Servants of Christ 1 DRA Let a man so account of us as of the ministers of Christ, and the dispensers 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 DRA Here now it is required among the dispensers, that a man be found faithful. BSB BSB: Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.
3 DRA But to me it is a very small thing to be judged by you, or by man’s day; but neither do I judge my own self. 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 DRA For I am not conscious to myself of any thing, yet am I not hereby justified; but he that judgeth me, is the Lord. BSB BSB: My conscience is clear, but that does not vindicate me. It is the Lord who judges me.
5 DRA Therefore judge not 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 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 DRA But these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollo, for your sakes; that in us you may learn, that one be not puffed up against the other for another, above that which is 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 DRA For who distinguisheth thee? Or what hast thou that thou hast not received? And if thou hast received, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst 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 DRA You are now full; you are now become rich; you reign without us; and I would to God you did reign, that we also 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 DRA For I think that God hath set forth us apostles, the last, as it were men appointed to death: we are made a spectacle to the world, and to angels, and to 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 DRA We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are honourable, but we without honour. 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 DRA Even unto this hour we both hunger and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no fixed abode; BSB BSB: To this very hour we are hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clothed, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.
12 DRA And we labour, working with our own hands: we are reviled, and we bless; we are persecuted, and we suffer it. BSB BSB: We work hard with our own hands. When we are vilified, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;
13 DRA We are blasphemed, and we entreat; we are made as the refuse of this world, the offscouring of all 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 DRA I write not these things to confound you; but I admonish you as my dearest children. BSB BSB: I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children.
15 DRA For if you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet not many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, by 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 DRA Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me, as I also am of Christ. BSB BSB: Therefore I urge you to imitate me.
17 DRA For this cause have I sent to you Timothy, who is my dearest son and faithful in the Lord; who will put you in mind of my ways, which are in Christ Jesus; as I teach every where 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 DRA As if I would not come to you, so some are puffed up. BSB BSB: Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you.
19 DRA But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will: and will know, not the speech of them that are puffed up, but the power. 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 DRA For the kingdom of God is not in speech, but in power. BSB BSB: For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.
21 DRA What will you? shall I come to you with a rod; or in charity, and in the 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?