However, brothers and sisters, I could not talk to you as to ^aspiritual people, but only as to ^1bworldly people dominated by human nature, mere ^cinfants in the new life in Christ! 2 I fed you with ^amilk, not solid food; for you ^bwere not yet able to receive it. Even now you are still not ready. 3 You are still ¹worldly controlled by ordinary impulses, the sinful capacity. For as long as there is ^ajealousy and strife and discord among you, are you not ²unspiritual, and are you not walking ^blike ordinary men unchanged by faith? 4 For when ^aone of you says, “I am a disciple of Paul,” and another, “I am a disciple of Apollos,” are you not proving yourselves unchanged, just ordinary ^bpeople?

5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Just ^aservants through whom you believed in Christ, even ^bas the Lord appointed to each his task. 6 ^aI planted, ^bApollos watered, but ^cGod all the while was causing the growth. 7 So neither is the one who plants nor the one who waters anything, but only God who causes the growth. 8 He who plants and he who waters are one in importance and esteem, working toward the same purpose; but each will ^areceive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s ^afellow workers His servants working together; you are God’s ^bcultivated field His garden, His vineyard, God’s ^cbuilding. Is 61:3

10 According to ^athe remarkable grace of God which was given to me to prepare me for my task, like a skillful master builder ^bI laid a foundation, and now ^canother is building on it. But each one must be careful how he builds on it, 11 for no one can lay a ^afoundation other than the one which is already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 But if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 ^aeach one’s work will be clearly shown for what it is; for ^bthe day of judgment will disclose it, because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality and character and worth of each person’s work. 2+@Cor 5:10 14 If any person’s work which he has built on this foundation, that is, any outcome of his effort remains and survives this test, he will ^areceive a reward. 15 But if any person’s work is burned up by the test, he will suffer the loss of his reward; yet he himself will be saved, but ^aonly as one who has barely escaped through fire. Job 23:10

16 ^1aDo you not know and understand that ^byou the church are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells permanently in you collectively and individually? 17 If anyone destroys the temple of God corrupting it with false doctrine, God will destroy the destroyer; for the temple of God is holy (sacred) , and that is what you are.

18 ^aLet no one deceive himself. ^bIf anyone among you thinks that he is wise in ^cthis age, let him become a fool discarding his worldly pretensions and acknowledging his lack of wisdom, so that he may become truly wise. Is 5:21 19 For ^athe wisdom of this world is foolishness (absurdity, stupidity) before God; for it is written in Scripture, “ ^bHe is THE ONE WHO CATCHES THE WISE and CLEVER IN THEIR CRAFTINESS;” Job 5:13 20 and again, “^aTHE LORD KNOWS THE THOUGHTS of the humanly wise, THAT THEY ARE USELESS.” Ps 94:11 21 So ^alet no one boast in men about their wisdom, or of having this or that one as a leader. For ^ball things are yours, 22 ^awhether Paul or Apollos or Cephas (Peter) or the world or ^blife or death or things present or things to come; all things are yours, 23 and ^ayou belong to Christ; and ^bChrist belongs to God.