hambre, tenemos sed, andamos desnudos, nos abofetean, y no tenemos dónde vivir.

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.

Trabajamos hasta el cansancio con nuestras propias manos; nos maldicen, y bendecimos; nos persiguen, y soportamos la persecución;

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.

nos difaman, y no nos ofendemos. Hemos llegado a ser como la escoria del mundo, como el desecho de todos.

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

No escribo esto para avergonzarlos, sino para amonestarlos como a mis hijos amados.

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).

Porque aunque ustedes tengan diez mil instructores en Cristo, no tienen muchos padres, pues en Cristo Jesús yo los engendré por medio del evangelio.

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

Por tanto, les ruego que me imiten.

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.

Por eso les he enviado a Timoteo, que es mi hijo amado y fiel en el Señor, el cual les recordará mi modo de ser en Cristo, tal y como enseño en todas partes y en todas las iglesias.

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

Pero algunos se creen muy importantes, y creen que yo nunca iré a visitarlos.

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).

Pero, si el Señor así lo quiere, pronto iré a verlos, y entonces sabré cuánto pueden hacer esos engreídos, y no cuánto pueden hablar.

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

Porque el reino de Dios no es cuestión de palabras, sino de poder.

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?

¿Qué prefieren ustedes? ¿Que los visite con una vara, o con amor y con un espíritu apacible?