| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. | 1So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. |
| 2Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. | 2Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. |
| 3But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. | 3I care very little, however, if I am judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. |
| 4For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. | 4My conscience is clear, but that does not vindicate me. It is the Lord who judges me. |
| 5Therefore 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 one’s praise will come from God. | 5Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. |
| 6Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other. | 6Brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written. Then you will not take pride in one man over another. |
| 7For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? | 7For who makes you so superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? |
| 8You are already full! You are already rich! You have reigned as kings without us—and indeed I could wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you! | 8Already you have all you want. Already you have become rich. Without us, you have become kings. How I wish you really were kings, so that we might be kings with you! |
| 9For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. | 9For it seems to me that God has displayed us apostles at the end of the procession, like prisoners appointed for death. We have become a spectacle to the whole world, to angels as well as to men. |
| 10We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! | 10We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are dishonored. |
| 11To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. | 11To this very hour we are hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clothed, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. |
| 12And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; | 12We work hard with our own hands. When we are vilified, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; |
| 13being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now. | 13when we are slandered, we answer gently. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world. |
| 14I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. | 14I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children. |
| 15For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. | 15Even if you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. |
| 16Therefore I urge you, imitate me. | 16Therefore I urge you to imitate me. |
| 17For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church. | 17That is why I have sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which is exactly what I teach everywhere in every church. |
| 18Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. | 18Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. |
| 19But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. | 19But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only what these arrogant people are saying, but what power they have. |
| 20For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. | 20For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. |
| 21What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness? | 21Which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and with a gentle spirit? |
|
