| Holman Christian Standard Bible | NET Bible |
| 1A person should consider us in this way: as servants of Christ and managers of God's mysteries. | 1One should think about us this way--as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. |
| 2In this regard, it is expected of managers that each one of them be found faithful. | 2Now what is sought in stewards is that one be found faithful. |
| 3It is of little importance to me that I should be evaluated by you or by any human court. In fact, I don't even evaluate myself. | 3So for me, it is a minor matter that I am judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. |
| 4For I am not conscious of anything against myself, but I am not justified by this. The One who evaluates me is the Lord. | 4For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not acquitted because of this. The one who judges me is the Lord. |
| 5Therefore don't judge anything prematurely, before the Lord comes, 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. | 5So then, do not judge anything before the time. Wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the motives of hearts. Then each will receive recognition from God. |
| 6Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the saying: "Nothing beyond what is written." The purpose is that none of you will be inflated with pride in favor of one person over another. | 6I have applied these things to myself and Apollos because of you, brothers and sisters, so that through us you may learn "not to go beyond what is written," so that none of you will be puffed up in favor of the one against the other. |
| 7For 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? | 7For who concedes you any superiority? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you boast as though you did not? |
| 8You 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! | 8Already you are satisfied! Already you are rich! You have become kings without us! I wish you had become kings so that we could reign with you! |
| 9For 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. | 9For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to die, because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to people. |
| 10We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! | 10We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, we are dishonored! |
| 11Up to the present hour we are both hungry and thirsty; we are poorly clothed, roughly treated, homeless; | 11To the present hour we are hungry and thirsty, poorly clothed, brutally treated, and without a roof over our heads. |
| 12we labor, working with our own hands. When we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; | 12We do hard work, toiling with our own hands. When we are verbally abused, we respond with a blessing, when persecuted, we endure, |
| 13when we are slandered, we respond graciously. Even now, we are like the world's garbage, like the dirt everyone scrapes off their sandals. | 13when people lie about us, we answer in a friendly manner. We are the world's dirt and scum, even now. |
| 14I'm not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my dear children. | 14I am not writing these things to shame you, but to correct you as my dear children. |
| 15For you can have 10,000 instructors in Christ, but you can't have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. | 15For though you may have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, because I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. |
| 16Therefore I urge you to imitate me. | 16I encourage you, then, be imitators of me. |
| 17This is why I have sent Timothy to you. He is my dearly loved and faithful son in the Lord. He will remind you about my ways in Christ Jesus, just as I teach everywhere in every church. | 17For this reason, I have sent Timothy to you, who is my dear and faithful son in the Lord. He will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church. |
| 18Now some are inflated with pride, as though I were not coming to you. | 18Some have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. |
| 19But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will know not the talk but the power of those who are inflated with pride. | 19But I will come to you soon, if the Lord is willing, and I will find out not only the talk of these arrogant people, but also their power. |
| 20For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. | 20For the kingdom of God is demonstrated not in idle talk but with power. |
| 21What do you want? Should I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness? | 21What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline or with love and a spirit of gentleness? |
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