Let a man so account of us, as of ^athe ministers of Christ, and ^bstewards of ^cthe mysteries of God. ²Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found ^dfaithful. ³But with me it is a very small thing that I should be ^ejudged of you, or of man’s ^†judgment: yea, I ^ejudge not mine own self. ⁴For ^fI know nothing by myself; ^gyet am I not hereby justified: but he that ^ejudgeth me is the Lord. ⁵Therefore ^hjudge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, ⁱwho both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and ^kthen shall every man have ^lpraise of God.

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Footnotes

aSee Luke 1:2. So ch. 3:5. 2 Cor. 6:4. Col. 1:25.
b Tit. 1:7. 1 Pet. 4:10. So ch. 9:17 (Gk.). See Luke 16:1.
dch. 7:25. 1 Tim. 1:12. So Num. 12:7. Neh. 13:13. Prov. 13:17. Matt. 24:45. & 25:21, 23. ver. 17. Eph. 6:21. Col. 1:7. & 4:9. 2 Tim. 2:2. Rev. 2:10, 13.
eSee ch. 2:15.
†Gr. day. See ch. 3:13.
eSee ch. 2:15.
fSee Acts 23:1.
gSo Job 9:2. Prov. 21:2. 1 John 3:20, 21. See Ps. 143:2. & Rom. 3:20.
eSee ch. 2:15.
h Matt. 7:1. Rom. 2:1. See Rom. 2:16.
iSo ch. 3:13. Comp. 2 Esdr. 16:65.
kSee ch. 3:8.

Cross references

c Col. 1:26, 27.
l Rom. 2:29.

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In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

A person should think of us in this way: as servants of Christ and managers of the mysteries of God. In this regard, it is required that managers be found faithful. It is of little importance to me that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I don’t even judge myself. For I am not conscious of anything against myself, but I am not justified by this. It is the Lord who judges me. So don’t judge anything prematurely, before the Lord comes, who will both bring to light what is hidden in darkness and reveal the intentions of the hearts. And then praise will come to each one from God.

NLTNew Living Translation

So look at Apollos and me as mere servants of Christ who have been put in charge of explaining God’s mysteries. Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful. As for me, it matters very little how I might be evaluated by you or by any human authority. I don’t even trust my own judgment on this point. My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide.

So don’t make judgments about anyone ahead of time—before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Thus let a person consider us as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries. In this case, moreover, it is sought in stewards that one be found faithful. But to me it is a very little matter that I be judged by you or by a human court, but I do not even judge myself. For I am conscious of nothing against myself, but not by this am I vindicated. But the one who judges me is the Lord. Therefore do not judge anything before the time, until the Lord should come, who will both enlighten the hidden things of darkness and will reveal the counsels of hearts, and then praise will come to each one from God.