Christ's Servant, God's Steward

1 So, a person should look at us as servants of Christ and property managers entrusted with the secret truths of God.

1 Let a man regard us in this manner, as (A)servants of Christ and (B)stewards of (C)the mysteries of God.

1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

1 A person should consider us in this way: as servants(A) of Christ and managers(B) of God’s mysteries.(C)

1 Think of us as servants of the Messiah and as servant managers entrusted with God's secrets.

2 Furthermore, one thing required of [good] property managers is that they prove dependable.

2 In this case, moreover, it is required (a)of stewards that one be found trustworthy.

2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

2 In this regard, it is expected of managers that each one of them be found faithful.(D)

2 Now it is required of servant managers that each one should prove to be trustworthy.

3 But it is a small matter for me to be judged by you or by any human court, for I do not [even] judge myself [to be wrong].

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.

3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.

3 It is of little(E) importance to me that I should be evaluated(F) by you or by any human court.(a) In fact, I don’t even evaluate myself.

3 It is a very small thing to me that I should be examined by you or by any human court. In fact, I don't even evaluate myself.

4 For I am not aware of anything [wrong] against myself, but that does not make me right. But the One who judges me is the Lord.

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.

4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

4 For I am not conscious of anything against myself, but I am not justified(G) by this. The One who evaluates me is the Lord.

4 For my conscience is clear, but that does not vindicate me. It is the Lord who examines me.

5 So, do not judge anything until the appointed time, when the Lord returns [i.e., to do the judging]. He will both shed light on the hidden things done in the dark and make known the motives of people's hearts. Then each person [i.e., who deserves it] will receive praise from God.

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 disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s (I)praise will come to him from God.

5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

5 Therefore don’t judge(H) anything prematurely, before the Lord comes,(I) who will both bring to light what is hidden in darkness and reveal the intentions of the hearts. And then praise will come to each one from God.(J)

5 Therefore, stop judging prematurely, before the Lord comes, for he will bring to light what is now hidden in darkness and reveal the motives of our hearts. Then each person will receive his praise from God.

The Apostles' Humility

6 Now I have applied these things, brothers, to myself and to Apollos as an illustration for your benefit, so that you might learn to "follow the written message." [Note: This is thought to have been a common way of referring, in that day, to the importance of adhering to Old Testament Scripture]. So, none of you should be more proud of one [leader] than of another.

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 (J)what is written, so that no one of you will (K)become (e)arrogant (L)in behalf of one against the other.

6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.

6 Now, brothers,(K) I have applied these things to myself and Apollos(L) for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the saying: “Nothing beyond what is written.”(b) The purpose is that none of you will be inflated with pride in favor of one person over another.

6 Brothers, I have applied all this to Apollos and myself for your benefit, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what the Scriptures say. Then you will stop boasting about one person at the expense of another.

7 For who makes you different [from each other]? [i.e., with some being viewed as superior and others inferior]. And what do you have that you did not receive [from God]? But if you received it [from Him], then why do you boast as though you did not [receive it as a gift]?

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?

7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

7 For who makes you so superior? What do you have that you didn’t receive? If, in fact, you did receive it, why do you boast as if you hadn’t received it?

7 For who makes you superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not receive it?

8 [Now] you already have all you want! You have already become wealthy! You have begun to rule as kings without our help! How I wish that you had [really] begun to rule as kings, so that we also could rule with you!

8 You are (N)already 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.

8 Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.

8 You are already full! You are already rich! You have begun to reign as kings without us—and I wish you did reign, so that we could also reign with you!

8 You already have all you want! You have already become rich! You have become kings without us! I wish you really were kings so that we could be kings with you!

9 For I think that God has displayed us apostles last in line, as men doomed to die. [Note: The picture here is that of gladiators in the arena]. We are being stared at [i.e., as performers on a theater stage] for the whole world to see, both angels and people.

9 For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men (O)condemned to death; because we (P)have become a spectacle to the world, (f)both to angels and to men.

9 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.

9 For I think God has displayed us, the apostles, in last place, like men condemned to die: We have become a spectacle to the world and to angels and to men.

9 For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display in last place, like men condemned to death. We have become a spectacle for the world, for angels, and for people to stare at.

10 We are "fools" for Christ's sake, but you people [think you] are "wise" in [the fellowship of] Christ. We are weak, but you people [think you] are "strong." You are honored, but we are despised.

10 We are (Q)fools for Christ’s sake, but (R)you are prudent in Christ; (S)we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor.

