Servants of Christ

4 Let a man consider us in this manner, as ^(A)servants of Christ and ^(B)stewards of ^(C)the mysteries of God. ² In this case, moreover, it is required ^[a]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 ^[b]court. In fact, I do not even examine myself. ⁴ For I ^(D)am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this ^(E)acquitted. But the one who examines me is the Lord. ⁵ Therefore ^(F)do not go on ^[c]passing judgment before ^[d]the time, but wait ^(G)until the Lord comes who will both ^(H)bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and make manifest the motives of hearts. And then each one’s ^(I)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 ^(J)what is written, so that no one of you will ^(K)become puffed up ^(L)on behalf of one against the other. ⁷ For who regards you as superior? ^(M)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 ^(N)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 ^(O)condemned to death, because we ^(P)have become a spectacle to the world, and to angels, and to men. ¹⁰ We are ^(Q)fools for the sake of Christ, but ^(R)you are prudent in Christ! ^(S)We are weak, but you are strong! You are glorious, but we are without honor! ¹¹ To this present hour we ^(T)hunger and thirst, and are poorly clothed, and roughly treated, and homeless; ¹² and we labor, ^(U)working with our own hands; when we are ^(V)reviled, we bless; when we are ^(W)persecuted, we endure; ¹³ when we are slandered, we try to plead; we have ^(X)become as the scum of the world, the grime of all things, even until now.

¹⁴ I do not write these things to ^(Y)shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved ^(Z)children. ¹⁵ For if you were to have countless ^(AA)tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in ^(AB)Christ Jesus I ^(AC)became your father through the ^(AD)gospel. ¹⁶ Therefore I exhort you, be ^(AE)imitators of me. ¹⁷ For this reason I ^(AF)have sent to you ^(AG)Timothy, who is my ^(AH)beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and who will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, ^(AI)just as I teach everywhere in every church. ¹⁸ Now some have become ^(AJ)puffed up, as though I were not ^(AK)coming to you. ¹⁹ But I ^(AL)will come to you soon, ^(AM)if the Lord wills, and I shall know, not the ^[e]words of those who are ^(AN)puffed up but their power. ²⁰ For the kingdom of God does ^(AO)not consist in ^[f]words but in power. ²¹ What do you desire? ^(AP)Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?