Study Desk

And I, brothers and sisters, could not speak to you as ^(C1)spiritual people, but only as ^(C2)fleshly, as to ^(C3)infants in Christ.

I gave you ^(C1)milk to drink, not solid food; for you ^(C2)were not yet able to consume it. But even now you are not yet able,

for you are still fleshly. For since there is ^(C1)jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking ^(C2)like ordinary people?

For when ^(C1)one person says, "I am ^(F1)with Paul," and another, "I am ^(F1)with Apollos," are you not ordinary ^(C2)people?

What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? ^(C1)Servants through whom you believed, even ^(C2)as the Lord gave opportunity to each one.

^(C1)I planted, ^(C2)Apollos watered, but ^(C3)God was causing the growth.

So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.

Now the one who plants and the one who waters are one; but each will ^(C1)receive his own ^(F1)reward according to his own labor.

For we are God's ^(C1)fellow workers; you are God's ^(F1)(C2)field, God's ^(C3)building.

According to ^(C1)the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder ^(C2)I laid a foundation, and ^(C3)another is building on it. But each person must be careful how he builds on it.

For no one can lay a ^(C1)foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw,

^(C1)each one's work will become evident; for ^(C2)the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test ^(F1)the quality of each one's work.

If anyone's work which he has built on it remains, he will ^(C1)receive a reward.

If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet only ^(C1)so as through fire.

^(C1)Do you not know that ^(C2)you are a ^(F1)temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

If anyone destroys the ^(F1)temple of God, God will destroy ^(F2)that person; for the ^(F1)temple of God is holy, ^(F3)and that is what you are.

^(C1)Take care that no one deceives himself. ^(C2)If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in ^(C3)this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise.

For ^(C1)the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the sight of God. For it is written: "He is ^(C2)THE ONE WHO CATCHES THE WISE BY THEIR CRAFTINESS";

and again, "^(C1)THE LORD KNOWS THE THOUGHTS of the wise, THAT THEY ARE useless."

So then, ^(C1)no one is to be boasting in people. For ^(C2)all things belong to you,

^(C1)whether Paul or Apollos or ^(F1)Cephas, or the world or ^(C2)life or death, or things present or things to come; all things belong to you,

and ^(C1)you belong to Christ, and ^(C2)Christ belongs to God.

This is the way any person is to regard us: as ^(C1)servants of Christ and ^(C2)stewards of ^(C3)the mysteries of God.

In this case, moreover, it is required ^(F1)of stewards that one be found trustworthy.

But to me it is an insignificant matter that I would be examined by you, or by any human ^(F1)court; in fact, I do not even examine myself.

For I ^(C1)am not aware of anything against myself; however I am not ^(C2)vindicated by this, but the one who examines me is the Lord.

Therefore ^(C1)do not go on ^(F1)passing judgment before ^(F2)the time, but wait ^(C2)until the Lord comes, who will both ^(C3)bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of human hearts; and then ^(C4)praise will come to each person from God.

Now these things, brothers and sisters, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos on your account, so that in us you may learn not to exceed ^(C1)what is written, so that no one of you will ^(C2)become ^(F1)arrogant ^(C3)in behalf of one against the other.

For who considers you as superior? ^(C1)What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

You are ^(C1)already filled, you have already become rich, you have become kings without us; and indeed, I wish that you had become kings so that we also might reign with you!

For I think, God has exhibited us, the apostles, last of all as men ^(C1)condemned to death, because we ^(C2)have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to mankind.

We are ^(C1)fools on account of Christ, but ^(C2)you are prudent in Christ! ^(C3)We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are without honor!

Up to this present hour we are both ^(C1)hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed and roughly treated and homeless;

and we labor, ^(C1)working with our own hands; when we are ^(C2)verbally abused, we bless; when we are ^(C3)persecuted, we endure it;

when we are slandered, we ^(F1)reply as friends; we have ^(C1)become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.

I do not write these things to ^(C1)shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved ^(C2)children.

For if you were to have countless ^(C1)tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in ^(C2)Christ Jesus I ^(C3)became your father through the ^(C4)gospel.

Therefore I urge you, be ^(C1)imitators of me.

For this reason I ^(C1)have sent to you ^(C2)Timothy, who is my ^(C3)beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, ^(C4)just as I teach everywhere in every church.

Now some have become ^(F1)(C1)arrogant, as though I were not ^(C2)coming to you.

But I ^(C1)will come to you soon, ^(C2)if the Lord wills, and I shall find out, not the ^(F1)words of those who are ^(C3)arrogant, but their power.

For the kingdom of God is ^(C1)not in ^(F1)words, but in power.

What do you desire? ^(C1)That I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?