Servants of Christ

1So let a man regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries. 2In this case, moreover, it is required in the stewards, that one shall be found faithful.

3But to me, it is the smallest matter that I be examined by you or by a human court. In fact, neither do I examine myself. 4For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I have not been justified by this; but the One judging me is the Lord.

5Therefore do not judge anything before the time, until the Lord shall have come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the motives of the hearts; and then the praise will come to each from God.

Fools for Christ

6Now I have applied these things, brothers, to myself and Apollos, on account of you, so that in us you may learn, “not beyond what has been written,” so that not one of you should be puffed up for one over the other. 7For who makes you any different? And what do you have that you did not receive? And if also you did receive it, why do you boast as not having received it?

8Already you are satiated; already you have been enriched; apart from us you reigned; and I wish that really you did reign, so that we also might reign with you. 9For I think God has exhibited us, the apostles, last, as appointed to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.

10We are fools on account of Christ, but you are wise in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; You are honored, but we are without honor. 11As far as the present hour, we both hunger and thirst, and are poorly clad, and are buffeted, and wander homeless, 12and we toil, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; 13being slandered, we entreat. We have become as the residue of the world, the refuse of all, until now.

Paul's Warns his Children

14I do not write these things shaming you, but admonishing you as my beloved children. 15For if you should have ten thousand guardians in Christ, yet not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16Therefore I exhort you, become imitators of me.

17On account of this I sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who will remind of you my ways that are in Christ Jesus,a as I teach everywhere in every church.

18Now some have become puffed up, as if I were not coming to you. 19But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of those being puffed up, but their power. 20For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. 21What do you desire? Should I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?