| International Standard Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Think of us as servants of the Messiah and as servant managers entrusted with God's secrets. | 1So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. |
| 2Now it is required of servant managers that each one should prove to be trustworthy. | 2Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. |
| 3It 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. | 3I care very little, however, if I am judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. |
| 4For my conscience is clear, but that does not vindicate me. It is the Lord who examines me. | 4My conscience is clear, but that does not vindicate me. It is the Lord who judges me. |
| 5Therefore, 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. | 5Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. |
| 6Brothers, 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. | 6Brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written. Then you will not take pride in one man over another. |
| 7For 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? | 7For who makes you so 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? |
| 8You 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! | 8Already you have all you want. Already you have become rich. Without us, you have become kings. How I wish you really were kings, so that we might be kings with you! |
| 9For 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. | 9For it seems to me that God has displayed us apostles at the end of the procession, like prisoners appointed for death. We have become a spectacle to the whole world, to angels as well as to men. |
| 10We 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. | 10We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are dishonored. |
| 11We are hungry, thirsty, dressed in rags, brutally treated, and homeless, right up to the present. | 11To this very hour we are hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clothed, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. |
| 12We wear ourselves out from working with our own hands. When insulted, we bless. When persecuted, we endure. | 12We work hard with our own hands. When we are vilified, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; |
| 13When slandered, we answer with kind words. Even now we have become the filth of the world, the scum of the universe. | 13when we are slandered, we answer gently. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world. |
| 14I'm not writing this to make you feel ashamed, but to warn you as my dear children. | 14I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children. |
| 15You 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. | 15Even if you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. |
| 16So I urge you to imitate me. | 16Therefore I urge you to imitate me. |
| 17That'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. | 17That is why I have sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which is exactly what I teach everywhere in every church. |
| 18Some of you have become arrogant, as though I were not coming to evaluate you. | 18Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. |
| 19But 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, | 19But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only what these arrogant people are saying, but what power they have. |
| 20for the kingdom of God isn't just talk, but also power. | 20For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. |
| 21Which do you prefer? Should I come to you with a stick, or with love and a gentle spirit? | 21Which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and with a gentle spirit? |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | The Berean Bible (Berean Study Bible (BSB) © 2016, 2018 by Bible Hub and Berean.Bible. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. |
|
