Perhaps you think we’re saying these things just to defend ourselves. No, we tell you this as Christ’s servants, and with God as our witness. Everything we do, dear friends, is to strengthen you.

你们到如今，还想我们是向你们分诉；我们本是在基督里当神面前说话。亲爱的弟兄啊，一切的事都是为造就你们。

你们一直认为我们是在你们面前为自己辩护吗？其实，我们本是在基督里当着上帝面前说话。亲爱的，一切的事都是为了造就你们。

你们一直认为我们是在你们面前为自己辩护吗？其实，我们本是在基督里当着神面前说话。亲爱的，一切的事都是为了造就你们。

你们一直以为我们是替自己辩白，其实我们这番话是在基督里、在上帝面前说的。亲爱的弟兄姊妹，这一切都是为了造就你们。

你们一直以为我们是在向你们申辩吗？我们是在基督里，当着神面前说话的。亲爱的，一切事都是为了建立你们。

你们一直以为我们是在向你们申辩吗？我们是在基督里，在神面前说话。各位蒙爱的人哪，这一切都是为了造就你们。

你們到如今，還想我們是向你們分訴；我們本是在基督裏當神面前說話。親愛的弟兄啊，一切的事都是為造就你們。

你們一直認為我們是在你們面前為自己辯護嗎？其實，我們本是在基督裏當着上帝面前說話。親愛的，一切的事都是為了造就你們。

你們一直認為我們是在你們面前為自己辯護嗎？其實，我們本是在基督裏當着神面前說話。親愛的，一切的事都是為了造就你們。

你們一直以為我們是替自己辯白，其實我們這番話是在基督裡、在上帝面前說的。親愛的弟兄姊妹，這一切都是為了造就你們。

你們一直以為我們是在向你們申辯嗎？我們是在基督裡，當著神面前說話的。親愛的，一切事都是為了建立你們。

你們這一向還以為我們是向你們辯訴呢！不，我們乃是在基督裏、當着上帝面前說話的；而且一切都是為了建立你們的，親愛的啊。

你們一直以為我們是在向你們申辯嗎？我們是在基督裡，在神面前說話。各位蒙愛的人哪，這一切都是為了造就你們。

爾尚意我向爾自訴、然我在基督中上帝前而言也、愛友乎、所言悉以建爾、

爾意我欲自訴乎、凡我良朋、余宗基督、在上帝前而言此、悉以輔爾德、

爾猶思我向爾曹自訴乎、非也、我賴基督在天主前而言、至愛者乎、凡我所行者、乃為建爾德、

爾等以為吾儕但欲自為辨白耳。實則吾儕對越在天、言不離基督、在一切事上、惟欲己達達人、己立立人而已矣。

Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening.

All this time, have you been thinking that I’ve been speaking up for myself? No, I’ve been speaking with God as my witness. I’ve been speaking like a believer in Christ. Dear friends, everything I do is to help you become stronger.

Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and all for your upbuilding, beloved.

Have you been thinking all along that we were defending ourselves to you? No, in the sight of God we are speaking in Christ, and everything, dear friends, is for building you up.

All this time you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. Actually, it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ; and all for building you up, beloved.

Again, do you think that we excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ. But we do all things, beloved, for your edification.

Ye think all this time that we are excusing ourselves unto you. In the sight of God speak we in Christ. But all things, beloved, are for your edifying.

You have thought all along that we were defending ourselves to you. No, in the sight of God we are speaking in Christ, and everything, dear friends, is for building you up.

Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but[ we do] all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.

Have you been thinking all this time that we have been defending ourselves to you? We are speaking in Christ before God, and everything we do, dear friends, is to build you up.

Again, do you think that we are excusing ourselves to you? In the sight of God we speak in Christ. But all things, beloved, are for your edifying.

With Christ as my witness, I speak with utter truthfulness. My conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm it.

I may seem to be boasting too much about the authority given to us by the Lord. But our authority builds you up; it doesn’t tear you down. So I will not be ashamed of using my authority.

Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you.

Are we commending ourselves to you again? No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart.If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit.

Are we beginning to praise ourselves again? Are we like others, who need to bring you letters of recommendation, or who ask you to write such letters on their behalf? Surely not!

If you support others who preach to you, shouldn’t we have an even greater right to be supported? But we have never used this right. We would rather put up with anything than be an obstacle to the Good News about Christ.Don’t you realize that those who work in the temple get their meals from the offerings brought to the temple? And those who serve at the altar get a share of the sacrificial offerings.In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it.Yet I have never used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that I want to start now. In fact, I would rather die than lose my right to boast about preaching without charge.Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News!If I were doing this on my own initiative, I would deserve payment. But I have no choice, for God has given me this sacred trust.What then is my pay? It is the opportunity to preach the Good News without charging anyone. That’s why I never demand my rights when I preach the Good News.Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ.When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law.When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ.When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some.I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.

So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols.

I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me.

As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, no one in all of Greece will ever stop me from boasting about this.

Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.

God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, who is worthy of eternal praise, knows I am not lying.

Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,“ I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord.

I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved.

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stay true to the Lord. I love you and long to see you, dear friends, for you are my joy and the crown I receive for my work.

I am writing this to you before I come, hoping that I won’t need to deal severely with you when I do come. For I want to use the authority the Lord has given me to strengthen you, not to tear you down.