1 S o let a man think of us as Christ’s servants, and stewards of God’s mysteries.

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

2 H ere, moreover, it is required of stewards, that they be found faithful.

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

3 B ut with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you, or by man’s judgment. Yes, I don’t judge my own self.

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 F or I know nothing against myself. Yet I am not justified by this, but he who judges me is the Lord.

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 T herefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each man will get his praise from God.

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 N ow these things, brothers, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that in us you might learn not to think beyond the things which are written, that none of you be puffed up against one another.

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 F or who makes you different? And what do you have that you didn’t receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

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 ou are already filled. You have already become rich. You have come to reign without us. Yes, and I wish that you did reign, that we also might reign with you.

'> 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 F or, I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last of all, like men sentenced to death. For we are made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and men.

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 W e are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You have honor, but we have dishonor.

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 E ven to this present hour we hunger, thirst, are naked, are beaten, and have no certain dwelling place.

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 W e toil, working with our own hands. When people curse us, we bless. Being persecuted, we endure.

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 B eing defamed, we entreat. We are made as the filth of the world, the dirt wiped off by all, even until now.

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 I don’t write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.

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

15 F or though you have ten thousand tutors in Christ, yet not many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, I became your father through the Good News.

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 I beg you therefore, be imitators of me.

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

17 B ecause of this I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in every assembly.

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 N ow some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you.

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

19 B ut I will come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing. And I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power.

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 F or God’s Kingdom is not in word, but in power.

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

21 W hat do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?

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