Read the Bible

Servants of Christ

¹ This is the way any person is to regard us: 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 trustworthy.³ But to me it is an insignificant matter that I would be examined by you, or by any human ^(F1)court; in fact, I do not even examine myself.⁴ For I ^(C1)am not aware of anything against myself; however I am not ^(C2)vindicated by this, 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 disclose the motives of human hearts; and then ^(C4)praise will come to each person from God.

⁶ Now these things, brothers and sisters, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos on your account, so that in us you may learn not to exceed ^(C1)what is written, so that no one of you will ^(C2)become ^(F1)arrogant ^(C3)in behalf of one against the other.⁷ For who considers 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 become kings without us; and indeed, I wish that you had become kings so that we also might reign with you!⁹ For I think, God has exhibited us, the apostles, last of all as men ^(C1)condemned to death, because we ^(C2)have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to mankind.¹⁰ We are ^(C1)fools on account of Christ, but ^(C2)you are prudent in Christ! ^(C3)We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are without honor!¹¹ Up to this present hour we are both ^(C1)hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed and roughly treated and homeless;¹² and we labor, ^(C1)working with our own hands; when we are ^(C2)verbally abused, we bless; when we are ^(C3)persecuted, we endure it;¹³ when we are slandered, we ^(F1)reply as friends; we have ^(C1)become as 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 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 urge 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 he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, ^(C4)just as I teach everywhere in every church.¹⁸ Now some have become ^(F1)(C1)arrogant, 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 find out, not the ^(F1)words of those who are ^(C3)arrogant, but their power.²⁰ For the kingdom of God is ^(C1)not in ^(F1)words, but in power.²¹ What do you desire? ^(C1)That I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?