1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. 3 But 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. 4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. 5 Therefore 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. 6 And 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. 7 For 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 ? 8 Now 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. 9 For 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. 10 We 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. 11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; 12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: 13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day. 14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you . 15 For 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. 16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. 17 For 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. 18 Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you. 19 But 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. 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 in the spirit of meekness?
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?
