| International Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1Think of us as servants of the Messiah and as servant managers entrusted with God's secrets. | 1One should think about us this way--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 what is sought in stewards is that one 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. | 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 my conscience is clear, but that does not vindicate me. It is the Lord who examines me. | 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, 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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 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 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 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 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 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, 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 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 distinguished, we are dishonored! |
| 11We are hungry, thirsty, dressed in rags, brutally treated, and homeless, right up to the present. | 11To the present hour we are hungry and thirsty, poorly clothed, brutally treated, and without a roof over our heads. |
| 12We wear ourselves out from working with our own hands. When insulted, we bless. When persecuted, we endure. | 12We do hard work, toiling with our own hands. When we are verbally abused, we respond with a blessing, when persecuted, we endure, |
| 13When slandered, we answer with kind words. Even now we have become the filth of the world, the scum of the universe. | 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 make you feel ashamed, 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 16So I urge you to imitate me. | 16I encourage you, then, be imitators of 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. | 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. |
| 18Some of you have become arrogant, as though I were not coming to evaluate you. | 18Some 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 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 isn't just talk, but also power. | 20For the kingdom of God is demonstrated not in idle talk but with power. |
| 21Which do you prefer? Should I come to you with a stick, or with love and a gentle spirit? | 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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