Servants of Christ 1 WBS Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers 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 WBS Moreover, it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful. BSB BSB: Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.
3 WBS But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you, or by man's judgment: yes, I judge not 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 WBS For I know nothing against myself; 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 WBS Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord shall come, who will both 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 WBS And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself, and to Apollos, for your sakes; that ye may learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you on account of one, may be puffed up against another. 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 WBS 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 ? 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 WBS Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I wish ye 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 WBS For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for 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 WBS We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honorable, but we are despised. 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 WBS Even to this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling-place; BSB BSB: To this very hour we are hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clothed, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.
12 WBS And labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, 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 WBS Being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things to this day. 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 WBS I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you . BSB BSB: I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children.
15 WBS For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you 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 WBS Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. BSB BSB: Therefore I urge you to imitate me.
17 WBS For this cause have I sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who will bring you into remembrance of my ways which are in Christ, 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 WBS Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you. BSB BSB: Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you.
19 WBS But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them who 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 WBS 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 WBS What will ye? shall I come to you with a rod, or in love, 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?