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1 Corinthians 3
Disciples’ Literal New Testament

But You Are Still Acting Like Infants By Dividing Over Paul And Apollos

3 And I, brothers, was not able to speak to you as to spiritual ones, but as to ones made-of-flesh[a], as to infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk to drink, not food, for you were not yet able. But not-even still now are you able, 3 for you are still fleshly[b]. For where there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly and walking in accordance with human thinking[c]? 4 For whenever one says “I am of Paul”, and another “I am of Apollos”, are you not [mere] humans?

So What Are Apollos And Paul? Servants Planting And Watering Seed For God

5 Therefore, what is Apollos? And what is Paul?— servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave to each one. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing-growth. 7 So then neither is the one planting anything, nor the one watering, but God causing the growth. 8 And the one planting and the one watering are one[d], but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

We Are Workers In God’s Building. Be Careful How You Build On The Foundation

9 For we are God’s fellow-workers[e]; you are God’s farm, God’s building. 10 I laid a foundation according-to[f] the grace of God having been given to me as a wise master-builder, and another is building-upon it. But let each one be watching-out how he builds-upon it. 11 For no one can lay another foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 And if one builds gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw upon the foundation, 13 each one’s work will become evident. For the day will make it clear[g], because it is revealed by fire. And the fire itself will test what-sort each one’s work is. 14 If one’s work which he built-upon it shall remain, he will receive a reward. 15 If one’s work shall be burned-up, he will suffer-loss[h]. But he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. 16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and the Spirit of God is dwelling in you? 17 If anyone ruins[i] the temple of God, God will ruin this one. For the temple of God is holy— which you are!

Don’t Be Deceived. The World’s Wisdom Is Foolishness To God

18 Let no one be deceiving himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become foolish in order that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it has been written [in Job 5:13], “He is the One catching the wise in their craftiness[j]”; 20 and again [in Ps 94:11], “The Lord knows the thoughts[k] of the wise, that they are futile”.

So Don’t Boast In People. All God’s Servants Belong To You

21 So then, let no one be boasting in people. For all things are yours— 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things coming— all things are yours. 23 And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 3:1 That is, as to ones like non-believers in their thinking.
  2. 1 Corinthians 3:3 That is, living like non-believers.
  3. 1 Corinthians 3:3 Or, with mankind. That is, with human logic, goals, ways of viewing things.
  4. 1 Corinthians 3:8 That is, in purpose. Or, one thing, God’s fellow workers.
  5. 1 Corinthians 3:9 That is, co-workers for God, or with God.
  6. 1 Corinthians 3:10 Or, based on.
  7. 1 Corinthians 3:13 Or, reveal it, show it (for what it really is).
  8. 1 Corinthians 3:15 Or forfeit (the reward).
  9. 1 Corinthians 3:17 Or, corrupts, destroys, spoils.
  10. 1 Corinthians 3:19 Or, trickery, cunning.
  11. 1 Corinthians 3:20 Or, opinions, reasonings.
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1 Corinthians 3
New International Version

The Church and Its Leaders

3 Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit(A) but as people who are still worldly(B)—mere infants(C) in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food,(D) for you were not yet ready for it.(E) Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling(F) among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,”(G) are you not mere human beings?

5 What, after all, is Apollos?(H) And what is Paul? Only servants,(I) through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6 I planted the seed,(J) Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor.(K) 9 For we are co-workers in God’s service;(L) you are God’s field,(M) God’s building.(N)

10 By the grace God has given me,(O) I laid a foundation(P) as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.(Q) 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is,(R) because the Day(S) will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work.(T) 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward.(U) 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.(V)

16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple(W) and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?(X) 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.

18 Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise(Y) by the standards of this age,(Z) you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness(AA) in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”[a];(AB) 20 and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”[b](AC) 21 So then, no more boasting about human leaders!(AD) All things are yours,(AE) 22 whether Paul or Apollos(AF) or Cephas[c](AG) or the world or life or death or the present or the future(AH)—all are yours, 23 and you are of Christ,(AI) and Christ is of God.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 3:19 Job 5:13
  2. 1 Corinthians 3:20 Psalm 94:11
  3. 1 Corinthians 3:22 That is, Peter
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1 Corinthians 2
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