1 Corinthians 2:6-3:23

English Standard Version

Wisdom from the Spirit

⁶ Yet among ^(A)the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not ^(B)a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, ^(C)who are doomed to pass away. ⁷ But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, ^(D)which God decreed before the ages for our glory. ⁸ None of ^(E)the rulers of this age understood this, for ^(F)if they had, they would not have crucified ^(G)the Lord of glory. ⁹ But, as it is written,

¹⁰ these things ^(K)God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even ^(L)the depths of God. ¹¹ For who knows a person's thoughts ^(M)except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. ¹² Now ^(N)we have received not ^(O)the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. ¹³ And we impart this ^(P)in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, ^(Q)interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.^[a]

¹⁴ The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are ^(R)folly to him, and ^(S)he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. ¹⁵ The ^(T)spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. ^16 (U)“For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But ^(V)we have the mind of Christ.

Divisions in the Church

3 But I, brothers,^[b] could not address you as ^(W)spiritual people, but as ^(X)people of the flesh, as ^(Y)infants in Christ. ^2 (Z)I fed you with milk, not solid food, for ^(AA)you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, ³ for you are still of the flesh. For while there is ^(AB)jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? ⁴ For ^(AC)when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” ^(AD)are you not being merely human?

⁵ What then is Apollos? What is Paul? ^(AE)Servants through whom you believed, ^(AF)as the Lord assigned to each. ^6 (AG)I planted, ^(AH)Apollos watered, ^(AI)but God gave the growth. ⁷ So ^(AJ)neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. ⁸ He who plants and he who waters are one, and each ^(AK)will receive his wages according to his labor. ⁹ For we are ^(AL)God's fellow workers. You are God's field, ^(AM)God's building.

^10 (AN)According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled^[c] master builder I laid a ^(AO)foundation, and ^(AP)someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. ¹¹ For no one can lay a ^(AQ)foundation other ^(AR)than that which is laid, ^(AS)which is Jesus Christ. ¹² Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— ^13 (AT)each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed ^(AU)by fire, and ^(AV)the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. ¹⁴ If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, ^(AW)he will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, ^(AX)but only as through fire.

^16 (AY)Do you not know that you^[d] are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? ¹⁷ If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For ^(AZ)God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.

^18 (BA)Let no one deceive himself. ^(BB)If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. ¹⁹ For ^(BC)the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, ^(BD)“He catches the wise in their craftiness,” ²⁰ and again, ^(BE)“The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” ²¹ So ^(BF)let no one boast in men. For ^(BG)all things are yours, ²² whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, ²³ and ^(BH)you are Christ's, and ^(BI)Christ is God's.