1 Corinthians 3:7-4:12

English Standard Version

⁷ So ^(A)neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. ⁸ He who plants and he who waters are one, and each ^(B)will receive his wages according to his labor. ⁹ For we are ^(C)God's fellow workers. You are God's field, ^(D)God's building.

^10 (E)According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled^[a] master builder I laid a ^(F)foundation, and ^(G)someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. ¹¹ For no one can lay a ^(H)foundation other ^(I)than that which is laid, ^(J)which is Jesus Christ. ¹² Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— ^13 (K)each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed ^(L)by fire, and ^(M)the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. ¹⁴ If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, ^(N)he will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, ^(O)but only as through fire.

^16 (P)Do you not know that you^[b] are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? ¹⁷ If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For ^(Q)God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.

^18 (R)Let no one deceive himself. ^(S)If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. ¹⁹ For ^(T)the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, ^(U)“He catches the wise in their craftiness,” ²⁰ and again, ^(V)“The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” ²¹ So ^(W)let no one boast in men. For ^(X)all things are yours, ²² whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, ²³ and ^(Y)you are Christ's, and ^(Z)Christ is God's.

The Ministry of Apostles

4 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and ^(AA)stewards of the mysteries of God. ² Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. ³ But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. ^4 (AB)For I am not aware of anything against myself, ^(AC)but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. ⁵ Therefore ^(AD)do not pronounce judgment before the time, ^(AE)before the Lord comes, ^(AF)who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. ^(AG)Then each one will receive his commendation from God.

⁶ I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers,^[c] that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may ^(AH)be puffed up in favor of one against another. ⁷ For who sees anything different in you? ^(AI)What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?

⁸ Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! ⁹ For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, ^(AJ)like men sentenced to death, because we ^(AK)have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. ^10 (AL)We are fools for Christ's sake, but ^(AM)you are wise in Christ. ^(AN)We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. ¹¹ To the present hour ^(AO)we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and ^(AP)buffeted and ^(AQ)homeless, ¹² and we ^(AR)labor, working with our own hands. ^(AS)When reviled, we bless; ^(AT)when persecuted, we endure;