1 L et a man so account of us as servants of Christ, and stewards of 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 H ere, further, it is sought in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

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

3 B ut for me it is the very smallest matter that I be examined of you or of man's day. Nor do I even examine myself.

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 am conscious of nothing in myself; but I am not justified by this: but he that examines 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 S o that do not judge anything before time, until the Lord shall come, who shall also both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and shall make manifest the counsels of hearts; and then shall each have praise from 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 N ow these things, brethren, I have transferred, in their application, to myself and Apollos, for your sakes, that ye may learn in us the not above what is written, that ye may not be puffed up one 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 makes thee to differ? and what hast thou which thou hast not received? but if also thou hast received, why boastest thou as not receiving?

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 A lready ye are filled; already ye have been enriched; ye have reigned without us; and I would that ye reigned, 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 has set us the apostles for the last, as appointed to death. For we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and 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 fools for Christ's sake, but ye prudent in Christ: we weak, but ye strong: ye glorious, but we in dishonour.

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 T o the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and are in nakedness, and buffeted, and wander without a home,

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. Railed at, we bless; persecuted, we suffer;

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 i nsulted, we entreat: we are become as offscouring of the world, refuse of all, until now.

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 N ot chiding do I write these things to you, but as my beloved children I admonish.

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

15 F or if ye should have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the glad tidings.

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 I entreat you therefore, be my imitators.

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

17 F or this reason I have sent to you Timotheus, who is my beloved and faithful child in Lord, who shall put you in mind of my ways they in Christ, according as I teach everywhere in every assembly.

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 B ut some have been puffed up, as if I were not coming 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 quickly to you, if the Lord will; and I will know, not the word of those that 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 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? that I come to you with a rod; or in love, and a 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?