⁶ I planted the seed,^(A) Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. ⁷ So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. ⁸ The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor.^{(B) 9} For we are co-workers in God’s service;^(C) you are God’s field,^(D) God’s building.^(E)

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

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

The Nature of True Apostleship

4 This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants^(AA) of Christ and as those entrusted^(AB) with the mysteries^(AC) God has revealed. ² Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. ³ I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. ⁴ My conscience^(AD) is clear, but that does not make me innocent.^(AE) It is the Lord who judges me.^{(AF) 5} Therefore judge nothing^(AG) before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes.^(AH) He will bring to light^(AI) what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.^(AJ)