1 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.2 Moreover it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. I do not even judge myself.4 I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then every man will receive his commendation from God.6 I have applied all this to myself and Apol'los for your benefit, brethren, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another.7 For who sees anything different in you? What have you that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if it were not a gift?8 Already you are filled! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you!9 For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men.10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute.11 To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are ill-clad and buffeted and homeless,12 and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;13 when slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become, and are now, as the refuse of the world, the offscouring of all things.14 I do not write this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children.15 For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.16 I urge you, then, be imitators of me.17 Therefore I sent to you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.18 Some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you.19 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power.20 For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.21 What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?

1 ουτως ημας λογιζεσθω ανθρωπος ως υπηρετας χριστου και οικονομους μυστηριων θεου2 ο δε λοιπον ζητειται εν τοις οικονομοις ινα πιστος τις ευρεθη3 εμοι δε εις ελαχιστον εστιν ινα υφ υμων ανακριθω η υπο ανθρωπινης ημερας αλλ ουδε εμαυτον ανακρινω4 ουδεν γαρ εμαυτω συνοιδα αλλ ουκ εν τουτω δεδικαιωμαι ο δε ανακρινων με κυριος εστιν5 ωστε μη προ καιρου τι κρινετε εως αν ελθη ο κυριος ος και φωτισει τα κρυπτα του σκοτους και φανερωσει τας βουλας των καρδιων και τοτε ο επαινος γενησεται εκαστω απο του θεου6 ταυτα δε αδελφοι μετεσχηματισα εις εμαυτον και απολλω δι υμας ινα εν ημιν μαθητε το μη υπερ ο γεγραπται φρονειν ινα μη εις υπερ του ενος φυσιουσθε κατα του ετερου7 τις γαρ σε διακρινει τι δε εχεις ο ουκ ελαβες ει δε και ελαβες τι καυχασαι ως μη λαβων8 ηδη κεκορεσμενοι εστε ηδη επλουτησατε χωρις ημων εβασιλευσατε και οφελον γε εβασιλευσατε ινα και ημεις υμιν συμβασιλευσωμεν9 δοκω γαρ οτι ο θεος ημας τους αποστολους εσχατους απεδειξεν ως επιθανατιους οτι θεατρον εγενηθημεν τω κοσμω και αγγελοις και ανθρωποις10 ημεις μωροι δια χριστον υμεις δε φρονιμοι εν χριστω ημεις ασθενεις υμεις δε ισχυροι υμεις ενδοξοι ημεις δε ατιμοι11 αχρι της αρτι ωρας και πεινωμεν και διψωμεν και γυμνητευομεν και κολαφιζομεθα και αστατουμεν12 και κοπιωμεν εργαζομενοι ταις ιδιαις χερσιν λοιδορουμενοι ευλογουμεν διωκομενοι ανεχομεθα13 βλασφημουμενοι παρακαλουμεν ως περικαθαρματα του κοσμου εγενηθημεν παντων περιψημα εως αρτι14 ουκ εντρεπων υμας γραφω ταυτα αλλ ως τεκνα μου αγαπητα νουθετω15 εαν γαρ μυριους παιδαγωγους εχητε εν χριστω αλλ ου πολλους πατερας εν γαρ χριστω ιησου δια του ευαγγελιου εγω υμας εγεννησα16 παρακαλω ουν υμας μιμηται μου γινεσθε17 δια τουτο επεμψα υμιν τιμοθεον ος εστιν τεκνον μου αγαπητον και πιστον εν κυριω ος υμας αναμνησει τας οδους μου τας εν χριστω καθως πανταχου εν παση εκκλησια διδασκω18 ως μη ερχομενου δε μου προς υμας εφυσιωθησαν τινες19 ελευσομαι δε ταχεως προς υμας εαν ο κυριος θεληση και γνωσομαι ου τον λογον των πεφυσιωμενων αλλα την δυναμιν20 ου γαρ εν λογω η βασιλεια του θεου αλλ εν δυναμει21 τι θελετε εν ραβδω ελθω προς υμας η εν αγαπη πνευματι τε πραοτητος