6Brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written. Then you will not take pride in one man over another.
7For who makes you so superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
8Already you have all you want. Already you have become rich. Without us, you have become kings. How I wish you really were kings, so that we might be kings with you!
9For it seems to me that God has displayed us apostles at the end of the procession, like prisoners appointed for death. We have become a spectacle to the whole world, to angels as well as to men.
10We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are dishonored.
11To this very hour we are hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clothed, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.
12We work hard with our own hands. When we are vilified, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;
13when we are slandered, we answer gently. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.
14I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children.
15Even if you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.
16Therefore I urge you to imitate me.
