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

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

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

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

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.

It 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.

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

As 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.

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.

Do 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.

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.

Christian 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.

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?

Who 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?

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 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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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

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

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

We 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.

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 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

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

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.

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.

You 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.

16 I beg you therefore, be imitators of me.

So I ask you with all my heart to follow the way I live.

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 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.

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

Some of you are full of pride. You think that I am not coming to visit 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.

If 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.

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

The holy nation of God is not made up of words. It is made up of power.

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

What 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?