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Paul’s Relationship with the Corinthians

So look at Apollos and me as mere servants of Christ who have been put in charge of explaining God’s mysteries.

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The Nature of True Apostleship

This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants(A) of Christ and as those entrusted(B) with the mysteries(C) God has revealed.

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10 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.

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10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others,(A) as faithful(B) stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

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They must be committed to the mystery of the faith now revealed and must live with a clear conscience.

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They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience.(A)

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A church leader[a] is a manager of God’s household, so he must live a blameless life. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker,[b] violent, or dishonest with money.

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Footnotes

  1. 1:7a Or An overseer, or A bishop.
  2. 1:7b Greek must not drink too much wine.

Since an overseer(A) manages God’s household,(B) he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.(C)

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25 God has given me the responsibility of serving his church by proclaiming his entire message to you. 26 This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God’s people. 27 For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.

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25 I have become its servant(A) by the commission God gave me(B) to present to you the word of God(C) in its fullness— 26 the mystery(D) that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. 27 To them God has chosen to make known(E) among the Gentiles the glorious riches(F) of this mystery, which is Christ in you,(G) the hope of glory.

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19 And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 6:19 Greek explain the mystery of the Good News; some manuscripts read simply explain the mystery.

19 Pray also for me,(A) that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly(B) make known the mystery(C) of the gospel,

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You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake.

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For what we preach is not ourselves,(A) but Jesus Christ as Lord,(B) and ourselves as your servants(C) for Jesus’ sake.

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25 Now all glory to God, who is able to make you strong, just as my Good News says. This message about Jesus Christ has revealed his plan for you Gentiles, a plan kept secret from the beginning of time.

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25 Now to him who is able(A) to establish you in accordance with my gospel,(B) the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery(C) hidden for long ages past,

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I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself.

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My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart(A) and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery(B) of God, namely, Christ,

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As I briefly wrote earlier, God himself revealed his mysterious plan to me. As you read what I have written, you will understand my insight into this plan regarding Christ. God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now by his Spirit he has revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets.

And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.[a] By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News.

Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ. I was chosen to explain to everyone[b] this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning.

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Footnotes

  1. 3:6 Or because they are united with Christ Jesus.
  2. 3:9 Some manuscripts do not include to everyone.

that is, the mystery(A) made known to me by revelation,(B) as I have already written briefly. In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight(C) into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.(D) This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs(E) together with Israel, members together of one body,(F) and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.(G)

I became a servant of this gospel(H) by the gift of God’s grace given me(I) through the working of his power.(J) Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people,(K) this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles(L) the boundless riches of Christ,(M) and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery,(N) which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.

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If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message,

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Even if I should choose to boast,(A) I would not be a fool,(B) because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say,

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16 Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News!

17 If I were doing this on my own initiative, I would deserve payment. But I have no choice, for God has given me this sacred trust. 18 What then is my pay? It is the opportunity to preach the Good News without charging anyone. That’s why I never demand my rights when I preach the Good News.

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16 For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach.(A) Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward;(B) if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me.(C) 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge,(D) and so not make full use of my rights(E) as a preacher of the gospel.

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Parable of the Shrewd Manager

16 Jesus told this story to his disciples: “There was a certain rich man who had a manager handling his affairs. One day a report came that the manager was wasting his employer’s money. So the employer called him in and said, ‘What’s this I hear about you? Get your report in order, because you are going to be fired.’

“The manager thought to himself, ‘Now what? My boss has fired me. I don’t have the strength to dig ditches, and I’m too proud to beg.

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The Parable of the Shrewd Manager

16 Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions.(A) So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’

“The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg—

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