1 Corinthians 3

Following People Is Wrong

1 Brothers and sisters, in the past I could not talk to you as I talk to spiritual people. I had to talk to you as I would to people without the Spirit—babies in Christ.2 The teaching I gave you was like milk, not solid food, because you were not able to take solid food. And even now you are not ready.3 You are still not spiritual, because there is jealousy and quarreling among you, and this shows that you are not spiritual. You are acting like people of the world.

4 One of you says, “I belong to Paul,” and another says, “I belong to Apollos.” When you say things like this, you are acting like people of the world.
5 Is Apollos important? No! Is Paul important? No! We are only servants of God who helped you believe. Each one of us did the work God gave us to do.6 I planted the seed, and Apollos watered it. But God is the One who made it grow.7 So the one who plants is not important, and the one who waters is not important. Only God, who makes things grow, is important.8 The one who plants and the one who waters have the same purpose, and each will be rewarded for his own work.

9 We are God’s workers, working together; you are like God’s farm, God’s house.
10 Using the gift God gave me, I laid the foundation of that house like an expert builder. Others are building on that foundation, but all people should be careful how they build on it.11 The foundation that has already been laid is Jesus Christ, and no one can lay down any other foundation.12 But if people build on that foundation, using gold, silver, jewels, wood, grass, or straw,13 their work will be clearly seen, because the Day of Judgment 14 If the building that has been put on the foundation still stands, the builder will get a reward.

15 But if the building is burned up, the builder will suffer loss. The builder will be saved, but it will be as one who escaped from a fire.
16 Don’t you know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?

17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person, because God’s temple is holy and you are that temple.
18 Do not fool yourselves. If you think you are wise in this world, you should become a fool so that you can become truly wise,19 because the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. It is written in the Scriptures, “He catches those who are wise in their own clever traps.” 20 It is also written in the Scriptures, “The Lord knows what wise people think. He knows their thoughts are just a puff of wind.” 21 So you should not brag about human leaders. All things belong to you:22 Paul, Apollos, and Peter; the world, life, death, the present, and the future—all these belong to you.23 And you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs 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.