THE FIRST EPISTLE
OF
PAUL THE APOSTLE
TO THE
CORINTHIANS

1 Corinthians 3 ©

1 The apostle gives yet other reasons why he preached the Gospel among them in all simplicity, namely, because of their childhood in knowledge, and carnality in their divisions. 5 Declares further, in what esteem teachers must be, and how the praise of their work must be ascribed, not to them who plant and water, but to God Who gives the increase. 10 That their office is to build on Christ the foundation; not hay, straw, stubble, but gold, silver and precious stones. 13 And that each one’s work shall be proved by fire, and they then shall receive reward according as it is found. 16 That the temple of God must not be violated by divisions. 18 Seeing the wisdom of men is foolishness before God. 21 That therefore no man must glory in men, seeing we are Christ’s.

1

AND I, brethren, could not speak unto you 1as unto spiritual, but 2as unto carnal, even 3as unto babes in Christ.

2

Ia have fed you with 4milk, and not with 5meat: for hithertob ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

3

For ye are yet carnal: forc whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk 6as men?

4

For while one saith, Id am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not 7carnal?

5

Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos,e but ministers 8by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to 9every man?

6

10I have planted, Apollosf11watered; but God gave the 12increase.

7

So then neither is he that planteth 13any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

8

Now he that planteth and he that watereth 14are one: andg every man shall receive his own reward 15according to his own labour.

9

For 16we are 17labourersh together with God: ye are 18God’s husbandry, ye are 19God’s building.i

10

20According to the grace of God which is given unto me, 21as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid 22the foundation, and 23another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed 24how he buildeth thereupon.

11

For other foundation can no man lay 25than that is laid,j26which is Jesus Christ.

12

Now if any man build 27upon this foundation 28gold, silver, precious stones, 29wood, hay, stubble;

13

30Every man’s 31work shall be made manifest: fork32the day shall 33declare it, because it shall be revealed 34by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

14

If any man’s work 35abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive 36a reward.

15

If any man's work shall be 37burned, he shall suffer 38loss: but he himself 39shall be saved; yet so 40as by fire.

16

Knowl ye not that 41ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

17

42If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God 43destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

18

Letm no man 44deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be 45wise in this world, 46let him become a fool, that he may be 47wise.

19

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, Hen48taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

20

And again, Theo Lord knoweth the thoughts of the 49wise, 50that they are vain.

21

Therefore let no man 51glory in men. For all things are 52yours;

22

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 ye 53are Christ’s; and Christ is 54God’s.