The Church and Its Leaders
1Brothers and sisters, I couldn’t speak to you as people who live by the Holy Spirit. I had to speak to you as people who were still following the ways of the world. You aren’t growing as Christ wants you to. You are still like babies. 2The words I spoke to you were like milk, not like solid food. You weren’t ready for solid food yet. And you still aren’t ready for it. 3You are still following the ways of the world. Some of you are jealous. Some of you argue. So aren’t you following the ways of the world? Aren’t you acting like ordinary human beings? 4One of you says, “I follow Paul.” Another says, “I follow Apollos.” Aren’t you acting like ordinary human beings?
5After all, what is Apollos? And what is Paul? We are only people who serve. We helped you to believe. The Lord has given each of us our own work to do. 6I planted the seed. Apollos watered it. But God has been making it grow. 7So the one who plants is not important. The one who waters is not important. It is God who makes things grow. He is the important one. 8The one who plants and the one who waters have the same purpose. The Lord will give each of them a reward for their work. 9We work together to serve God. You are like God’s field. You are like his building.
10God has given me the grace to lay a foundation as a wise builder. Now someone else is building on it. But each one should build carefully. 11No one can lay any other foundation than what has already been laid. That foundation is Jesus Christ. 12A person may build on it using gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay or straw. 13But each person’s work will be shown for what it is. On judgment day it will be brought to light. It will be put through fire. The fire will test how good each person’s work is. 14If the building doesn’t burn up, God will give the builder a reward for the work. 15If the building burns up, the builder will lose everything. The builder will be saved, but only like one escaping through the flames.
16Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple? Don’t you know that God’s Spirit lives among you? 17If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person. God’s temple is holy. And you all together are that temple.
18Don’t fool yourselves. Suppose some of you think you are wise by the standards of the world. Then you should become “fools” so that you can become wise. 19The wisdom of this world is foolish in God’s eyes. It is written, “God catches wise people in their own evil plans.” (Job 5:13) 20It is also written, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of wise people don’t amount to anything.” (Psalm 94:11) 21So no more bragging about human leaders! All things are yours. 22That means Paul or Apollos or Peter or the world or life or death or the present or the future. All are yours. 23You are joined to Christ and belong to him. And Christ is joined to God.
Kuhusu Mgawanyiko Katika Kanisa
13:1 1Kor 2:15; Rum 7:14; 1Kor 2:14; 14:20Ndugu zangu, mimi sikuweza kusema nanyi kama watu wa kiroho, bali kama watu wa mwilini, kama watoto wachanga katika Kristo. 23:2 Ebr 5:12-14; 1Pet 2:2; Yn 16:12Naliwanywesha maziwa, wala si chakula kigumu, kwa kuwa hamkuwa tayari kwa hicho chakula. Naam, hata sasa hamko tayari. 33:3 Rum 13:13; 1Kor 1:11; Gal 5:20Ninyi bado ni watu wa mwilini. Kwa kuwa bado kuna wivu na magombano miongoni mwenu, je, ninyi si watu wa mwilini? Je, si mwaendelea kama watu wa kawaida? 43:4 1Kor 1:12Kwa maana mmoja anaposema, “Mimi ni wa Paulo,” na mwingine, “Mimi ni wa Apolo,” je, ninyi si wanadamu wa kawaida?
53:5 Mdo 18:24; 1Kor 4:1; 2Kor 6:4; Efe 3:7; Kol 1:23-25Kwani, Apolo ni nani? Naye Paulo ni nani? Ni watumishi tu ambao kupitia wao mliamini, kama vile Bwana alivyompa kila mtu huduma yake. 63:6 Mdo 18:4-11; 1Kor 4:15; 9:1; 15:1Mimi nilipanda mbegu, Apolo akatia maji, lakini Mungu ndiye aliikuza. 73:7 2Kor 12:11; Gal 6:3Hivyo mwenye kupanda na mwenye kutia maji si kitu, bali Mungu peke yake ambaye huifanya ikue. 83:8 Za 18:20; 62:12; Mt 25:21; 1Kor 9:17Apandaye mbegu ana lengo sawa na yule atiaye maji na kila mmoja atalipwa kulingana na kazi yake. 93:9 Mk 16:20; 2Kor 6:1; 1The 2:2; Isa 61:3; Efe 2:20-22; 1Pet 5:5Kwa kuwa sisi tu watendakazi pamoja na Mungu. Ninyi ni shamba la Mungu, jengo la Mungu.
103:10 Rum 12:3; 15:20; Efe 2:20Kwa neema Mungu aliyonipa, niliweka msingi kama mjenzi stadi na mtu mwingine anajenga juu yake. Lakini kila mmoja inampasa awe mwangalifu jinsi anavyojenga. 113:11 Isa 28:16; Efe 2:20Kwa maana hakuna mtu yeyote awezaye kuweka msingi mwingine wowote isipokuwa ule uliokwisha kuwekwa, ambao ni Yesu Kristo. 12Kama mtu yeyote akijenga juu ya msingi huu kwa kutumia dhahabu, fedha, vito vya thamani, miti, majani au nyasi, 133:13 1Kor 4:5; 1:8; 2The 1:7-10; 2Tim 1:12-18; 4:8; Hes 31:22-23; Yer 23:28-29; Mal 3:3; 2The 1:7kazi yake itaonekana ilivyo, kwa kuwa Siku ile itaidhihirisha. Itadhihirishwa kwa moto, nao moto utapima ubora wa kazi ya kila mtu. 143:14 1Kor 3:8; 4:5Kama kile alichojenga kitabaki, atapokea thawabu yake. 153:15 Yud 23Kama kazi kitateketea, atapata hasara, ila yeye mwenyewe ataokolewa, lakini tu kama mtu aliyenusurika kwenye moto.
163:16 1Kor 6:9; 2Kor 6:16; Efe 2:21-22; Ebr 3:6; Rum 8:9Je, hamjui ya kwamba ninyi wenyewe ni hekalu la Mungu na kwamba Roho wa Mungu anakaa ndani yenu? 17Kama mtu yeyote akiliharibu hekalu la Mungu, Mungu atamwangamiza; kwa maana hekalu la Mungu ni takatifu, na ninyi ndiyo hilo hekalu.
183:18 Isa 5:12; 1Kor 8:2; Gal 6:3; 1Kor 1:20Msijidanganye. Kama mtu yeyote miongoni mwenu akidhani kuwa ana hekima kwa viwango vya dunia hii, inampasa awe mjinga ili apate kuwa na hekima. 193:19 Rum 1:22; 1Kor 1:20-27; Ay 5:13Kwa maana hekima ya ulimwengu huu ni upuzi mbele za Mungu. Kama ilivyoandikwa: “Mungu huwanasa wenye hekima katika hila yao,” 203:20 Za 94:11tena, “Bwana anajua kwamba mawazo ya wenye hekima ni ubatili.” 213:21 1Kor 4:6; Rum 8:32Hivyo basi, mtu asijivune kuhusu wanadamu! Vitu vyote ni vyenu, 223:22 1Kor 1:12; Rum 8:38ikiwa ni Paulo au Apolo au Kefa3:22 Yaani Petro. au dunia au uzima au mauti, au wakati uliopo au wakati ujao, haya yote ni yenu 233:23 1Kor 15:23; 2Kor 10:7; Gal 3:29na ninyi ni wa Kristo, naye Kristo ni wa Mungu.
