^{1 Ref} Let us be judged as servants of Christ, and as those who are responsible for the secret things of God.

^{2 Ref} And it is right for such servants to be safe persons.

^{3 Ref} But it is a small thing to me that I am judged by you or by man's judging; I am not even a judge of myself.

^{4 Ref} For I am not conscious of any wrong in myself; but this does not make me clear, for it is the Lord who is my judge.

^{5 Ref} For this reason let there be no judging before the time, till the Lord comes, who will make clear the secret things of the dark, and the designs of the heart; and then will every man have his praise from God.

^{6 Ref} My brothers, it is because of you that I have taken Apollos and myself as examples of these things, so that in us you might see that it is not wise to go farther than what is in the holy Writings, so that no one of you may be lifted up against his brother.

^{7 Ref} For who made you better than your brother? or what have you that has not been given to you? but if it has been given to you, what cause have you for pride, as if it had not been given to you?

^{8 Ref} For even now you are full, even now you have wealth, you have been made kings without us: truly, I would be glad if you were kings, so that we might be kings with you.

^{9 Ref} For it seems to me that God has put us the Apostles last of all, as men whose fate is death: for we are put on view to the world, and to angels, and to men.

^{10 Ref} We are made to seem foolish for Christ, but you are wise in Christ; we are feeble, but you are strong; you have glory, but we have shame.

^{11 Ref} Even to this hour we are without food, drink, and clothing, we are given blows and have no certain resting-place;

^{12 Ref} And with our hands we do the hardest work: when they give us curses we give blessings, when we undergo punishment we take it quietly;

^{13 Ref} When evil things are said about us we give gentle answers: we are made as the unclean things of the world, as that for which no one has any use, even till now.

^{14 Ref} I am not saying these things to put you to shame, but so that, as my dear children, you may see what is right.

^{15 Ref} For even if you had ten thousand teachers in Christ, you have not more than one father: for in Christ Jesus I have given birth to you through the good news.

^{16 Ref} So my desire is that you take me as your example.

^{17 Ref} For this cause I have sent Timothy to you, who is my dear and true child in the Lord; he will make clear to you my ways in Christ, even as I am teaching everywhere in every church.

^{18 Ref} Now some are full of pride, as if I was not coming to you.

^{19 Ref} But I will come to you in a short time, if it is pleasing to the Lord, and I will take note, not of the word of those who are full of pride, but of the power.

^{20 Ref} For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.

^{21 Ref} What is your desire? is my coming to be with punishment, or is it to be in love and a gentle spirit?

^{1 Ref} Let a man so reckon us as officers of Christ, and stewards of the secrets of God,

^{2 Ref} and as to the rest, it is required in the stewards that one may be found faithful,

^{3 Ref} and to me it is for a very little thing that by you I may be judged, or by man's day, but not even myself do I judge,

^{4 Ref} for of nothing to myself have I been conscious, but not in this have I been declared right -- and he who is discerning me is the Lord:

^{5 Ref} so, then, nothing before the time judge ye, till the Lord may come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of the darkness, and will manifest the counsels of the hearts, and then the praise shall come to each from God.

^{6 Ref} And these things, brethren, I did transfer to myself and to Apollos because of you, that in us ye may learn not to think above that which hath been written, that ye may not be puffed up one for one against the other,

^{7 Ref} for who doth make thee to differ? and what hast thou, that thou didst not receive? and if thou didst also receive, why dost thou glory as not having received?

^{8 Ref} Already ye are having been filled, already ye were rich, apart from us ye did reign, and I would also ye did reign, that we also with you may reign together,

^{9 Ref} for I think that God did set forth us the apostles last -- as appointed to death, because a spectacle we became to the world, and messengers, and men;

^{10 Ref} we `are' fools because of Christ, and ye wise in Christ; we `are' ailing, and ye strong; ye glorious, and we dishonoured;

^{11 Ref} unto the present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and wander about,

^{12 Ref} and labour, working with `our' own hands; being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer;

^{13 Ref} being spoken evil of, we entreat; as filth of the world we did become -- of all things an offscouring -- till now.

^{14 Ref} Not `as' putting you to shame do I write these things, but as my beloved children I do admonish,

^{15 Ref} for if a myriad of child-conductors ye may have in Christ, yet not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus, through the good news, I -- I did beget you;

^{16 Ref} I call upon you, therefore, become ye followers of me;

^{17 Ref} because of this I sent to you Timotheus, who is my child, beloved and faithful in the Lord, who shall remind you of my ways in Christ, according as everywhere in every assembly I teach.

^{18 Ref} And as if I were not coming unto you certain were puffed up;

^{19 Ref} but I will come quickly unto you, if the Lord may will, and I will know not the word of those puffed up, but the power;

^{20 Ref} for not in word is the reign of God, but in power?

^{21 Ref} what do ye wish? with a rod shall I come unto you, or in love, with a spirit also of meekness?

^{1 Ref} Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

^{2 Ref} Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

^{3 Ref} But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.

^{4 Ref} For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

^{5 Ref} Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

^{6 Ref} And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.

^{7 Ref} For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

^{8 Ref} Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.

^{9 Ref} For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.

^{10 Ref} We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.

^{11 Ref} Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;

^{12 Ref} And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:

^{13 Ref} Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.

^{14 Ref} I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.

^{15 Ref} For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

^{16 Ref} Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

^{17 Ref} For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.

^{18 Ref} Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.

^{19 Ref} But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.

^{20 Ref} For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

^{21 Ref} What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?