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Jesus Christ, Our Foundation

And I, brothers, was not able to speak to you as to (A)spiritual men, but as to (B)fleshly men, as to (C)infants in Christ. I gave you (D)milk to drink, not solid food, for you (E)were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are still not able, for you are still fleshly. For since there is (F)jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking [a](G)like mere men? For when (H)one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not mere (I)men?

What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? (J)Servants through whom you believed, even (K)as the Lord gave to each one. (L)I planted, (M)Apollos watered, but (N)God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, but each will (O)receive his own [b]reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s (P)fellow workers; you are God’s [c](Q)field, God’s (R)building.

10 According to (S)the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder (T)I laid a foundation, and (U)another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. 11 For no one can lay a (V)foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, [d]precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 (W)each man’s work will become evident, for (X)the day will indicate it because it is revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test [e]the quality of each man’s work. 14 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will (Y)receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, yet (Z)so as through fire.

16 (AA)Do you not know that (AB)you are a [f]sanctuary of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If any man destroys the [g]sanctuary of God, God will destroy him, for the [h]sanctuary of God is holy, and [i]that is what you are.

18 (AC)Let no man deceive himself. (AD)If any man among you thinks that he is wise in (AE)this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise. 19 For (AF)the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, “He is (AG)the one who catches the wise in their craftiness”; 20 and again, “(AH)The Lord knows the reasonings of the wise, that they are useless.” 21 So then (AI)let no one boast in men. For (AJ)all things belong to you, 22 (AK)whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or (AL)life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, 23 and (AM)you belong to Christ, and (AN)Christ belongs to God.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 3:3 Lit according to man
  2. 1 Corinthians 3:8 Or wages
  3. 1 Corinthians 3:9 Or cultivated land
  4. 1 Corinthians 3:12 Or costly
  5. 1 Corinthians 3:13 Lit of what sort each man’s work is
  6. 1 Corinthians 3:16 The inner part of the temple
  7. 1 Corinthians 3:17 The inner part of the temple
  8. 1 Corinthians 3:17 The inner part of the temple
  9. 1 Corinthians 3:17 Lit who you are