1Let a man so reckon us as officers of Christ, and stewards of the secrets of God, 2and as to the rest, it is required in the stewards that one may be found faithful, 3and to me it is for a very little thing that by you I may be judged, or by man’s Day, but I do not even judge myself, 4for I have been conscious of nothing for myself, but I have not been declared right in this—and He who is discerning me is the LORD: 5so, then, judge nothing before the time, until the LORD may come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of the darkness, and will reveal the counsels of the hearts, and then the praise will come to each from God.

6And these things, brothers, I transferred to myself and to Apollos because of you, that in us you may learn not to think above that which has been written, that you may not be puffed up one for one against the other, 7for who makes you to differ? And what do you have, that you did not receive? And if you also received, why do you glory as not having received?

8Already you are having been filled, already you were rich, apart from us you reigned, and I also wish you reigned, that we also may reign together with you, 9for I think that God set forth us the apostles last—as appointed to death, because we became a spectacle to the world, and messengers, and men; 10we [are] fools because of Christ, and you wise in Christ; we [are] ailing, and you strong; you glorious, and we dishonored; 11to the present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are battered, and wander, 12and labor, working with [our] own hands; being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; 13being spoken evil of, we plead; we became as filth of the world—of all things an outcast—until now.

14Not [as] putting you to shame do I write these things, but I admonish as my beloved children, 15for if a myriad of child-conductors you may have in Christ, yet not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus, through the good news, I begot you; 16I call on you, therefore, become followers of me; 17because of this I sent to you Timotheus, who is my child, beloved and faithful in the LORD, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, according as everywhere in every assembly I teach. 18And some were puffed up as if I were not coming to you; 19but I will come quickly to you, if the LORD may will, and I will not know the word of those puffed up, but the power; 20for not in word is the Kingdom of God, but in power. 21What do you wish? Will I come to you with a rod, or in love, also with a spirit of meekness?