4 So then, people should regard us as servants of Messiah and as stewards of God’s mysteries. 2 What’s more, stewards are expected to be trustworthy. 3 But it makes virtually no difference to me whether I’m being judged by you all, or by a human court, because I don’t even judge myself. 4 Yes, my conscience is clear, but that won’t mean that I’m declared ‘not guilty’, because it’s the master who’ll be examining me. 5 So don’t make judgements ahead of time, but wait until the master comes—the one who’ll bring to light what’s hidden in the darkness, and who will expose people’s true motives. At that time, God will praise each person who’s acted faithfully.

6 Now brothers and sisters, I applied these things to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that through us you all might learn this: ‘Not beyond what is written,’ so that no one would be puffed up in favour of one against the other, 7 because who makes you better than others? What do you have that wasn’t given to you? And if it was given to you, why would you boast as if it hadn’t been given to you?

8 Are you all full already? Have you all already become rich? You think you’re kings already, and don’t need us—I wish you all were really reigning as kings, so we could reign with you, 9 because it seems that God has exhibited us missionaries last of all, as if sentenced to death—because we have become a spectacle to the world—both to God’s messengers and to men. 10 We appear as fools for Messiah’s sake, but you all are wise in Messiah. We are weak, but you all are strong. You all are honoured, but we are dishonoured. 11 Right up to the present time, we’re hungry and thirsty, we’re poorly clothed and brutally beaten, and we’re homeless 12 and working hard—working with our own hands. When people curse us, we bless them, and when they persecute us, we put up with it.[ref] 13 When people slander us, we answer gently. We’ve become like the scum of the world, the world’s trash, even until now.

14 I’m not writing this to shame you all, but to correct you as if you were my own dear children, 15 because if you all would have thousands of guardians in Messiah, yet you wouldn’t have many ‘fathers’, because I fathered you in Messiah Yeshua by means of the good message. 16 That’s why I urge you all to imitate me,[ref] 17 and that’s why I sent Timothy to visit you. He’s like my own dear son in the master, and he’ll remind you all about my ways in Messiah Yeshua, just like I teach everywhere in every church.

18 Now some of you have become arrogant, as if I’m not able to come back to see you all, 19 but if the master allows it, I’ll come and visit you all again soon. Then I won’t just see what any puffed-up people are saying, but I’ll also see what power they have, 20 because God’s kingdom isn’t just mere words, but it’s a demonstration of power. 21 What would you all prefer: should I come to you all with a rod, or come with love and a gentle spirit?