1 ¶ Let us reckon men as ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

Think of us as servants who are owned by Christ. It is our job to share the secrets of God.

2 M oreover, it is required in stewards that each one be found faithful.

A servant must be faithful to his owner. This is expected of him.

3 B ut with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by man’s judgment; I do not even judge my own self.

It is not the most important thing to me what you or any other people think of me. Even what I think of myself does not mean much.

4 F or although I have nothing on my conscience, yet am I not hereby justified, but he that judges me is the Lord.

As for me, my heart tells me I am not guilty of anything. But that does not prove I am free from guilt. It is the Lord Who looks into my life and says what is wrong.

5 T herefore, judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then shall each one have praise of God.

Do not be quick to say who is right or wrong. Wait until the Lord comes. He will bring into the light the things that are hidden in men’s hearts. He will show why men have done these things. Every man will receive from God the thanks he should have.

6 A nd these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes, that in us ye might not learn above that which is written, lest because of one, some of you become puffed up against others.

Christian brothers, I have used Apollos and myself to show you what I am talking about. This is to help you so you will not think more of men than what God’s Word will allow. Never think more of one of God’s servants than another.

7 ¶ For who makes thee to judge? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, what dost thou glory of, as if thou hadst not received it?

Who made you better than your brother? Or what do you have that has not been given to you? If God has given you everything, why do you have pride? Why do you act as if He did not give it to you?

8 N ow ye are full, now ye are rich, ye reign as kings without us, and I wish ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.

You are full. You are rich. You live like kings and we do not. I wish you were kings and we could be leaders with you.

9 F or I think that God has 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.

I think that God has made a show of us missionaries. We are the last and the least among men. We are like men waiting to be put to death. The whole world, men and angels alike, are watching us.

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

We are thought of as fools because of Christ. But you are thought of as wise Christians! We are weak. You are strong. People respect you. They have no respect for us.

11 E ven unto this present hour we both hunger and thirst and are ill clad and are buffeted and have no certain dwellingplace

To this hour we are hungry and thirsty, and our clothes are worn out. People hurt us. We have no homes.

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

We work with our hands to make a living. We speak kind words to those who speak against us. When people hurt us, we say nothing.

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

When people say bad things about us, we answer with kind words. People think of us as dirt that is worth nothing and as the worst thing on earth to this day. Follow Paul’s Way of Life

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

I do not write these things to shame you. I am doing this to help you know what you should do. You are my much-loved children.

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

You may have 10, 000 Christian teachers. But remember, I am the only father you have. You became Christians when I preached the Good News to you.

16 T herefore, I beseech you that ye imitate me.

So I ask you with all my heart to follow the way I live.

17 ¶ For this cause I have sent Timothy unto you, who is my beloved son and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which are in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every congregation.

For this reason I have sent Timothy to you. He is my much-loved child and a faithful Christian. He will tell you how I act as a Christian. This is the kind of life I teach in the churches wherever I go.

18 N ow some are puffed up as though I will never come to you.

Some of you are full of pride. You think that I am not coming to visit you.

19 B ut I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and will know not the words of those who are puffed up, but the virtue.

If the Lord wants me to, I will come soon. I will find out when I come if these proud people have God’s power, or if they just use a lot of big words.

20 F or the kingdom of God is not in words, but in virtue.

The holy nation of God is not made up of words. It is made up of power.

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

What do you want? Do you want me to come with a stick to whip you? Or do you want me to come with love and a gentle spirit?