1 Corinthians

Addresses issues in the Corinthian church, teaching on unity, love, and resurrection.

Chapter 3

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

*And I, friends, couldn't talk to you like grown-ups, but like kids just starting out in Christianity.

2 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.

*I gave you milk, not meat. You couldn't handle it before, and you still can't handle it now.

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

*You are still acting like ordinary people because you have jealousy, disagreements, and conflicts among you. Are you not behaving like normal humans then?

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

*For when some say, "I follow Paul," and others say, "I follow Apollos," aren't you focusing on human leaders instead of spiritual matters?

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

*Who are Paul and Apollos, but helpers you trusted, just like the Lord assigned to each person?

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

*I planted, Apollos watered; but God made it grow.

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

*So, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is really responsible for growth. It's actually God who causes things to grow.

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

*Now, the one who plants and the one who waters are the same; each person gets their own reward based on their work.

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

*We work together with God; you are God's farm and building.

10 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.

*Because God has given me special help, like a smart builder, I started the construction. Now someone else is adding to it. But everyone must be careful about how they continue building.

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

*No one can build a different foundation except the one already there, which is Jesus Christ.

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

*Now, if anyone builds on this foundation with valuable materials like gold, silver, or precious stones, or with weaker materials like wood, hay, or straw;

13 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.

*Everyone's actions will be clear to see: one day, fire will show this, as it reveals the true nature of each person's work. The fire tests their work to show what kind it really is.

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

*If a person's work lasts that they've built, they will get a prize.

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

*If someone's work is destroyed, they will lose it, but they themselves will be saved, though it will be a close call.

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

*Do you not know that you are a temple for God, and that God's spirit lives within you?

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

*If someone pollutes God's temple, God will punish them; because God's temple, which you are, is sacred.

18 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.

*Don't fool yourself. If anyone among you appears smart in the world, they should act foolish so they can truly be wise.

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

*The world's smart people seem silly to God. It's written that God sees through their clever tricks.

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

*And once more, God knows the ideas of smart people, and he sees that they are useless.

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

*So don't brag about what people can do. Everything belongs to you.

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

*No matter if it's Paul, Apollos, Cephas, the world, life, death, things now, or things in the future - everything belongs to you.

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

*You belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.

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