1 Stewards of the Mysteries of God Let a man so consider us, as Matt. 24:45; Rom. 13:6;2 Cor. 3:6; Col. 1:25 servants of Christ Luke 12:42;1 Cor. 9:17; Titus 1:7;1 Pet. 4:10 and stewards of the mysteries of God.
2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.
4 For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord.
5 Matt. 7:1; Rom. 2:1; (Rev. 20:12) Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to Matt. 10:26 light the hidden things of darkness and 1 Cor. 3:13 reveal the counsels of the hearts. Rom. 2:29;1 Cor. 3:8; (2 Cor. 5:10) Then each one’s praise will come from God.
6 Fools for Christ’s Sake Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other.
7 For who makes you differ from another? And John 3:27; Rom. 12:3, 6;1 Pet. 4:10 what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?
8 You are already full! Rev. 3:17 You are already rich! You have reigned as kings without us—and indeed I could wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you!
9 For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a Heb. 10:33 spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.
10 We are Acts 17:18; 26:24;1 Cor. 1:18 fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! 1 Cor. 2:3;2 Cor. 13:9 We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored!
11 To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless.
12 Acts 18:3; 20:34 And we labor, working with our own hands. Matt. 5:44 Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;
13 being defamed, we entreat. Lam. 3:45 We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.
14 Paul’s Paternal Care I do not write these things to shame you, but 2 Cor. 6:13; 12:14;1 Thess. 2:11;1 John 2:1; 3 John 4 as my beloved children I warn you.
15 For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for Num. 11:12; Acts 18:11;1 Cor. 3:8; Gal. 4:19; Philem. 10 in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
17 For this reason I have sent Acts 19:22; Phil. 2:19 Timothy to you, 1 Cor. 4:14;1 Tim. 1:2, 18;2 Tim. 1:2 who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will 1 Cor. 11:2 remind you of my ways in Christ, as I 1 Cor. 7:17; Titus 1:5 teach everywhere 1 Cor. 14:33 in every church.
18 1 Cor. 5:2 Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you.
19 Acts 19:21; 20:2;1 Cor. 11:34; 16:5, 7–9;2 Cor. 1:15 But I will come to you shortly, Acts 18:21; Heb. 6:3; James 4:15 if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power.
20 For 1 Thess. 1:5 the kingdom of God is not in word but in 1 Cor. 2:4 power.
21 What do you want? 2 Cor. 10:2 Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?