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

Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

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

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

3 I t 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.

But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.

4 A s 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.

For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

5 D o 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.

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

6 C hristian 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.

And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.

7 W ho 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?

For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

8 Y ou 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.

Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.

9 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.

For I think that God hath 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.

10 W e 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.

We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.

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

Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;

12 W e 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.

and labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:

13 W hen 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

being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.

14 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.

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

15 Y ou 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.

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

16 S o I ask you with all my heart to follow the way I live.

Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

17 F or 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.

For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.

18 S ome of you are full of pride. You think that I am not coming to visit you.

Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.

19 I f 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.

But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.

20 T he holy nation of God is not made up of words. It is made up of power.

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

21 W hat 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?

What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?