1 Corinthians 3
Paul calls the Corinthians carnal because of their jealousy and strife, saying he planted and Apollos watered but God gave the increase. He warns that each man's work will be tested by fire, and that the temple of God is holy — for if any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him.
| v | King James Version | Modern English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. | Brothers, I could not address You as spiritual people but as people of the flesh — as infants in Christ. |
| 2 | I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. | I fed You with milk, not solid food, for You were not ready for it. Indeed, You are still not ready, |
| 3 | For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? | for You are still of the flesh. For as long as there is jealousy and strife among You, are You not of the flesh and walking like mere men? |
| 4 | For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? | For when someone says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not merely human? |
| 5 | Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? | What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. |
| 6 | I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. | I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. |
| 7 | So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. | So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God Who gives the growth. |
| 8 | Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. | He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. |
| 9 | For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. | We are God's co-workers. You are God's field, God's building. |
| 10 | According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. | By the grace God gave me, I laid a foundation as a skilled builder, and someone else is building on it. Each one must be careful how he builds. |
| 11 | For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. | For no one can lay any other foundation than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. |
| 12 | Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; | Whether anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw— |
| 13 | Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. | each one's work will become clear. The Day will bring it to light, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what kind of work each has done. |
| 14 | If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. | If what He has built survives, He will receive a reward. |
| 15 | If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. | If His work is burned up, He will suffer loss — though He Himself will be saved, but only as through fire. |
| 16 | Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? | Do You not know that You are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in You? |
| 17 | If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. | If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy Him. For God's temple is holy, and You are that temple. |
| 18 | Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. | Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks he is wise in the ways of this age, He should become a fool so that He may become wise. |
| 19 | For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. | The wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: "He catches the wise in their own craftiness." |
| 20 | And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. | And again: "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile." |
| 21 | Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; | So let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you — |
| 22 | Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; | whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future — all are yours, |
| 23 | And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's. | and You are Christ's, and Christ is God's. |