10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.

10 We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ!(M) We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored!

10 We are fools for the Messiah's sake, but you are wise in the Messiah. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are dishonored.

11 Even to this moment, we [apostles] are hungry and thirsty; we have inadequate clothing; we have been beaten; we do not have a permanent place to live;

11 To this present hour we are both (T)hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless;

11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;

11 Up to the present hour we are both hungry and thirsty; we are poorly clothed, roughly treated, homeless;

11 We are hungry, thirsty, dressed in rags, brutally treated, and homeless, right up to the present.

12 we work hard with our hands. [Though] we are cursed, we [ask God's] blessing [on people]; [though] we are persecuted, we persevere;

12 and we toil, (U)working with our own hands; when we are (V)reviled, we bless; when we are (W)persecuted, we endure;

12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:

12 we labor, working(N) with our own hands.(O) When we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;

12 We wear ourselves out from working with our own hands. When insulted, we bless. When persecuted, we endure.

13 [though] we are slandered, we reply kindly. We have become [like] the scum of the earth, the dregs of all society, to this day.

13 when we are slandered, we try to (g)conciliate; we have (X)become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.

13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.

13 when we are slandered, we respond graciously. Even now, we are like the world’s garbage, like the dirt everyone scrapes off their sandals.(P)

13 When slandered, we answer with kind words. Even now we have become the filth of the world, the scum of the universe.

Paul's Concern For The Corinthian Believers

14 I am not writing this to shame you but to warn you, as my dearly loved children.

14 I do not write these things to (Y)shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved (Z)children.

14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.

14 I’m not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my dear children.(Q)

14 I'm not writing this to make you feel ashamed, but to warn you as my dear children.

15 For although you have ten thousand guardians [Note: This word means someone who transported a child to his teacher] in [the fellowship of] Christ, you do not have many [spiritual] fathers. For I [spiritually] conceived you people through [preaching to you] the good news [about Christ]. [Note: Paul here refers to his work in establishing the church at Corinth].

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.

15 For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

15 For you can have 10,000 instructors in Christ, but you can’t have many fathers. For I became your father(R) in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

15 You may have 10,000 mentors who work for the Messiah, but not many fathers. For in the Messiah Jesus I became your father through the gospel.

16 So, I urge you to imitate my lifestyle.

16 Therefore I exhort you, be (AE)imitators of me.

16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me.

16 So I urge you to imitate me.

17 This is the reason that I am sending Timothy to you. He is my dearly loved and faithful [spiritual] son in [the service of] the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways [i.e., my teaching and conduct] which are in [the service of] Christ. I teach these things in every congregation wherever [I go].

17 For this reason I (AF)have sent to you (AG)Timothy, who is my (AH)beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, (AI)just as I teach everywhere in every church.

17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.

17 This is why I have sent(S) Timothy to you. He is my dearly loved and faithful(T) son in the Lord. He will remind you about my ways in Christ Jesus, just as I teach everywhere in every church.

17 That's why I sent Timothy to you. He is my dear and dependable son in the Lord and will help you remember how I live for the Messiah Jesus as I teach everywhere in every church.

18 Now some of you have become arrogant, thinking that I would not [dare to] come to you.

18 Now some have become (h)(AJ)arrogant, as though I were not (AK)coming to you.

18 Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.

18 Now some are inflated with pride, as though I were not coming to you.

18 Some of you have become arrogant, as though I were not coming to evaluate you.

19 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wants me to. Then I will determine not [only] what these arrogant people are saying, but how much power they have.

19 But I (AL)will come to you soon, (AM)if the Lord wills, and I shall find out, not the (i)words of those who are (AN)arrogant but their power.

19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.

19 But I will come to you soon,(U) if the Lord wills, and I will know not the talk but the power of those who are inflated with pride.

19 But I will come to you soon if it's the Lord's will. Then I'll discover not only what these arrogant people are saying but also what power they have,

20 For God's kingdom is not a matter of [impressive] words, but of [spiritual] power.

20 For the kingdom of God does (AO)not consist in (j)words but in power.

20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.

20 for the kingdom of God isn't just talk, but also power.

21 Which do you [really] want? Shall I come to you with a rod [of discipline], or lovingly, and with a spirit of gentleness?

21 What do you desire? (AP)Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?

21 What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?

21 What do you want? Should I come to you with a rod,(V) or in love and a spirit of gentleness?(W)

21 Which do you prefer? Should I come to you with a stick, or with love and a gentle spirit?

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