1 Let a man regard us in this manner, as ALuke 1:2servants of Christ and B1 Cor 9:17; Titus 1:7; 1 Pet 4:10stewards of CRom 11:25; 16:25the mysteries of God. 2 In this case, moreover, it is required 1Lit inof stewards that one be found trustworthy. 3 But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human 1Lit daycourt; in fact, I do not even examine myself. 4 For I AActs 23:1; 2 Cor 1:12am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this BPs 143:2; Rom 2:13acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord. 5 Therefore AMatt 7:1; Rom 2:1do not go on 1Lit judging anythingpassing judgment before 2I.e. the appointed time of judgmentthe time, but wait BJohn 21:22; Rom 2:16until the Lord comes who will both C1 Cor 3:13bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s DRom 2:29; 1 Cor 3:8; 2 Cor 10:18praise will come to him from God.

6 Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us you may learn not to exceed A1 Cor 1:19, 31; 3:19fwhat is written, so that no one of you will B1 Cor 4:18f; 8:1; 13:4become 1Lit puffed uparrogant C1 Cor 1:12; 3:4in behalf of one against the other. 7 For who regards you as superior? AJohn 3:27; Rom 12:3, 6; 1 Pet 4:10What 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 ARev 3:17falready 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 apostles last of all, as men ARom 8:36; 1 Cor 15:31; 2 Cor 11:23condemned to death; because we BHeb 10:33have become a spectacle to the world, 1Or and to angels and to menboth to angels and to men. 10 We are AActs 17:18; 26:24; 1 Cor 1:18fools for Christ’s sake, but B1 Cor 1:19f; 3:18; 2 Cor 11:19you are prudent in Christ; C1 Cor 2:3; 2 Cor 13:9we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor. 11 To this present hour we are both ARom 8:35; 2 Cor 11:23-27hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless; 12 and we toil, AActs 18:3working with our own hands; when we are B1 Pet 3:9reviled, we bless; when we are CJohn 15:20; Rom 8:35persecuted, we endure; 13 when we are slandered, we try to 1Or consoleconciliate; we have ALam 3:45become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.

14 I do not write these things to A1 Cor 6:5; 15:34shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved B2 Cor 6:13; 12:14; 1 Thess 2:11; 1 John 2:1; 3 John 4children. 15 For if you were to have countless AGal 3:24ftutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in B1 Cor 1:30Christ Jesus I CNum 11:12; 1 Cor 3:8; Gal 4:19; Philem 10became your father through the D1 Cor 9:12, 14, 18, 23; 15:1gospel. 16 Therefore I exhort you, be A1 Cor 11:1; Phil 3:17; 4:9; 1 Thess 1:6; 2 Thess 3:9imitators of me. 17 For this reason I A1 Cor 16:10have sent to you BActs 16:1Timothy, who is my C1 Cor 4:14; 1 Tim 1:2, 18; 2 Tim 1:2beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, D1 Cor 7:17; 14:33; 16:1; Titus 1:5just as I teach everywhere in every church. 18 Now some have become 1Lit puffed upA1 Cor 4:6arrogant, as though I were not B1 Cor 4:21coming to you. 19 But I AActs 19:21; 20:2; 1 Cor 11:34; 16:5f; 16:7-9; 2 Cor 1:15fwill come to you soon, BActs 18:21if the Lord wills, and I shall find out, not the 1Lit wordwords of those who are C1 Cor 4:6arrogant but their power. 20 For the kingdom of God does A1 Cor 2:4not consist in 1Lit wordwords but in power. 21 What do you desire? A2 Cor 1:23; 2:1, 3; 12:20; 13:2, 10Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?