Servants of Christ 1 CPDV Accordingly, let man consider us to be ministers of Christ and attendants of the mysteries of God. BSB BSB: So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
2 CPDV Here and now, it is required of attendants that each one be found to be faithful. BSB BSB: Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.
3 CPDV But as for me, it is such a small thing to be judged by you, or by the age of mankind. And neither do I judge myself. BSB BSB: I care very little, however, if I am judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.
4 CPDV For I have nothing on my conscience. But I am not justified by this. For the Lord is the One who judges me. BSB BSB: My conscience is clear, but that does not vindicate me. It is the Lord who judges me.
5 CPDV And so, do not choose to judge before the time, until the Lord returns. He will illuminate the hidden things of the darkness, and he will make manifest the decisions of hearts. And then each one shall have praise from God. BSB BSB: Therefore 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.
6 CPDV And so, brothers, I have presented these things in myself and in Apollo, for your sakes, so that you may learn, through us, that no one should be inflated against one person and for another, not beyond what has been written. BSB BSB: Brothers, 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.
7 CPDV For what distinguishes you from another? And what do you have that you have not received? But if you have received it, why do you glory, as if you had not received it? BSB BSB: For 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?
8 CPDV So, now you have been filled, and now you have been made wealthy, as if to reign without us? But I wish that you would reign, so that we, too, might reign with you! BSB BSB: Already 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!
9 CPDV For I think that God has presented us as the last Apostles, as those destined for death. For we have been made into a spectacle for the world, and for Angels, and for men. BSB BSB: For 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.
10 CPDV So we are fools because of Christ, but you are discerning in Christ? We are weak, but you are strong? You are noble, but we are ignoble? BSB BSB: We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are dishonored.
11 CPDV Even to this very hour, we hunger and thirst, and we are naked and repeatedly beaten, and we are unsteady. BSB BSB: To this very hour we are hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clothed, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.
12 CPDV And we labor, working with our own hands. We are slandered, and so we bless. We suffer and endure persecution. BSB BSB: We work hard with our own hands. When we are vilified, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;
13 CPDV We are cursed, and so we pray. We have become like the refuse of this world, like the reside of everything, even until now. BSB BSB: when we are slandered, we answer gently. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.
Paul’s Fatherly Warning 14 CPDV I am not writing these things in order to confound you, but in order to admonish you, as my dearest sons. BSB BSB: I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children.
15 CPDV For you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, but not so many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, through the Gospel, I have begotten you. BSB BSB: Even 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.
16 CPDV Therefore, I beg you, be imitators of me, just as I am of Christ. BSB BSB: Therefore I urge you to imitate me.
17 CPDV For this reason, I have sent you Timothy, who is my dearest son, and who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my ways, which are in Christ Jesus, just as I teach everywhere, in every church. BSB BSB: That 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.
18 CPDV Certain persons have become inflated in thinking that I would not return to you. BSB BSB: Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you.
19 CPDV But I will return to you soon, if the Lord is willing. And I will consider, not the words of those who are inflated, but the virtue. BSB BSB: But 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.
20 CPDV For the kingdom of God is not in words, but in virtue. BSB BSB: For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.
21 CPDV What would you prefer? Should I return to you with a rod, or with charity and a spirit of meekness? BSB BSB: Which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and with a gentle spirit?
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.