1 Corinthians 3
3
Teachers Are Only God’s Servants
1Brothers and sisters, when I was there, I could not talk to you the way I talk to people who are led by the Spirit. I had to talk to you like ordinary people of the world. You were like babies in Christ. 2And the teaching I gave you was like milk, not solid food. I did this because you were not ready for solid food. And even now you are not ready. 3You are still not following the Spirit. You are jealous of each other, and you are always arguing with each other. This shows that you are still following your own selfish desires. You are acting like ordinary people of the world. 4One of you says, “I follow Paul,” and someone else says, “I follow Apollos.” When you say things like that, you are acting like people of the world.
5Is Apollos so important? Is Paul so important? We are only servants of God who helped you believe. Each one of us did the work God gave us to do. 6I planted the seed and Apollos watered it. But God is the one who made the seed grow. 7So the one who plants is not important, and the one who waters is not important. Only God is important, because he is the one who makes things grow. 8The one who plants and the one who waters have the same purpose. And each one will be rewarded for his own work. 9We are workers together for God, and you are like a farm that belongs to God.
And you are a house that belongs to God. 10Like an expert builder I built the foundation of that house. I used the gift that God gave me to do this. Other people are building on that foundation. But everyone should be careful how they build. 11The foundation that has already been built is Jesus Christ, and no one can build any other foundation. 12People can build on that foundation using gold, silver, jewels, wood, grass, or straw. 13But the work that each person does will be clearly seen, because the Day will make it plain. That Day will appear with fire, and the fire will test everyone’s work. 14If the building they put on the foundation still stands, they will get their reward. 15But if their building is burned up, they will suffer loss. They will be saved, but it will be like someone escaping from a fire.
16You should know that you yourselves are God’s temple.#3:16 temple God’s house—the place where God’s people worship him. Here, it means that believers are the spiritual temple where God lives. God’s Spirit lives in you. 17If you destroy God’s temple, God will destroy you, because God’s temple is holy. You yourselves are God’s temple.
18Don’t fool yourselves. Whoever thinks they are wise in this world should become a fool. That’s the only way they can be wise. 19I say this because the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, “He catches those who think they are wise in their own clever traps.”#Quote from Job 5:13. 20The Scriptures also say, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise. He knows that their thoughts are worth nothing.”#Quote from Ps. 94:11. 21So there is not a person on earth that any of you should be boasting about. Everything is yours: 22Paul, Apollos, Peter, the world, life, death, the present, and the future—all these are yours. 23And you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.
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© 1987, 2004 Bible League International
1 Corinthians 3
3
1And I, brethren, have not been able to speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshly; as to babes in Christ. 2I have given you milk to drink, not meat, for ye have not yet been able, nor indeed are ye yet able; 3for ye are yet carnal. For whereas there are among you emulation and strife, are ye not carnal, and walk according to man? 4For when one says, I am of Paul, and another, I of Apollos, are ye not men?
5Who then is Apollos, and who Paul? Ministering servants, through whom ye have believed, and as the Lord has given to each. 6I have planted; Apollos watered; but God has given the increase. 7So that neither the planter is anything, nor the waterer; but God the giver of the increase. 8But the planter and the waterer are one; but each shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9For we are God's fellow-workmen; ye are God's husbandry, God's building. 10According to the grace of God which has been given to me, as a wise architect, I have laid the foundation, but another builds upon it. But let each see how he builds upon it.
11For other foundation can no man lay besides that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12Now if any one build upon this foundation, gold, silver, precious stones, wood, grass, straw, 13the work of each shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire shall try the work of each what it is. 14If the work of any one which he has built upon the foundation shall abide, he shall receive a reward. 15If the work of any one shall be consumed, he shall suffer loss, but he shall be saved, but so as through the fire.
16Do ye not know that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17If any one corrupt the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, and such are ye.
18Let no one deceive himself: if any one thinks himself to be wise among you in this world, let him become foolish, that he may be wise. 19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God; for it is written, He who takes the wise in their craftiness. 20And again, The Lord knows the reasonings of the wise that they are vain.
21So that let no one boast in men; for all things are yours. 22Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things coming, all are yours; 23and ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's.
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First published in 1890. This edition is maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.