being defamed, we encourage; we have become as the sweepings of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.

For if I should desire to boast, I will not be foolish; for I will speak [the] truth. But I spare [you], lest anyone consider me to be beyond what he sees me [to be] or hears something from me.

Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord has given to each one?

For if I preach the gospel, there is nothing for me to boast about, for necessity is pressed upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!

What then is my reward? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ free of charge, so as not to exploit my rights in the gospel.

"Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master appointed over his household, to give them food in due season?

For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake.

but in everything commending ourselves as ministers of God: in much endurance, in tribulations, in hardships, in distresses,

Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I [am] even more: in labors far more, in beatings immeasurably, in imprisonments far more, in deaths often.

of which I became a minister according to the stewardship of God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God,

not a new convert, lest being puffed up [with pride] he fall into [the same] condemnation as the devil.

And the Lord said, "Who then is a faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season?

He also said to His disciples: "There was a certain rich man who had a manager, and this [man] was accused to him as wasting his possessions.

"Then the manager said within himself, 'What shall I do? For my master is taking the management away from me. I cannot dig; I am ashamed to beg.

For a bishop must be unimpeachable, as God's steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,

As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the [wisdom] having been hidden, which God foreordained before the ages for our glory,

He answered and said to them, "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.

And He said to them, "Unto you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come to be [spoken] in parables,

And He said, "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest [they are] in parables, that 'Seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.'

[] Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to [the] revelation of [the] mystery kept secret since the world began,

having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,

how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery, just as I wrote before briefly,

which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:

of which I became a minister according to the free gift of the grace of God which was given to me according to the working of His power.

and to enlighten all [as to] what is the administration of the mystery, which had been hidden from the ages in God, who created all things through Jesus Christ;

and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, in the opening of my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,

the mystery which has been hidden from the ages and from generations, but now was revealed to His saints.

To whom God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the nations, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory;

that their hearts may be encouraged, being joined together in love, and to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to a full knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ,

praying at the same time also for us, that God would open a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, because of which I am also in chains,

holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.

And confessedly, great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among [the] Gentiles, believed on in the world, [and] was received up in glory.