Watering, Working, Warning

⁵ Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ^(A)ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? ^6 (B)I planted, ^(C)Apollos watered, ^(D)but God gave the increase. ⁷ So then ^(E)neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. ⁸ Now he who plants and he who waters are one, ^(F)and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

⁹ For ^(G)we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are ^(H)God’s building. ^10 (I)According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid ^(J)the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. ¹¹ For no other foundation can anyone lay than ^(K)that which is laid, ^(L)which is Jesus Christ. ¹² Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, ¹³ each one’s work will become clear; for the Day ^(M)will declare it, because ^(N)it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. ¹⁴ If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

^16 (O)Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? ¹⁷ If anyone ^[a]defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

Avoid Worldly Wisdom

^18 (P)Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, 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, ^(Q)“He catches the wise in their own craftiness”; ²⁰ and again, ^(R)“The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” ²¹ Therefore let no one boast in men. For ^(S)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 ^(T)you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

Stewards of the Mysteries of God

4 Let a man so consider us, as ^(U)servants of Christ ^(V)and stewards of the mysteries of God. ² Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. ³ But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human ^[b]court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. ⁴ For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. ^5 (W)Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to ^(X)light the hidden things of darkness and ^(Y)reveal the ^[c]counsels of the hearts. ^(Z)Then each one’s praise will come from God.

Fools for Christ’s Sake

⁶ Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be ^[d]puffed up on behalf of one against the other. ⁷ For who ^[e]makes you differ from another? And ^(AA)what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

⁸ You are already full! ^(AB)You are already rich! You have reigned as kings without us—and indeed I could wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you! ⁹ For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a ^(AC)spectacle ^[f]to the world, both to angels and to men. ¹⁰ We are ^(AD)fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! ^(AE)We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! ¹¹ To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. ^12 (AF)And we labor, working with our own hands. ^(AG)Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; ¹³ being defamed, we ^[g]entreat. ^(AH)We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.

Paul’s Paternal Care

¹⁴ I do not write these things to shame you, but ^(AI)as my beloved children I warn you. ¹⁵ For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for ^(AJ)in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. ¹⁶ Therefore I urge you, ^(AK)imitate me. ¹⁷ For this reason I have sent ^(AL)Timothy to you, ^(AM)who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will ^(AN)remind you of my ways in Christ, as I ^(AO)teach everywhere ^(AP)in every church.

^18 (AQ)Now some are ^[h]puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. ^19 (AR)But I will come to you shortly, ^(AS)if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. ²⁰ For ^(AT)the kingdom of God is not in word but in ^(AU)power. ²¹ What do you want? ^(AV)Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?

The Assured Judgment of the Wicked

To the Chief Musician. Set to ^[a]“Do Not Destroy.” A Michtam of David ^(A)when Saul sent men, and they watched the house in order to kill him.