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1 Corinthians 3

And I couldn't speak to you, brothers, as to spiritual people, but as to people of the flesh — as to infants in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food, because you weren't ready for it. And you still aren't ready, because you are still of the flesh. While there is envy and conflict and division among you, aren't you of the fl

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Babies in Christ

And I couldn't speak to you, brothers, as to spiritual people, but as to people of the flesh — as to infants in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food, because you weren't ready for it. And you still aren't ready, because you are still of the flesh. While there is envy and conflict and division among you, aren't you of the flesh, and behaving like ordinary men? For while one says, I am with Paul, and another, I am with Apollos, aren't you behaving like ordinary men? So who is Paul, and who is Apollos? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each of them. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters counts for anything, but only God, who gives the increase. Now the one who plants and the one who waters are one, and each will receive his own reward according to his own labour. Because we are fellow workers with God. You are God's field. You are God's building.

And I, brothers, couldn't speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshly, as to babies in Christ. I've fed you with milk and not with meat. Because up till now you weren't able to take it, and you aren't able now either. Because you're still fleshly. Because when there's among you envy and arguing and divisions, aren't you fleshly and walk the way men do? Because while one says: I'm of Paul — and another: I'm of Apollos — aren't you fleshly? Who's Paul then, and who's Apollos, but servants who you believed by, as the Lord gave to every man? I've planted, Apollos watered. But God gave the growth. So neither is the one who plants anything, or the one who waters. But God who gives the growth. Now the one who plants and the one who waters are one. And every man will get his own reward according to his own work. Because we're workers together with God. You're God's field, you're God's building.

And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 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. 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 while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.

1

And I couldn't speak to you, brothers, as to spiritual people, but as to people of the flesh — as to infants in Christ.

Plain English

And I, brothers, couldn't speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshly, as to babies in Christ.

King James Version, 1611

And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

2

I fed you with milk and not with solid food, because you weren't ready for it. And you still aren't ready,

Plain English

I've fed you with milk and not with meat. Because up till now you weren't able to take it, and you aren't able now either.

King James Version, 1611

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.

3

because you are still of the flesh. While there is envy and conflict and division among you, aren't you of the flesh, and behaving like ordinary men?

Plain English

Because you're still fleshly. Because when there's among you envy and arguing and divisions, aren't you fleshly and walk the way men do?

King James Version, 1611

For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

4

For while one says, I am with Paul, and another, I am with Apollos, aren't you behaving like ordinary men?

Plain English

Because while one says: I'm of Paul — and another: I'm of Apollos — aren't you fleshly?

King James Version, 1611

For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

5

So who is Paul, and who is Apollos? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each of them.

Plain English

Who's Paul then, and who's Apollos, but servants who you believed by, as the Lord gave to every man?

King James Version, 1611

Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

6

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.

Plain English

I've planted, Apollos watered. But God gave the growth.

King James Version, 1611

I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

7

So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters counts for anything, but only God, who gives the increase.

Plain English

So neither is the one who plants anything, or the one who waters. But God who gives the growth.

King James Version, 1611

So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

8

Now the one who plants and the one who waters are one, and each will receive his own reward according to his own labour.

Plain English

Now the one who plants and the one who waters are one. And every man will get his own reward according to his own work.

King James Version, 1611

Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

9

Because we are fellow workers with God. You are God's field. You are God's building.

Plain English

Because we're workers together with God. You're God's field, you're God's building.

King James Version, 1611

For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.

The foundation and the building

By the grace of God given to me, I laid a foundation like a skilled master builder, and someone else is building on it. But let every man watch how he builds on it. Because nobody can lay any other foundation than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay or stubble, every man's work will be shown for what it is. Because the Day will make it plain, since it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each man has done. If what a man has built survives, he will receive a reward. If a man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, yet as through fire. Don't you know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God lives in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. Because the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are. Let nobody fool himself. If any of you thinks he is wise in this world, let him become a fool, so he may become wise. Because the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written: He catches the wise in their own craftiness. And again: The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are empty. So let nobody boast in men. Because everything is yours — whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come. All of it is yours, and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.

According to the grace of God given me, as a wise master builder I've laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let every man watch how he builds on it. Because no man can lay another foundation than what's laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble — every man's work will be made plain. Because the day will show it, because it'll be shown by fire. And the fire will test every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work stays that he's built on it, he'll get a reward. If any man's work is burnt, he'll suffer loss. But he himself will be saved, yet as by fire. Don't you know you're the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God lives in you? If any man makes the temple of God unclean, God will wreck him. Because the temple of God is holy, and that's what you are. Don't let any man take himself in. If any man among you seems to be wise in this world, let him turn a fool, so he can be wise. Because the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. Because it's written: He catches the wise in their own craftiness. And again: The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they're empty. So let no man boast in men. Because everything is yours — whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come. Everything is yours. And you're Christ's, and Christ is God's.

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. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 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. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. 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. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.

10

By the grace of God given to me, I laid a foundation like a skilled master builder, and someone else is building on it. But let every man watch how he builds on it.

Plain English

According to the grace of God given me, as a wise master builder I've laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let every man watch how he builds on it.

King James Version, 1611

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.

11

Because nobody can lay any other foundation than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Plain English

Because no man can lay another foundation than what's laid, which is Jesus Christ.

King James Version, 1611

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12

Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay or stubble,

Plain English

Now if any man builds on this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble —

King James Version, 1611

Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

13

every man's work will be shown for what it is. Because the Day will make it plain, since it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each man has done.

Plain English

every man's work will be made plain. Because the day will show it, because it'll be shown by fire. And the fire will test every man's work of what sort it is.

King James Version, 1611

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.

14

If what a man has built survives, he will receive a reward.

Plain English

If any man's work stays that he's built on it, he'll get a reward.

King James Version, 1611

If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

15

If a man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, yet as through fire.

Plain English

If any man's work is burnt, he'll suffer loss. But he himself will be saved, yet as by fire.

King James Version, 1611

If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

16

Don't you know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God lives in you?

Plain English

Don't you know you're the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God lives in you?

King James Version, 1611

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

17

If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. Because the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.

Plain English

If any man makes the temple of God unclean, God will wreck him. Because the temple of God is holy, and that's what you are.

King James Version, 1611

If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

18

Let nobody fool himself. If any of you thinks he is wise in this world, let him become a fool, so he may become wise.

Plain English

Don't let any man take himself in. If any man among you seems to be wise in this world, let him turn a fool, so he can be wise.

King James Version, 1611

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.

19

Because the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written: He catches the wise in their own craftiness.

Plain English

Because the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. Because it's written: He catches the wise in their own craftiness.

King James Version, 1611

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

20

And again: The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are empty.

Plain English

And again: The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they're empty.

King James Version, 1611

And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

21

So let nobody boast in men. Because everything is yours —

Plain English

So let no man boast in men. Because everything is yours —

King James Version, 1611

Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;

22

whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come. All of it is yours,

Plain English

whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come. Everything is yours.

King James Version, 1611

Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;

23

and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.

Plain English

And you're Christ's, and Christ is God's.

King James Version, 1611

And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.