being defamed, we entreat. We have become as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.

For though I might desire to boast, I will not be foolish, for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, that no one should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.

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

For if I preach the gospel, there is no glory to me, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel.

What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel.

Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made administrator 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 all things commending ourselves as ministers of God; in much endurance, in afflictions, in needs, in distresses,

Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I excel them: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.

of which I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the Word of God,

not a new convert, that he not be puffed up with pride and fall into the same condemnation as the devil.

And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will set over his servants, to give them their portion of food at the right time?

He also said to His disciples: There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods.

Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? For my master is taking the stewardship away from me. I am not able to dig; I am ashamed to beg.

For an overseer must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not prone to anger, not given to wine, not quarrelsome, 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, having been hidden, which God appointed before the ages for our glory,

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

And He said to them, To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things are in parables,

And He said, To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest 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 preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept silent 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 (as I have briefly written already,

which in other ages 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 was made a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.

and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;

and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,

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

To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

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

meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the Word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds,

holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory.