A Church Divided Over Leaders

¹⁰ I appeal to you, brothers and sisters,^[a](A) in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you,^(B) but that you be perfectly united^(C) in mind and thought. ¹¹ My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household^(D) have informed me that there are quarrels among you.

¹⁰ By the grace God has given me,^(A) I laid a foundation^(B) 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.^{(C) 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,^(D) because the Day^(E) will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work.^{(F) 14} If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward.^{(G) 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.^(H)

¹⁶ Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple^(I) and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?^{(J) 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^(K) by the standards of this age,^(L) you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. ¹⁹ For the wisdom of this world is foolishness^(M) in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”^[a];^{(N) 20} and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”^{[b](O) 21} So then, no more boasting about human leaders!^(P) All things are yours,^{(Q) 22} whether Paul or Apollos^(R) or Cephas^[c](S) or the world or life or death or the present or the future^(T)—all are yours, ²³ and you are of Christ,^(U) and Christ is of God.