New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God's mysteries.
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Let us be judged as servants of Christ, and as those who are responsible for the secret things of God.
2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.
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And it is right for such servants to be safe persons.
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.
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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.
4 I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.
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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.
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 each one will receive commendation from God.
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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.
6 I have applied all this to Apollos and myself for your benefit, brothers and sisters, so that you may learn through us the meaning of the saying, "Nothing beyond what is written," so that none of you will be puffed up in favor of one against another.
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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.
7 For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you boast as if it were not a gift?
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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?
8 Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Quite apart from us you have become kings! Indeed, I wish that you had become kings, so that we might be kings with you!
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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.
9 For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, as though sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to mortals.
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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.
10 We are fools for the sake of Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute.
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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.
11 To the present hour we are hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clothed and beaten and homeless,
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Even to this hour we are without food, drink, and clothing, we are given blows and have no certain resting-place;
12 and we grow weary from the work of our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;
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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;
13 when slandered, we speak kindly. We have become like the rubbish of the world, the dregs of all things, to this very day.
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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.
14 I am not writing this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children.
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I am not saying these things to put you to shame, but so that, as my dear children, you may see what is right.
15 For though you might have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers. Indeed, in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.
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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.
16 I appeal to you, then, be imitators of me.
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So my desire is that you take me as your example.
17 For this reason I sent you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ Jesus, as I teach them everywhere in every church.
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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.
18 But some of you, thinking that I am not coming to you, have become arrogant.
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Now some are full of pride, as if I was 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.
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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.
20 For the kingdom of God depends not on talk but on power.
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For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.
21 What would you prefer? Am I to come to you with a stick, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?
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What is your desire? is my coming to be with punishment, or is it to be in love and a gentle spirit?
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.