Read the Bible

Servants of Christ

¹ So then, let us who minister be regarded as ^(C1)servants of Christ and ^(C2)stewards (trustees, administrators) of ^(C3)the mysteries of God that He chooses to reveal.² In this case, moreover, it is required as essential and demanded of stewards that one be found faithful and trustworthy.³ But as for me personally it matters very little to me that I may be judged by you or any human court on this point; in fact, I do not even judge myself.⁴ I ^(C1)am aware of nothing against myself and I feel blameless, but I am not by this ^(C2)acquitted before God. It is the Lord who judges me.⁵ So ^(C1)do not go on passing judgment before the appointed time, but wait ^(C2)until the Lord comes, for He will both ^(C3)bring to light the secret things that are hidden in darkness and disclose the motives of the hearts. Then each one's ^(C4)praise will come from God.

⁶ Now I have applied these things that is, the analogies about factions to myself and Apollos for your benefit, believers, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond ^(C1)what is written in Scripture, so that none of you will ^(C2)become arrogant and boast ^(C3)in favor of one minister or teacher against the other.⁷ For who regards you as superior or what sets you apart as special? ^(C1)What do you have that you did not receive from another? And if in fact you received it from God or someone else, why do you boast as if you had not received it but had gained it by yourself?

⁸ You behave as if you are ^(C1)already filled with spiritual wisdom and in need of nothing more. Already you have become rich in spiritual gifts! You in your conceit have ascended your thrones and become kings without us; and how I wish that it were true and that you did reign as kings, so that we might reign with you.⁹ For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles at the end of the line, like men ^(C1)sentenced to death and paraded as prisoners in a procession, because we ^(C2)have become a spectacle to the world a show in the world's amphitheater, both to angels and to men.¹⁰ We are regarded as ^(C1)fools for Christ, but ^(C2)you are so wise in Christ; ^(C3)we are weak, but you are strong; you are highly esteemed, but we are dishonored.¹¹ To this present hour we are both ^(C1)hungry and thirsty; we are continually poorly dressed, and we are roughly treated, and wander homeless.¹² We work for our living, ^(C1)working hard with our own hands. When we are ^(C2)reviled and verbally abused, we bless. When we are ^(C3)persecuted, we take it patiently and endure.¹³ When we are slandered, we try to be conciliatory and answer softly. We have ^(C1)become like the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.

¹⁴ I do not write these things to ^(C1)shame you, but to warn and advise you as my beloved ^(C2)children.¹⁵ For even if you were to have ten thousand ^(C1)teachers to guide you in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers who led you to Christ and assumed responsibility for you, for I ^(C2)became your father in ^(C3)Christ Jesus through the ^(C4)good news of salvation.¹⁶ So I urge you, be ^(C1)imitators of me just as a child imitates his father.¹⁷ For this reason I ^(C1)have sent ^(C2)Timothy to you, who is my ^(C3)beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my way of life in Christ my conduct and my precepts for godly living, ^(C4)just as I teach everywhere in every church.¹⁸ Now some of you have become ^(C1)arrogant and pretentious, as though I were not ^(C2)coming to see you.¹⁹ But I ^(C1)will come to you soon, ^(C2)if the Lord is willing, and I will find out not just the talk of these ^(C3)arrogant people, but evaluate their spiritual power whether they live up to their own claims.²⁰ For the kingdom of God is not based on talk ^(C1)but on power.²¹ Which do you prefer? ^(C1)Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline and correction, or with love and a gentle spirit?