1 Corinthians 3

Taking Sides in the Church

1 Brothers and sisters, I couldn't speak to you as if you were guided by the Holy Spirit. I had to speak to you as if you were following the ways of the world. You aren't growing as Christ wants you to. You are still like babies.2 The words I spoke to you were like milk, not like solid food. You weren't ready for solid food yet. And you still aren't ready for it.
3 You are still following the ways of the world. Some of you are jealous. Some of you argue. So aren't you following the ways of the world? Aren't you acting like ordinary human beings?4 One of you says, "I follow Paul." Another says, "I follow Apollos." Aren't you acting like ordinary human beings?
5 After all, what is Apollos? And what is Paul? We are only people who serve. We helped you to believe. The Lord has given each of us our own work to do.6 I planted the seed. Apollos watered it. But God made it grow.
7 So the one who plants is not important. The one who waters is not important. It is God who makes things grow. He is the One who is important.8 The one who plants and the one who waters have the same purpose. The Lord will give each of us a reward for our work.9 We work together with God. You are like God's field. You are like his building.
10 God has given me the grace to lay a foundation as a master builder. Now someone else is building on it. But each one should build carefully.11 No one can lay any other foundation than the one that has already been laid. That foundation is Jesus Christ.
12 A person may build on it using gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay or straw.13 But each person's work will be shown for what it is. On judgment day it will be brought to light. It will be put through fire. The fire will test how good everyone's work is.14 If the building doesn't burn up, God will give the builder a reward for his work.15 If the building burns up, the builder will lose everything. The builder will be saved, but only like one escaping through the flames.
16 Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple? God's Spirit lives in you.17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. God's temple is holy. And you are that temple.
18 Don't fool yourselves. Suppose some of you think you are wise by the standards of the world. Then you should become a "fool" so that you can become wise.
19 The wisdom of this world is foolish in God's eyes. It is written, "God catches wise people in their own tricks." (Job 5:13)20 It is also written, "The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise don't amount to anything." (Psalm 94:11)
21 So no more bragging about human beings! All things are yours.22 That means Paul or Apollos or Peter or the world or life or death or the present or the future. All are yours.23 You are joined to Christ and belong to him. And Christ is joined to God.

1 Corinthians 3

1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, as unto babes in Christ.2 I fed you with milk, not with meat; for ye were not yet able to bear it: nay, not even now are ye able;3 for ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you jealousy and strife, are ye not carnal, and do ye not walk after the manner of men?4 For when one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not men?5 What then is Apollos? and what is Paul? Ministers through whom ye believed; and each as the Lord gave to him.6 I planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.7 So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: but each shall receive his own reward according to his own labor.9 For we are God’s fellow-workers: ye are God’s husbandry, God’s building.10 According to the grace of God which was given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder I laid a foundation; and another buildeth thereon. But let each man take heed how he buildeth thereon.11 For other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.12 But if any man buildeth on the foundation gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, stubble;13 each man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself shall prove each man’s work of what sort it is.14 If any man’s work shall abide which he built thereon, he shall receive a reward.15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as through fire.16 Know ye not that ye are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?17 If any man destroyeth the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, and such are ye.18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man thinketh that he is wise among you in this world, let him become a fool, that he may become wise.19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He that taketh the wise in their craftiness:20 and again, The Lord knoweth the reasonings of the wise that they are vain.21 Wherefore let no one glory in men. For all things are yours;22 whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;23 and ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.