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Servants of Christ

¹ Let a man consider us in this manner, as ^(C1)servants of Christ and ^(C2)stewards of ^(C3)the mysteries of God.² In this case, moreover, it is required ^(F1)of stewards that one be found faithful.³ But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human ^(F1)court. In fact, I do not even examine myself.⁴ For I ^(C1)am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this ^(C2)acquitted. But the one who examines me is the Lord.⁵ Therefore ^(C1)do not go on ^(F1)passing judgment before ^(F2)the time, but wait ^(C2)until the Lord comes who will both ^(C3)bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and make manifest the motives of hearts. And then each one's ^(C4)praise will come to him from God.

⁶ Now these things, brothers, I have applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us you may learn not to go beyond ^(C1)what is written, so that no one of you will ^(C2)become puffed up ^(C3)on behalf of one against the other.⁷ For who regards you as superior? ^(C1)What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

⁸ You are ^(C1)already filled, you have already become rich, you have ruled without us—and how I wish that you had ruled indeed so that we also might rule with you.⁹ For, I think that God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men ^(C1)condemned to death, because we ^(C2)have become a spectacle to the world, and to angels, and to men.¹⁰ We are ^(C1)fools for the sake of Christ, but ^(C2)you are prudent in Christ! ^(C3)We are weak, but you are strong! You are glorious, but we are without honor!¹¹ To this present hour we ^(C1)hunger and thirst, and are poorly clothed, and roughly treated, and homeless;¹² and we labor, ^(C1)working with our own hands; when we are ^(C2)reviled, we bless; when we are ^(C3)persecuted, we endure;¹³ when we are slandered, we try to plead; we have ^(C1)become as the scum of the world, the grime of all things, even until now.

¹⁴ I do not write these things to ^(C1)shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved ^(C2)children.¹⁵ For if you were to have countless ^(C1)tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in ^(C2)Christ Jesus I ^(C3)became your father through the ^(C4)gospel.¹⁶ Therefore I exhort you, be ^(C1)imitators of me.¹⁷ For this reason I ^(C1)have sent to you ^(C2)Timothy, who is my ^(C3)beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and who will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, ^(C4)just as I teach everywhere in every church.¹⁸ Now some have become ^(C1)puffed up, as though I were not ^(C2)coming to you.¹⁹ But I ^(C1)will come to you soon, ^(C2)if the Lord wills, and I shall know, not the ^(F1)words of those who are ^(C3)puffed up but their power.²⁰ For the kingdom of God does ^(C1)not consist in ^(F1)words but in power.²¹ What do you desire? ^(C1)Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?