1 And I, brothers, was not able to speak to you as spiritual ones {pneumatikos: Spirit-shaped people}, but only as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ {Christos, Anointed Lord}.
2 I provided you with milk {gala: basic nourishment}, not solid food, because you were not yet able {edynasthe: spiritually prepared} to receive it; and even now you still remain unable.
3 For you are still fleshly {sarkikoi: ruled by self}; for where there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly and walking according to man {kata anthropon: ordinary human pattern}?
4 For when someone says{legei: asserts loyalty}, “I am Paul’s,” and another{heteros: different faction}, “I am Apollos’,” are you not merely people?
5 So what is Apollos, and what is Paul? They are servants {diakonoi: ministry workers}—the ones through whom you believed—each one as the Lord {Kyrios, Sovereign Giver} gave to him.
6 I planted {ephuteusa: began the work}, Apollos watered, but God {Theos, Growth Giver} was causing it to grow.
7 Therefore the one who plants {phyteuon: human servant role} is nothing, and the one who waters is nothing, but only God {Theos, Exclusive Growth-Giver}—the One who makes it grow.
8 The one who plants and the one who waters are one, and each will receive his own reward {misthos: just payment} in keeping with his own labor {kopos: strenuous effort}.
9 For we are God’s {Theos, Master Builder} fellow workers; and you are God’s field {georgion: cultivated community} and God’s building.
10 In line with the grace of God {Theos, Giver Of Ministry Grace} given to me, as a wise architect {architektōn: skilled master builder} I set down the foundation, and someone else is building on it; but let each one watch carefully how he builds on it.
11 For no one is able to set a different foundation {themelion: enduring spiritual base} besides the one already laid down, which is Jesus Christ {Iesous Christos, Unique Saving Foundation}.
12 If anyone builds on the foundation {themelion: laid base}, he may use gold, silver, precious stones, or else wood, hay, or stubble {kalamēn: straw-like residue}.
13 Each one’s work will become manifest, because the Day {hemera: final inspection} will make it known, since it is revealed in fire {pyr: testing blaze}; and the fire itself will test what kind of work each one has.
14 If anyone’s work {ergon: tested deeds} that he built remains, he will receive a reward {misthon: earned recompense}.
15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved {sothesetai: rescued or delivered}, yet as one passing through fire {puros: consuming flames}.
16 Do you not realize that you are God’s {Theos, Indwelling Presence} temple, and that the Spirit {pneuma: Divine Breath} of God lives in you?
17 If anyone destroys the temple of God {Theos, Guardian of Holiness}, God will bring destruction upon that person; for the temple {naos: indwelt dwelling} of God is holy, and you are that temple.
18 No one must deceive himself {exapatato: thoroughly mislead}. If anyone among you regards himself as wise {sophos: possessing true wisdom} in the present age, let him become a fool in order that he may become wise.
19 The wisdom belonging to this world stands as folly in the sight of God {Theos, Perfect Evaluator}. As Scripture records, “He who seizes the wise in their own craftiness {panourgia: deceptive skill}.”
20 Once again, the Lord {Kyrios, All-Knowing Judge} discerns the deliberations {dialogismos: rational plans} of the wise and deems them futile.
21 Consequently, let no one boast in people {anthropois: human teachers}, for all things are yours {humon: belonging to you}.
22 Whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world {kosmos: entire created order} or life or death or things present or things to come—all things are yours {panta: fully possessed}.
23 And you belong to Christ {Christos, Anointed Lord}, and Christ belongs to God {Theos, Supreme Head}.