1 Corinthians 3:1–11

The Problem of Immaturity

3 * Brothers, I was not able to speak to you as spiritual people but as people of the flesh, as babies in Christ. j 2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food, because you were not yet ready for it. In fact, you are still not ready, 3 because you are still fleshly. For since there is envy k and strife l m among you, are you not fleshly and living like unbelievers? n 4 For whenever someone says, “I’m with Paul,” and another, “I’m with Apollos,” o are you not unspiritual people? p q

The Role of God’s Servants

5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, and each has the role the Lord has given. 6 I planted, r Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 Now the one planting and the one watering are one in purpose, and each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s coworkers. s You are God’s field, God’s building. t 10 According to God’s grace that was given to me, I have laid a foundation as a skilled master builder, and another builds on it. But each one must be careful how he builds on it. 11 For no one can lay any other foundation u than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ.