Servants of Christ

1Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2Here, moreover, it is required in stewards, that one be found faithful. 3But, with me, it is a very small thing, that I should be judged by you, or by man's day; yea, I do not even judge myself. 4For I am conscious to myself of nothing; yet have I not thereby been justified; but He Who judges me is the Lord. 5Wherefore, judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, Who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then will each one have his praise from God.

6Now these things, brethren, I have, in a figure, transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes; that in us ye may learn not to go beyond the things which have been written; that no one be puffed up for the one against the other. 7For who makes you to differ? And what do you have, that you did not receive? But, if you did receive it, why are you boasting, as if you did not receive it?

8Have ye already become satisfied? Did ye already become rich? Did ye reign without us? I wish, at least, that ye did reign, that we also might reign with you. 9For, I think, God did set forth us the apostles last, as doomed to death; because we became a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. 10We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are highly esteemed; but we are without honor. 11Even until this present hour, we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place; 12and we toil, laboring with our own hands; being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; 13being defamed, we entreat; we were made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things, until now.

Paul’s Fatherly Warning

14Not as shaming you, do I write these things, but as my beloved children, admonishing you. 15For, though ye have ten thousand tutors in Christ, yet ye have not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I begat you through the Gospel. 16I beseech you, therefore, become imitators of me. 17For this cause, I sent to you Timothy, who is my child, beloved and faithful in the Lord, who will bring to your remembrance my ways which are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in every assembly. 18Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you; 19but I will come to you shortly if the Lord will; and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power; 20for the Kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. 21What do ye wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?