The Work of the Apostles
1 Think of us as servants of Christ who have been given the work of explaining God's mysterious ways. 2 And since our first duty is to be faithful to the one we work for, 3 it doesn't matter to me if I am judged by you or even by a court of law. In fact, I don't judge myself. 4 I don't know of anything against me, but this doesn't prove I am right. The Lord is my judge. 5 So don't judge anyone until the Lord returns. He will show what is hidden in the dark and what is in everyone's heart. Then God will be the one who praises each of us.
6 Friends, I have used Apollos and myself as examples to teach you the meaning of the saying, “Follow the rules.” I want you to stop saying one of us is better than the other. 7 What is so special about you? What do you have that you were not given? And if it was given to you, how can you brag? 8 Are you already satisfied? Are you now rich? Have you become kings while we are still nobodies? I wish you were kings. Then we could have a share in your kingdom.
9 It seems to me that God has put us apostles in the worst possible place. We are like prisoners on their way to death. Angels and the people of this world just laugh at us. 10 Because of Christ we are thought of as fools, but Christ has made you wise. We are weak and hated, but you are powerful and respected. 11 Even today we go hungry and thirsty and don't have anything to wear except rags. We are mistreated and don't have a place to live. 12 We work hard with our own hands, and when people abuse us, we wish them well. When we suffer, we are patient. 13 When someone curses us, we answer with kind words. Until now we are thought of as nothing more than the trash and garbage of this world.
14 I am not writing to embarrass you. I want to help you, just as parents help their own dear children. 15 Ten thousand people may teach you about Christ, but I am your only father. You became my children when I told you about Christ Jesus, 16 and I want you to be like me. 17 This is why I sent Timothy to you. I love him like a son, and he is a faithful servant of the Lord. Timothy will tell you what I do to follow Christ and how it agrees with what I always teach about Christ in every church.
18 Some of you think I am not coming for a visit, and so you are bragging. 19 But if the Lord lets me come, I will soon be there. Then I will find out if the ones who are doing all this bragging really have any power. 20 God's kingdom isn't just a lot of words. It is power. 21 What do you want me to do when I arrive? Do you want me to be hard on you or to be kind and gentle?
Apustuļu kalpošana
1 Lai ikviens mūs uzlūko kā Kristus kalpotājus un Dieva noslēpumu namturus. 2 Bet no namtura tiek prasīts vienīgi, lai viņš būtu uzticams. 3 Man neko tas nenozīmē, nedz ka jūs mani tiesājat, nedz cilvēku tiesa, nedz arī es pats sev esmu tiesnesis. 4 Es pats nekādu vainu pie sevis neapzinos, taču tas mani neattaisno, vienīgi Kungs ir mans tiesnesis. 5 Tā ka netiesājiet pirms laika, kamēr nav atnācis Kungs, viņš nāks un apgaismos tumsā apslēpto un darīs redzamus sirds nodomus, un tad katram būs sava uzslava no Dieva. 6 Bet to visu, brāļi, es attiecinu uz sevi un uz Apollu jūsu dēļ, lai jūs pie mums mācītos likumu: neko vairāk par to, kas ir rakstīts, – lai jūs viena dēļ nekļūstat uzpūtīgi cits pret citu. 7 Kas tevi dara pārāku? Kas tev ir tāds, ko tu nebūtu saņēmis? Un, ja tu esi saņēmis, ko tad tu lielies, it kā nebūtu saņēmis? 8 Jūs jau esat pārsātinājušies, kļuvuši bagāti un bez mums tapuši par valdniekiem; un kaut jūs patiešām būtu kļuvuši valdnieki, lai kopā ar jums arī mēs varētu valdīt. 9 Taču es domāju, ka Dievs mūs, apustuļus, licis kā pēdējos, kas nāvei nolemti un izlikti pasaules, eņģeļu un cilvēku priekšā. 10 Jā, mēs esam muļķi Kristus dēļ, bet jūs gudri Kristū, mēs esam vāji, bet jūs – stipri; jūs esat godājami, bet mēs – nicināti. 11 Līdz pat šim laikam mēs ciešam badu un slāpes, tiekam sisti, esam gluži vai kaili un bez savām mājām. 12 Mēs smagi strādājam paši savām rokām. Lamāti – mēs svētījam, vajāti – mēs panesam, 13 zākāti – mēs atbildam ar laipnību; esam kļuvuši par pasaules drazu, kā visu izmesti atkritumi, līdz pat šim brīdim.
Tēvišķa pamācība
14 Šo es jums rakstu, nevis lai liktu jūs kaunā, bet pamācīdams jūs kā savus mīļos bērnus. 15 Ja arī jums būtu tūkstošiem audzinātāju Kristū, taču tēvu jums nav daudz, es jūs caur evaņģēliju esmu dzemdinājis Kristū Jēzū. 16 Tad nu es jūs aicinu: topiet līdzīgi man! 17 Tādēļ es pie jums sūtīju Timoteju, kas ir mans mīļais, uzticamais dēls Kungā, viņš jums atgādinās manu mācību, kas ir Kristū Jēzū, kā es to visās draudzēs mācu. 18 Daži augstprātīgi iedomājas, ka es nedošos pie jums. 19 Bet es nākšu pie jums drīz, tiklīdz Kungs to gribēs, un skatīšu nevis šo augstprātīgo vārdus, bet spēku. 20 Jo Dieva valstība nav vārdos, bet spēkā. 21 Ko jūs gribat? Vai lai nāku pie jums ar nūju vai mīlestībā un gara laipnībā?
