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Stewards of the Mysteries of God

1Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. 3But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. 5Therefore 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 one’s praise will come from God.

Fools for Christ’s Sake

6Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other. 7For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?
8You are already full! You are already rich! You have reigned as kings without us—and indeed I could wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you! 9For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. 10We arefools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! 11To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. 12And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; 13being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.

Paul’s Paternal Care

14I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. 15For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16Therefore I urge you, imitate me. 17For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.
18Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. 19But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. 20For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. 21What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?

4

Yexus Cov Timthawj Tes Haujlwm

1Tsimnyog nej hwm hais tias peb yog Yexus Khetos cov tubtxib, peb tuav Vajtswv txojlus tseemceeb uas yav tas los tsis muaj leejtwg paub. 2Ib qho ntxiv, tus uas luag tsa los ua tubtxib, tus ntawd yuav tsum ncaj ncees rau nws tus tswv. 3Tiamsis tej uas nej lossis lwm tus txiav txim rau kuv, kuv pom hais tias tej ntawd tsis ua li cas rau kuv. Txawm yog kuv los kuv tsis txiav txim rau kuv. 4Kuv lub siab qhia rau kuv hais tias kuv yeej tsis tau ua txhaum, kuv hais li ntawd tsis yog kuv hais tias kuv tsis muaj txim. Tus Tswv yog tus uas yuav txiav txim rau kuv. 5Yog li ntawd, thaum tseem tsis tau txog lub sijhawm uas Vajtswv teem cia, nej tsis txhob txiav txim rau leejtwg. Tos txog Hnub uas tus Tswv los txiav txim thaum kawg; nws yuav muab tej uas neeg ua nyob hauv qhov tsaus ntuj los nthuav rau ntawm qhov pom kev thiab muab tej uas neeg lub siab xav nraim nkoos qhia rau sawvdaws paub. Thiab Vajtswv yuav qhuas txhua tus uas tsimnyog Vajtswv qhuas.
6Cov kwvtij, qhov uas kuv muab Apaulaus thiab kuv zaj coj los piav rau nej, twb yog kuv xav kom nej xyaum ua li wb tus yamntxwv, nej thiaj paub qhov uas hais tias, “Tsis txhob ua dhau Vajtswv txojlus.” Tsis tsimnyog nej qhuas tus no thiab thuam tus tod. 7Leejtwg tsa nej lub neej zoo dua lwm tus lub? Txhua yam uas nej muaj puavleej yog Vajtswv pub rau nej los sav! Ua li cas nej tseem khav hais tias yog nej khwv tau?
8Nej twb muaj txhua yam uas nej xav tau lawm los? Nej twb npluanuj lawm los? Nej twb tau ua vajntxwv lawm los, ua li cas peb ho tsis tau ua vajntxwv? Kuv xav kom nej tau ua vajntxwv, peb thiaj li tau nrog nej ua vajntxwv thiab. 9Kuv xav hais tias Vajtswv muab peb cov uas yog timthawj tso tuaj tom tw, ib yam li cov neeg uas raug txim uas luag coj mus tua, rau qhov peb zoo li tus uas ua yeebyam rau lub ntiajteb no rau cov timtswv thiab rau neeg ntiajteb saib. 10Twb yog vim peb ua Yexus Khetos tes haujlwm, sawvdaws thiaj hais tias peb yog neeg ruam, tiamsis nej yog neeg ntse, nej thiaj ntseeg Yexus Khetos. Peb qaug zog, tiamsis nej muaj zog kawg li. Luag hwm nej, tiamsis luag thuam peb kawg li. 11Txawm yog niaj hnub no los peb tseem tshaib nqhis kawg li; peb tsis muaj ris tsho zoo nrog luag hnav; peb raug luag ntaus; peb tsis muaj tsev nrog luag nyob; 12peb ua haujlwm khwv heev peb thiaj tau noj tau haus. Thaum luag foom tsis zoo rau peb, peb thov Vajtswv foom koob hmoov rau luag; thaum luag tsimtxom peb, peb ua siab ntev nyiaj; 13thaum luag thuam peb, peb ua tib zoo hais luag. Peb zoo li tej khoom liamsim uas neeg ntiajteb muab povtseg, peb zoo li tej yam qias qias rau neeg ntiajteb los txog niaj hnub no.
14Kuv sau tsab ntawv no tuaj rau nej tsis yog kuv xav kom nej txajmuag, tiamsis kuv sau tuaj ntuas nej ib yam li kuv ntuas cov menyuam uas kuv hlub. 15Txawm yog nej yuav muaj kaum txhiab leej qhia Yexus Khetos zaj rau nej los nej tsuas muaj tib leeg txiv xwb. Kuv yog nej txiv, rau qhov kuv coj txojmoo zoo tuaj qhia rau nej thiab coj nej los ntseeg Yexus Khetos. 16Yog li ntawd, kuv thov nej ua nej lub neej raws li kuv tus yam ntxwv. 17Twb yog vim li no kuv thiaj txib Timautes tus uas kuv hlub, thiab yog ib tug tub uas ua lub neej ncaj ncees rau tus Tswv tuaj qhia nej, kom nej nco txog qhov uas kuv nrog Yexus Khetos koom ib txojsia thiab tej uas kuv qhia rau cov ntseeg uas nyob txhua qhov chaw.
18Nej cov muaj qee leej khavtheeb, rau qhov nej xav hais tias kuv yuav tsis tuaj xyuas nej lawm. 19Yog tus Tswv pom zoo tsis ntev no kuv yuav tuaj xyuas nej. Kuv xav tuaj xyuas nej saib cov neeg uas khav khav ntawd lawv ho ua tau lawv tej haujlwm zoo npaum li cas diam. 20Rau qhov Vajtswv lub tebchaws tsis yog neeg lub ncauj hais xwb, tiamsis yog tes haujlwm uas lawv ua. 21Nej nyiam li cas? Cia kuv nqa nplawm tuaj lossis cia kuv tuaj hlub thiab ua tib zoo qhia nej?