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?
基督的使徒
1因此，人應該把我們當作是基督的僕人，是上帝奧祕之事的管家。 2對管家的要求是忠心。 3我對你們或別人給我的評價毫不介意，我也不評價我自己。 4就算我今日問心無愧，也不能自以為義，因為評價我的是主。 5所以，時候未到，不可妄下斷語。到主耶穌再來的時候，祂會揭開暗中的隱情，使人心裡的動機顯露。到時候上帝會給各人應得的稱讚。
6弟兄姊妹，為了你們的益處，我以亞波羅和自己作例子，好讓你們效法我們不越過聖經的準則，免得有人自高自大、厚此薄彼。 7誰使你與眾不同呢？你有哪一樣不是領受的呢？既然一切都是領受的，你為什麼還自誇，好像不是領受的？ 8你們已經飽足了，富有了，不需要我們，自己已經作王了。我倒希望你們真的能作王，好讓我們也和你們一同作王。 9我想，上帝把我們使徒排在隊伍的末尾，好像被判了死罪的囚犯，讓我們成了一台戲，給全宇宙看，就是給世人和天使觀看。
10我們為了基督的緣故被人看為愚昧，你們在基督裡倒成了聰明人；我們軟弱，你們倒強壯；你們受人尊敬，我們倒被人藐視。 11我們至今還是又饑又渴，衣不蔽體，遭受毒打，居無定所， 12還要親手勞作。我們被人咒罵，就為對方祝福；受人迫害，就逆來順受； 13被人毀謗，就好言相勸。人們至今仍將我們看作世上的廢物，萬物中的渣滓。
14我之所以寫這些事，並非是叫你們羞愧，而是像勸誡我親愛的兒女一樣勸誡你們。 15雖然有千萬老師將基督的事教導你們，但父親並不多，因為我藉著福音在基督耶穌裡成為你們的父親。 16所以，我勸你們效法我。 17正因如此，我派了提摩太去你們那裡。他在主裡忠心耿耿，是我所愛的孩子。他會提醒你們我在基督裡如何行事為人，在各地、各教會如何教導人。
18你們當中有些人以為我不會再去你們那裡，就傲慢自大起來。 19但主若許可，我會很快去你們那裡。那時我要看看這些驕傲的人究竟是只會空談，還是真有上帝的權能。 20因為上帝的國不在於空談，而在於權能。 21到底你們要什麼呢？要我帶著刑杖去呢？還是要我帶著溫柔慈愛的心去呢？
