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Trust us, but make no hasty judgments

1-4 You should look upon us as ministers of Christ, as trustees of the secrets of God. And it is a prime requisite in a trustee that he should prove worthy of his trust. But, as a matter of fact, it matters very little to me what you, or any man, thinks of me—I don’t even value my opinion of myself—but that doesn’t justify me before God. My only true judge is God himself.

The moral of this is that we should make no hasty or premature judgments. When the Lord comes he will bring into the light of day all that at present is hidden in darkness, and he will expose the secret motives of men’s hearts. Then shall God himself give each man his share of praise.

Having your favourite teacher is not only silly but wrong

6-7 I have used myself and Apollos above as an illustration, so that you might learn from what I have said about us not to assess man above his value in God’s sight, and may thus avoid the friction that comes from exalting one teacher against another. For who makes you different from somebody else, and what have you got that was not given to you? And if anything has been given to you, why boast of it as if it were something you had achieved yourself?

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My conscience(A) is clear, but that does not make me innocent.(B) It is the Lord who judges me.(C) Therefore judge nothing(D) before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes.(E) He will bring to light(F) what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.(G)

Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.”(H) Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other.(I)

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