God’s Wisdom Revealed by the Spirit

⁶ We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature,^(A) but not the wisdom of this age^(B) or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.^(C)

³ I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself.

⁴ My conscience^(A) is clear, but that does not make me innocent.^(B) It is the Lord who judges me.^(C)

Paul’s Appeal and Warning

¹⁴ I am writing this not to shame you^(A) but to warn you as my dear children.^{(B) 15} Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father^(C) through the gospel.^{(D) 16} Therefore I urge you to imitate me.^(E)

⁷ I wish that all of you were as I am.^(A) But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.^(B)

Paul’s Rights as an Apostle

9 Am I not free?^(A) Am I not an apostle?^(B) Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?^(C) Are you not the result of my work in the Lord?^{(D) 2} Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal^(E) of my apostleship in the Lord.

³ This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. ⁴ Don’t we have the right to food and drink?^{(F) 5} Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife^(G) along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers^(H) and Cephas^[a]?^{(I) 6} Or is it only I and Barnabas^(J) who lack the right to not work for a living?

¹⁵ But I have not used any of these rights.^(A) And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast.^(B)

Paul’s Use of His Freedom

¹⁹ Though I am free^(A) and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone,^(B) to win as many as possible.^(C)

²⁶ Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly;^(A) I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.^(B)