The Bible in Basic English BBE
World English Bible WEB
1 Let us be judged as servants of Christ, and as those who are responsible for the secret things of God.
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So let a man think of us as Christ's servants, and stewards of God's mysteries.
2 And it is right for such servants to be safe persons.
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Here, moreover, it is required of stewards, that they be found faithful.
3 But it is a small thing to me that I am judged by you or by man's judging; I am not even a judge of myself.
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But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you, or by man's judgment. Yes, I don't judge my own self.
4 For I am not conscious of any wrong in myself; but this does not make me clear, for it is the Lord who is my judge.
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For I know nothing against myself. Yet I am not justified by this, but he who judges me is the Lord.
5 For this reason let there be no judging before the time, till the Lord comes, who will make clear the secret things of the dark, and the designs of the heart; and then will every man have his praise from God.
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Therefore 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 God.
6 My brothers, it is because of you that I have taken Apollos and myself as examples of these things, so that in us you might see that it is not wise to go farther than what is in the holy Writings, so that no one of you may be lifted up against his brother.
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Now 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.
7 For who made you better than your brother? or what have you that has not been given to you? but if it has been given to you, what cause have you for pride, as if it had not been given to you?
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For 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?
8 For even now you are full, even now you have wealth, you have been made kings without us: truly, I would be glad if you were kings, so that we might be kings with you.
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You 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.
9 For it seems to me that God has put us the Apostles last of all, as men whose fate is death: for we are put on view to the world, and to angels, and to men.
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For, I think that God 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.
10 We are made to seem foolish for Christ, but you are wise in Christ; we are feeble, but you are strong; you have glory, but we have shame.
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We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You have honor, but we have dishonor.
11 Even to this hour we are without food, drink, and clothing, we are given blows and have no certain resting-place;
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Even to this present hour we hunger, thirst, are naked, are beaten, and have no certain dwelling place.
12 And with our hands we do the hardest work: when they give us curses we give blessings, when we undergo punishment we take it quietly;
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We toil, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless. Being persecuted, we endure.
13 When evil things are said about us we give gentle answers: we are made as the unclean things of the world, as that for which no one has any use, even till now.
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Being defamed, we entreat. We are made as the filth of the world, the dirt wiped off by all, even until now.
14 I am not saying these things to put you to shame, but so that, as my dear children, you may see what is right.
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I don't write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.
15 For even if you had ten thousand teachers in Christ, you have not more than one father: for in Christ Jesus I have given birth to you through the good news.
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For though you have ten thousand tutors in Christ, yet not many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, I became your father through the gospel.
16 So my desire is that you take me as your example.
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I beg you therefore, be imitators of me.
17 For this cause I have sent Timothy to you, who is my dear and true child in the Lord; he will make clear to you my ways in Christ, even as I am teaching everywhere in every church.
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Because 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 Christ, even as I teach everywhere in every assembly.
18 Now some are full of pride, as if I was not coming to you.
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Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you.
19 But I will come to you in a short time, if it is pleasing to the Lord, and I will take note, not of the word of those who are full of pride, but of the power.
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But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing. And I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power.
20 For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.
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For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
21 What is your desire? is my coming to be with punishment, or is it to be in love and a gentle spirit?
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What do you want? Will I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.
The World English Bible is in the public domain.