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

Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

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

In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy.

3 Y o en muy poco tengo el ser enjuiciado por vosotros, o por tribunal humano; y ni aun yo me juzgo a mí mismo.

But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself.

4 P orque aunque de nada tengo mala conciencia, no por eso quedo absuelto; pues el que me enjuicia es el Señor.

For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord.

5 A sí que, no juzguéis nada antes de tiempo, hasta que venga el Señor, el cual sacará a la luz también lo oculto de las tinieblas, y manifestará las intenciones de los corazones; y entonces cada uno recibirá su alabanza de parte de Dios.

Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.

6 P ero esto, hermanos, lo he presentado como ejemplo en mí y en Apolos por amor de vosotros, a fin de que de nosotros aprendáis lo de no propasarse de lo que está escrito, para que ni uno solo de vosotros se apasione el uno en contra del otro.

Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us you may learn not to exceed what is written, so that no one of you will become arrogant in behalf of one against the other.

7 P orque ¿quién te distingue?, ¿o qué tienes que no hayas recibido? Y si lo recibiste, ¿por qué te glorías como si no lo hubieras recibido?

For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

8 Y a estáis saciados, ya estáis ricos, sin nosotros reináis. ¡Y ojalá reinaseis, para que nosotros reinásemos también juntamente con vosotros!

You are already filled, you have already become rich, you have become kings without us; and indeed, I wish that you had become kings so that we also might reign with you.

9 P orque según pienso, Dios nos ha asignado a nosotros los apóstoles los últimos lugares, como a sentenciados a muerte; pues hemos llegado a ser espectáculo al mundo, a los ángeles y a los hombres.

For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.

10 N osotros somos insensatos por amor de Cristo, mas vosotros prudentes en Cristo; nosotros débiles, mas vosotros fuertes; vosotros honorables, mas nosotros despreciados.

We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are prudent in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor.

11 H asta el momento presente padecemos hambre, tenemos sed, andamos mal vestidos, somos abofeteados, y no tenemos morada fija.

To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless;

12 N os fatigamos trabajando con nuestras propias manos; nos maldicen, y bendecimos; padecemos persecución, y la soportamos.

and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure;

13 N os difaman, y exhortamos; hemos venido a ser hasta ahora como la escoria del mundo, el desecho de todos.

when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.

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

I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.

15 P orque aunque tengáis diez mil ayos en Cristo, no tenéis muchos padres; pues en Cristo Jesús yo os engendré por medio del evangelio.

For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.

16 P or tanto, os exhorto a que me imitéis.

Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me.

17 P or esto mismo os he enviado a Timoteo, que es mi hijo amado y fiel en el Señor, el cual os recordará mi proceder en Cristo, de la manera que enseño en todas partes y en todas las iglesias.

For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, just as I teach everywhere in every church.

18 M as algunos están envanecidos, como si yo nunca hubiese de ir a vosotros.

Now some have become arrogant, as though I were not coming to you.

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

But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I shall find out, not the words of those who are arrogant but their power.

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

For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power.

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

What do you desire? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?