1 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ andn[ch. 9:17]; See 1 Pet. 4:10 stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 oSee Acts 23:1 I am not aware of anything against myself,pJob 9:2, 15; Ps. 130:3; 143:2; [1 John 3:21] but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 ThereforeqMatt. 7:1; Rom. 2:1; [Matt. 13:29] do not pronounce judgment before the time,rSee John 21:22; Rom. 2:16 before the Lord comes,sch. 3:13 who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart.t2 Cor. 10:18; See ch. 3:8 Then each one will receive his commendation from God.
6 I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you mayuver. 18, 19; ch. 5:2; 13:4 be puffed up in favor of one against another. 7 For who sees anything different in you?vJohn 3:27; [1 Chr. 29:14; James 1:17; 1 Pet. 4:10] What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?
8 Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! 9 For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all,wSee Rom. 8:36 like men sentenced to death, because wexHeb. 10:33 (Gk.); [Isa. 20:3] have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. 10 y[Acts 17:18]; See ch. 1:18; Acts 26:24 We are fools for Christ's sake, butz2 Cor. 11:19 you are wise in Christ.ach. 2:3; 2 Cor. 13:9 We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. 11 To the present hourbRom. 8:35; 2 Cor. 11:27; Phil. 4:12 we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed andc2 Cor. 11:20, 23 buffeted andd[Matt. 8:20] homeless, 12 and weeSee Acts 18:3 labor, working with our own hands.fSee 1 Pet. 3:9 When reviled, we bless;gSee John 15:20 when persecuted, we endure; 13 when slandered, we entreat.h[Isa. 30:22; 64:6] We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world,iLam. 3:45 the refuse of all things.
14 I do not write these thingsj[ch. 6:5; 15:34] to make you ashamed, but to admonish youk2 Cor. 6:13; 1 Thess. 2:11; 3 John 4 as my beloved children. 15 Forl[ch. 3:10] though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. FormPhilem. 10; [Gal. 4:19] I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16 I urge you, then,nch. 11:1; Phil. 3:17; 1 Thess. 1:6; [Phil. 4:9; 2 Thess. 3:9] be imitators of me. 17 That is whyoch. 16:10 I sent1Or am sending you Timothy,p1 Tim. 1:2; 2 Tim. 1:2 my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ,qch. 7:17 as I teach them everywhere in every church. 18 Some arerSee ver. 6 arrogant,sver. 21; [2 Cor. 10:2] as though I were not coming to you. 19 Buttch. 11:34; 16:5, 6; Acts 19:21; 20:2; 2 Cor. 1:15, 16 I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power. 20 ForuSee ch. 2:4 the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. 21 What do you wish?v2 Cor. 1:23; 2:1, 3; 12:20; 13:2, 10 Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?