基督的使徒
1因此，人应该把我们当作是基督的仆人，是上帝奥秘之事的管家。 2对管家的要求是忠心。 3我对你们或别人给我的评价毫不介意，我也不评价我自己。 4就算我今日问心无愧，也不能自以为义，因为评价我的是主。 5所以，时候未到，不可妄下断语。到主耶稣再来的时候，祂会揭开暗中的隐情，使人心里的动机显露。到时候上帝会给各人应得的称赞。
6弟兄姊妹，为了你们的益处，我以亚波罗和自己作例子，好让你们效法我们不越过圣经的准则，免得有人自高自大、厚此薄彼。 7谁使你与众不同呢？你有哪一样不是领受的呢？既然一切都是领受的，你为什么还自夸，好像不是领受的？ 8你们已经饱足了，富有了，不需要我们，自己已经做王了。我倒希望你们真的能做王，好让我们也和你们一同做王。 9我想，上帝把我们使徒排在队伍的末尾，好像被判了死罪的囚犯，让我们成了一台戏，给全宇宙看，就是给世人和天使观看。
10我们为了基督的缘故被人看为愚昧，你们在基督里倒成了聪明人；我们软弱，你们倒强壮；你们受人尊敬，我们倒被人藐视。 11我们至今还是又饥又渴，衣不蔽体，遭受毒打，居无定所， 12还要亲手劳作。我们被人咒骂，就为对方祝福；受人迫害，就逆来顺受； 13被人毁谤，就好言相劝。人们至今仍将我们看作世上的废物，万物中的渣滓。
14我之所以写这些事，并非是叫你们羞愧，而是像劝诫我亲爱的儿女一样劝诫你们。 15虽然有千万老师将基督的事教导你们，但父亲并不多，因为我借着福音在基督耶稣里成为你们的父亲。 16所以，我劝你们效法我。 17正因如此，我派了提摩太去你们那里。他在主里忠心耿耿，是我所爱的孩子。他会提醒你们我在基督里如何行事为人，在各地、各教会如何教导人。
18你们当中有些人以为我不会再去你们那里，就傲慢自大起来。 19但主若许可，我会很快去你们那里。那时我要看看这些骄傲的人究竟是只会空谈，还是真有上帝的权能。 20因为上帝的国不在于空谈，而在于权能。 21到底你们要什么呢？要我带着刑杖去呢？还是要我带着温柔慈爱的心去呢？
1Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. 3But 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. 4For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. 5Therefore 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. 6And 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. 7For 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? 8Now 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. 9For 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. 10We 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. 11Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; 12And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: 13Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day. 14I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. 15For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. 17For 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. 18Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you. 19But 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. 20For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. 21What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?
