Servants of Christ 1 ULT In this manner let a man regard us: as servants of Christ and stewards 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 ULT In this case, it is required in the stewards that one may be found faithful. BSB BSB: Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.
3 ULT But to me it is a very small thing that I would be examined by you or by a human court. For I do not examine 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 ULT For I am aware of nothing against myself, but I am not justified by this; but the one judging me is the Lord. BSB BSB: My conscience is clear, but that does not vindicate me. It is the Lord who judges me.
5 ULT Therefore, do not judge anything before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the purposes of the hearts. And then the praise from God will come to each one. 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 ULT Now, these things, brothers, I applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that through us you might learn this:“Not beyond what is written,” so that no one would be puffed up in favor of the one against the other. 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 ULT For who makes you superior? And what do you have that you did not receive? And if indeed you received{ it}, why do you boast as if you did not receive{ 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 ULT Already you are satisfied! Already you have become rich! You began to reign apart from us, and I wish you really did reign, so 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 ULT For I think God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as sentenced to death. For we have become a spectacle to the world— both 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 ULT We{ are} fools for Christ’ s sake, but you{ are} wise in Christ. We{ are} weak, but you{ are} strong. You{ are} honored, but we{ are} dishonored. 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 ULT Up to the present hour we are both hungry and thirsty and are poorly clothed and are brutally beaten and are homeless BSB BSB: To this very hour we are hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clothed, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.
12 ULT and are working hard, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; BSB BSB: We work hard with our own hands. When we are vilified, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;
13 ULT being slandered, we comfort. We have become as the scum of the world, the refuse of all things, 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 ULT I do not write these things as shaming you, but as my beloved children, I correct{ you}. BSB BSB: I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children.
15 ULT For if you would have myriads of guardians in Christ, yet{ you would} not{ have} many fathers; for I fathered you in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 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 ULT Therefore, I urge you, become imitators of me. BSB BSB: Therefore I urge you to imitate me.
17 ULT Because of this I sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways{ that 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 ULT Now some have been puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. BSB BSB: Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you.
19 ULT But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not merely the word of the ones having been puffed up, but their 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 ULT For the kingdom of God{ is} not in word but in power. BSB BSB: For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.
21 ULT What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod or with love and a spirit of gentleness? 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.