Judging and being judged
(Parallel teachings: Luke 12:42-48)
- 1 Let any man consider us like this: as servants of the Anointed and stewards of God’s now-revealed mysteries.fn“now-revealed mysteries” is one word in Greek. It originally referred to secret knowledge reserved for initiates of the ancient mystery religions; i.e. “members only” knowledge that was revealed to insiders, but concealed from everyone outside. Paul uses it for secrets that God kept hidden until the work of Jesus, after which they were revealed in the good news (aka, the gospel).
- 2 Furthermore, in this case it’s required that someone among the stewards be found faithful.
- 3 But to me, it’s a most trivial thing that I might be examined by you, or by any human court. But I don’t examine myself either,
- 4 for I’m *aware of nothing against myself, but I haven’t been proved righteous by this, and the One examining me is the Lord.
- 5 So then, don’t judge anything before the proper time – until the Lord comes – who will also reveal the hidden things of darkness and will expose the intentionsfn“intentions”, The Greek word here could also be translated “motives”, “counsel”, “purposes”, “plans”, etc. of men’s hearts, and then appropriate praise will come to each from God.
Don’t go beyond what’s written
(Parallel teachings: 2 Corinthians 4:7-12; 2 Corinthians 6:4-10; 2 Corinthians 11:23-28)
(Thematic parallels: Isaiah 53:3-12)
- 6 And brothers, I applied these things to myself and Apollos because of you, so that in us, you might learn not to gofnMany late manuscripts have “to think” here. beyond what is *written, so that not even one of you becomes puffed up, favoring one over another.
- 7 For who’s judging you to be better? And what do you have that you didn’t receive? But if you received it, why do you boast like you didn’t receive it?
- 8 You’re already *satisfied. You already became rich. You reigned without us, and I wish you really did reign so that we might also reign with you.
- 9 For I think that God publicly displayedfn“publicly displayed” is one word in Greek. It often has the additional nuance of demonstrating the true status or office of someone or something (for example, Acts 2:22) us as emissaries last, like men about to die,fn“about to die” is one word in Greek, which could also be translated “condemned to death”. because we became a spectaclefn“spectacle” The Greek word here is “θέατρον” (theatron), which means “theater” and is the root of our English word “theater”. It can also mean a “spectacle”, like one would see in a theater. to the world, to both angels and men.
- 10 We’re foolish for the Anointed, but you’re prudent in the Anointed. We’re weak, but you’re strong. You’re greatly honored, but we’re without honor.
- 11 Up to this present hour, we both hunger and thirst, and are poorly clothed, and are punched, and wander without a home,
- 12 and we exhaust ourselves working with our own hands. Being insulted, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;
- 13 being [slandered],fn“being slandered” many later manuscripts have “being blasphemed” here instead. we encourage. We became like the scum of the world, like the refuse scraped offfn“refuse scraped off” is one word in Greek. It properly refers to the filth or scum that you scrape off while cleaning. It also metaphorically referred to men of despicable character. of all things until now.
Admonishing as beloved children
(Parallel teachings: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12)
- 14 I’m not shaming you by writing these things, but admonishing you as my beloved children.
- 15 For even if you have ten thousandfn“ten thousand” this Greek word can also indicate “countless”, so that would also be an accurate translation here. tutorsfn“tutors” is one word in Greek. It refers to a legally appointed instructor who had charge over a boy, and especially his moral development. It was usually a slave and typically the boy couldn’t even leave the house without this tutor’s permission. in the Anointed, nevertheless you don’t have many fathers, for I fathered you in Jesus the Anointed through the good news.
- 16 Therefore I urge you: become imitators of me. CFParallel teachings on imitation: 1 Corinthians 11:1; Philippians 3:17; 1 Thessalonians 1:6; 2 Thessalonians 3:7-9; Philippians 4:9; Ephesians 5:1
- 17 Because of this, I sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Jesus the Anointed, just as I teach everywhere, in every church assembly.
- 18 But some of you were puffed up as if I’m not coming to you.
- 19 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and then I will know: not the word of the men who have been puffed up, but the power.
- 20 For the kingdom of God isn’t in word, but in power.
- 21 What do you wish? That I come to you with a rod? Or in ^love and a spirit of gentle strength?fn“gentle strength” is one word in Greek. It comes from the root “pra-” which is typically translated “meek”. It more accurately refers to power that’s exercised gently, without harshness. Our English word “meek” lacks the Greek word’s blend of gentleness, reserve, and strength.