1 So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God.
由此可见，人应当把我们看着是基督的仆从，看着是神交托奥秘的管家。
2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.
神的要求是，证明管家是否忠心。
3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself.
你们论断我，或法庭论断我，我都不以为然。我自己都不论断自己。
4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.
我有清白的良知，但并不能说明我无罪。唯有主给我下定论。
5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
所以，时候未到，不要下任何结论，只等主来。他要揭开人心，让隐情曝光。那时，神该表扬谁，就表扬谁。
6 Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, "Do not go beyond what is written." Then you will not take pride in one man over against another.
弟兄们，我和亚波罗都是这么做的。教你们是为你们好。但是，你们效法我们‘不可逾越经文’，免得你们以某人为自豪，而贬低另一个。
7 For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
人与人不同，是谁造成的呢？你有什么不是领受的呢？若是领受的，为何不大着胆子承认呢？
8 Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have become kings--and that without us! How I wish that you really had become kings so that we might be kings with you!
你们已应有尽有，已经丰富了，不用我们，自己就作王了。我愿意你们果真作王，叫我们也得与你们一同作王。
9 For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men.
神似乎把我们这些使徒当着竞技场的死囚，安排最后出场。我们成了一台戏，给整个宇宙、天使和世人观看。
10 We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored!
我们是基督的傻子，你们在基督里倒是聪明的！我们软弱，你们倒强壮！你们有美名，我们倒有坏名声！
11 To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.
就是此刻，我们又饥又渴，衣衫褴褛，遭虐待，居无定所。
12 We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;
我们亲手劳作。被人咒骂时，自己祈福；遭迫害时，我们忍受。
13 when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.
被人毁谤时，我们善言以答。直到如今，我们成了社会渣滓，遭人唾弃。
14 I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children.
我这么写，不是羞辱你们，乃是警告你们，就像对待亲生儿女一样。
15 Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.
尽管你们在基督里，有一万个监护人，为父的却不多。因为，我在基督耶稣里用福音生了你们。
16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me.
所以，我敦促你们模仿我。
17 For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.
因此，我打发提摩太到你们那里去。他在主里面，是我所爱的孝子。他会让你们知道我在基督里的生活方式，与我在各教会中的教导如出一辙。
18 Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you.
你们中间有些人变得高傲，以为我不会来。
19 But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have.
然而，主若许我，我很快就来。然后，我不仅要弄清楚那些高傲之人如何对人说话，还要搞明白他们拥有何等权力。
20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.
因为，神的国不在乎言语，乃在乎能力。
21 What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit?
你们愿意怎么样？我是带着鞭子到你们那里去呢？还是心平气和呢？