使徒的工作
人应该把我们看为基督的执事，为神的奥秘的管家。
Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
2所求于管家的，是要他忠心。Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
3我被你们评断，或被别人评断，我都以为是极小的事；连我自己也不评断自己。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虽然我不觉得自己有错，却也不能因此判为无罪；审断我的是主。For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
5所以，时候未到，在主来以前什么都不要评断，他要照出暗中的隐情，揭发人的动机。那时，各人要从神那里得着称赞。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弟兄们，为你们的缘故，我拿这些事应用到我自己和亚波罗身上，让你们从我们学到“不可过于圣经所记”这话的意思，免得你们自高自大，看重这个，看轻那个。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使你与人不同的是谁呢？你所有的有哪一个不是领受的呢？若是领受的，为何自夸，仿佛不是领受的呢？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你们已经饱足了，已经富足了，用不着我们，自己就作王了。我愿意你们果真作王，让我们也可以与你们一同作王！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我想，神把我们作使徒的明显地列在末后，好像定死罪的囚犯，因为我们成了一台戏，给世界、天使和众人观看。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我们为基督的缘故成为愚拙的；你们在基督里倒是聪明的。我们软弱，你们倒强壮；你们有荣耀，我们倒被藐视。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直到如今，我们还是又饥又渴，又赤身露体，又挨打，又到处漂泊，Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
12并且劳碌，亲手做工；被人咒骂，我们就祝福；被人迫害，我们就忍受；And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
13被人毁谤，我们就劝导。直到如今，人还把我们看作世上的污秽，万物中的渣滓。Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.
14我写这些话，不是要使你们羞愧，而是要警戒你们，好像我所爱的儿女一样。I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.
15虽然你们在基督里有无数的导师，却没有许多父亲，因我是在基督耶稣里用福音生了你们。For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
16所以，我求你们要效法我。Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
17因此，我已差提摩太到你们那里去。他在主里面是我亲爱和忠心的儿子；他要提醒你们，我在基督耶稣☛“基督耶稣”：有古卷是“基督”。里怎样行事为人，在各处各教会中怎样教导人。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有些人以为我不到你们那里去而自高自大。Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.
19但是，主若准许，我会很快到你们那里去；我所要知道的，不是那些自高自大者的言语，而是他们的权能。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因为神的国不在乎言语，而在乎权能。For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
21你们愿意怎么样呢？要我带着棍子到你们那里去呢，还是带着慈爱温柔的心呢？What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?