1 Q ue todo hombre nos considere de esta manera: como servidores de Cristo y administradores de los misterios de Dios.

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

2 A hora bien, además se requiere de los administradores que cada uno sea hallado fiel.

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

3 E n cuanto a mí, es de poca importancia que yo sea juzgado por vosotros, o por cualquier tribunal humano; de hecho, ni aun yo me juzgo a mí mismo.

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 P orque no estoy consciente de nada en contra mía; mas no por eso estoy sin culpa, pues el que me juzga es el Señor.

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 P or tanto, no juzguéis antes de tiempo, sino esperad hasta que el Señor venga, el cual sacará a la luz las cosas ocultas en las tinieblas y también pondrá de manifiesto los designios de los corazones; y entonces cada uno recibirá su alabanza de parte de Dios.

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 E sto, hermanos, lo he aplicado en sentido figurado a mí mismo y a Apolos por amor a vosotros, para que en nosotros aprendáis a no sobrepasar lo que está escrito, para que ninguno de vosotros se vuelva arrogante a favor del uno contra el otro.

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 P orque ¿quién te distingue? ¿Qué tienes que no recibiste? Y si lo recibiste, ¿por qué te jactas como si no lo hubieras recibido ?

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 Y a estáis saciados, ya os habéis hecho ricos, ya habéis llegado a reinar sin necesidad de nosotros; y ojalá hubierais llegado a reinar, para que nosotros reinásemos también con vosotros.

'> 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 P orque pienso que Dios nos ha exhibido a nosotros los apóstoles en último lugar, como a sentenciados a muerte; porque hemos llegado a ser un espectáculo para el mundo, tanto para los ángeles como para los hombres.

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 N osotros somos necios por amor de Cristo, mas vosotros, prudentes en Cristo; nosotros somos débiles, mas vosotros, fuertes; vosotros sois distinguidos, mas nosotros, sin honra.

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 H asta el momento presente pasamos hambre y sed, andamos mal vestidos, somos maltratados y no tenemos dónde vivir;

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 n os agotamos trabajando con nuestras propias manos; cuando nos ultrajan, bendecimos; cuando somos perseguidos, lo soportamos;

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 c uando nos difaman, tratamos de reconciliar; hemos llegado a ser, hasta ahora, la escoria del mundo, el desecho de todo.

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 o escribo esto para avergonzaros, sino para amonestaros como a hijos míos amados.

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

15 P orque aunque tengáis innumerables maestros en Cristo, sin embargo no tenéis muchos padres; pues en Cristo Jesús yo os engendré por medio del evangelio.

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 P or tanto, os exhorto: sed imitadores míos.

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

17 P or esta razón os he enviado a Timoteo, que es mi hijo amado y fiel en el Señor, y él os recordará mis caminos, los caminos en Cristo, tal como enseño en todas partes, en cada iglesia.

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 Y algunos se han vuelto arrogantes, como si yo no hubiera de ir a vosotros.

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

19 P ero iré a vosotros pronto, si el Señor quiere, y conoceré, no las palabras de los arrogantes sino su poder.

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 P orque el reino de Dios no consiste en palabras, sino en poder.

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

21 ¿ Qué queréis? ¿Iré a vosotros con vara, o con amor y espíritu de mansedumbre?

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