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

TÉNGANNOS los hombres por ministros de Cristo, y dispensadores de los misterios de Dios.

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

Mas ahora se requiere en los dispensadores, que cada uno sea hallado fiel.

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.

Yo en muy poco tengo el ser juzgado de vosotros, ó de juicio humano; y ni aun yo me juzgo.

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.

Porque aunque de nada tengo mala conciencia, no por eso soy justificado; mas el que me juzga, el Señor es.

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.

Así que, no juzguéis nada antes de tiempo, hasta que venga el Señor, el cual también aclarará lo oculto de las tinieblas, y manifestará los intentos de los corazones: y entonces cada uno tendrá de Dios la alabanza.

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.

Esto empero, hermanos, he pasado por ejemplo en mí y en Apolos por amor de vosotros; para que en nosotros aprendáis á no saber más de lo que está escrito, hinchándoos por causa de otro el uno contra el otro.

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?

Porque ¿quién te distingue? ¿ó qué tienes que no hayas recibido? Y si lo recibiste, ¿de qué te glorías como si no hubieras recibido?

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.

Ya estáis hartos, ya estáis ricos, sin nosotros reináis; y ojalá reinéis, para que nosotros reinemos también juntamente con vosotros.

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.

Porque á lo que pienso, Dios nos ha mostrado á nosotros los apóstoles por los postreros, como á sentenciados á muerte: porque somos hechos espectáculo al mundo, y á los ángeles, y á los hombres.

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.

Nosotros necios por amor de Cristo, y vosotros prudentes en Cristo; nosotros flacos, y vosotros fuertes; vosotros nobles, y nosotros viles.

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

Hasta esta hora hambreamos, y tenemos sed, y estamos desnudos, y somos heridos de golpes, y andamos vagabundos;

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.

Y trabajamos, obrando con nuestras manos: nos maldicen, y bendecimos: padecemos persecución, y sufrimos:

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

Somos blasfemados, y rogamos: hemos venido á ser como la hez del mundo, el desecho de todos hasta ahora.

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.

No escribo esto para avergonzaros: mas amonéstoos como á mis hijos amados.

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.

Porque aunque tengáis diez mil ayos en Cristo, no tendréis muchos padres; que en Cristo Jesús yo os engendré por el evangelio.

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

Por tanto, os ruego que me imitéis.

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.

Por lo cual os he enviado á Timoteo, que es mi hijo amado y fiel en el Señor, el cual os amonestará de mis caminos cuáles sean en Cristo, de la manera que enseño en todas partes en todas las iglesias.

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

Mas algunos están envanecidos, como si nunca hubiese yo de ir á vosotros.

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.

Empero iré presto á vosotros, si el Señor quisiere; y entenderé, no las palabras de los que andan hinchados, sino la virtud.

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

Porque el reino de Dios no consiste en palabras, sino en virtud.

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?

¿Qué queréis? ¿iré á vosotros con vara, ó con caridad y espíritu de mansedumbre?