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1 Let a man so account of us, as of ministers of Christ, and stewards of God’s mysteries. 2 Here, moreover, it is required in the stewards, that one be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s day: yea, I judge not mine own self. 4 For I know nothing against myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but who judgeth me is the Lord. 5 Wherefore judge nothing before the season, until the Lord come, who will both light up the hidden things of the darkness, and manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then shall each have the praise from :God. 6 Now these, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes; that in us ye might learn the Not to go beyond the things written; that ye be not puffed up for the one against the other. 7 For who maketh thee to differ? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? but if thou didst receive, why gloriest thou as if thou hadst not received? 8 Already are ye filled? already ye are become rich? have ye come to reign without us? yea and I would indeed ye did reign, that we also might reign with you. 9 For, I think, :God hath set forth us the apostles last, as doomed to death: for we are become a spectacle unto the world and to angels and men. 10 We are fools for Christ, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye strong; ye have glory, but we dishonor. 11 Unto the present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place: 12 and we toil, working with our :own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; 13 being defamed, we beseech: we are become as filth of the world, offscouring of all things, even until now. 14 I write not these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. 15 For though ye may have ten thousand tutors in Christ, yet not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I begat you through the gospel. 16 I beseech you therefore, become imitators of me. 17 For this cause have I sent you Timothy, who is my beloved child and faithful in the Lord, who shall remind you of my :ways which are in Christ Jesus, even as I teach everywhere in every church.

18 Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come unto you speedily, if the Lord will; and I will know, not the word of those puffed up, but the power. 20 For the kingdom of :God is not in word, but in power. 21 What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?