⁷ For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive?^(A) And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

⁸ Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich!^(B) You have begun to reign—and that without us! How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we also might reign with you! ⁹ For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die^(C) in the arena. We have been made a spectacle^(D) to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings. ¹⁰ We are fools for Christ,^(E) but you are so wise in Christ!^(F) We are weak, but you are strong!^(G) You are honored, we are dishonored! ¹¹ To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.^{(H) 12} We work hard with our own hands.^(I) When we are cursed, we bless;^(J) when we are persecuted,^(K) we endure it; ¹³ when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage^(L) of the world—right up to this moment.

Paul’s Appeal and Warning

¹⁴ I am writing this not to shame you^(M) but to warn you as my dear children.^{(N) 15} Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father^(O) through the gospel.^{(P) 16} Therefore I urge you to imitate me.^(Q)