So let a man think of us as al-Masih’s servants, and stewards of Allah’s mysteries. 2Here, moreover, it is required of stewards, that they be found faithful. 3But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you, or by man’s judgment. Yes, I do not judge my own self. 4For I know nothing against myself. Yet I am not justified by this, but he who judges me is the Lord. 5Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each man will get his praise from Allah.
6Now these things, brothers, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that in us you might learn not to think beyond the things which are written, that none of you be puffed up against one another. 7For who makes you different? And what do you have that you didn’t receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? 8You are already filled. You have already become rich. You have come to reign without us. Yes, and I wish that you did reign, that we also might reign with you. 9For, I think that Allah has displayed us, the apostles, last of all, like men sentenced to death. For we are made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and men. 10We are fools for al-Masih’s sake, but you are wise in al-Masih. We are weak, but you are strong. You have honour, but we have dishonour. 11Even to this present hour we hunger, thirst, are naked, are beaten, and have no certain dwelling place. 12We toil, working with our own hands. When people curse us, we bless. Being persecuted, we endure. 13Being defamed, we entreat. We are made as the filth of the world, the dirt wiped off by all, even until now. 14I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. 15For though you have ten thousand tutors in al-Masih, yet not many fathers. For in al-Masih ‘Isa, I became your father through the Injil. 16I beg you therefore, be imitators of me. 17Because of this I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways which are in al-Masih, even as I teach everywhere in every congregation. 18Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. 19But I will come to you shortly, insha Allah. And I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. 20For the Kingdom of Allah is not in word, but in power. 21What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?