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 reckon us as officers of Christ, and stewards of the secrets of God,

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

and as to the rest, it is required in the stewards that one may 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.

and to me it is for a very little thing that by you I may be judged, or by man's day, but not even myself do I judge,

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 of nothing to myself have I been conscious, but not in this have I been declared right -- and he who is discerning 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.

so, then, nothing before the time judge ye, till the Lord may come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of the darkness, and will manifest the counsels of the hearts, and then the praise shall come to each from 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 did transfer to myself and to Apollos because of you, that in us ye may learn not to think above that which hath been written, that ye may not be puffed up one for one against the other,

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 doth make thee to differ? and what hast thou, that thou didst not receive? and if thou didst also receive, why dost thou glory as not having received?

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.

Already ye are having been filled, already ye were rich, apart from us ye did reign, and I would also ye did reign, that we also with you may reign together,

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 did set forth us the apostles last -- as appointed to death, because a spectacle we became to the world, and messengers, and 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 fools because of Christ, and ye wise in Christ; we ailing, and ye strong; ye glorious, and we dishonoured;

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

unto the present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and wander about,

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 own hands; being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer;

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 spoken evil of, we entreat; as filth of the world we did become -- of all things an offscouring -- till now.

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.

Not putting you to shame do I write these things, but as my beloved children I do admonish,

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 if a myriad of child-conductors ye may have in Christ, yet not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus, through the good news, I -- I did beget you;

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

I call upon you, therefore, become 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.

because of this I sent to you Timotheus, who is my child, beloved and faithful in the Lord, who shall remind you of my ways in Christ, according as everywhere in every assembly I teach.

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

And as if I were not coming unto you certain were puffed up;

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 quickly unto you, if the Lord may will, and I will know not the word of those 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 not in word is the reign of God, 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 do ye wish? with a rod shall I come unto you, or in love, with a spirit also of meekness?