I Corinthians 3-4

I Corinthians 3

¹And *I*, brethren, have not been able to speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshly; as to babes in Christ.

²I have given you milk to drink, not meat, for ye have not yet been able, nor indeed are ye yet able;

³for ye are yet carnal. For whereas there are among you emulation and strife, are ye not carnal, and walk according to man?

⁴For when one says, *I* am of Paul, and another, *I* of Apollos, are ye not men?

⁵Who then is Apollos, and who Paul? Ministering servants, through whom ye have believed, and as the Lord has given to each.

⁶*I* have planted; Apollos watered; but God has given the increase.

⁷So that neither the planter is anything, nor the waterer; but God the giver of the increase.

⁸But the planter and the waterer are one; but each shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

⁹For we are God's fellow-workmen; ye are God's husbandry, God's building.

¹⁰According to the grace of God which has been given to me, as a wise architect, I have laid the foundation, but another builds upon it. But let each see how he builds upon it.

¹¹For other foundation can no man lay besides that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

¹²Now if any one build upon this foundation, gold, silver, precious stones, wood, grass, straw,

¹³the work of each shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire shall try the work of each what it is.

¹⁴If the work of any one which he has built upon the foundation shall abide, he shall receive a reward.

¹⁵If the work of any one shall be consumed, he shall suffer loss, but *he* shall be saved, but so as through the fire.

¹⁶Do ye not know that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

¹⁷If any one corrupt the temple of God, *him* shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, and such are *ye*.

¹⁸Let no one deceive himself: if any one thinks himself to be wise among you in this world, let him become foolish, that he may be wise.

¹⁹For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God; for it is written, He who takes the wise in their craftiness.

²⁰And again, The Lord knows the reasonings of the wise that they are vain.

²¹So that let no one boast in men; for all things are yours.

²²Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things coming, all are yours;

²³and *ye* are Christ's, and Christ is God's.

I Corinthians 4

¹Let a man so account of us as servants of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

²Here, further, it is sought in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

³But for me it is the very smallest matter that I be examined of you or of man's day. Nor do I even examine myself.

⁴For I am conscious of nothing in myself; but I am not justified by this: but he that examines me is the Lord.

⁵So that do not judge anything before the time, until the Lord shall come, who shall also both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and shall make manifest the counsels of hearts; and then shall each have his praise from God.

⁶Now these things, brethren, I have transferred, in their application, to myself and Apollos, for your sakes, that ye may learn in us the lesson of not letting your thoughts go above what is written, that ye may not be puffed up one for such a one against another.

⁷For who makes thee to differ? and what hast thou which thou hast not received? but if also thou hast received, why boastest thou as not receiving?

⁸Already ye are filled; already ye have been enriched; ye have reigned without us; and I would that ye reigned, that *we* also might reign with you.

⁹For I think that God has set us the apostles for the last, as appointed to death. For we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and men.

¹⁰*We* are fools for Christ's sake, but *ye* prudent in Christ: *we* weak, but *ye* strong: *ye* glorious, but *we* in dishonour.

¹¹To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and are in nakedness, and buffeted, and wander without a home,

¹²and labour, working with our own hands. Railed at, we bless; persecuted, we suffer it;

¹³insulted, we entreat: we are become as the offscouring of the world, the refuse of all, until now.

¹⁴Not as chiding do I write these things to you, but as my beloved children I admonish you.

¹⁵For if ye should have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus *I* have begotten you through the glad tidings.

¹⁶I entreat you therefore, be my imitators.

¹⁷For this reason I have sent to you Timotheus, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who shall put you in mind of my ways as they are in Christ, according as I teach everywhere in every assembly.

¹⁸But some have been puffed up, as if I were not coming to you;

¹⁹but I will come quickly to you, if the Lord will; and I will know, not the word of those that are puffed up, but the power.

²⁰For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

²¹What will ye? that I come to you with a rod; or in love, and in a spirit of meekness?