The Church and Its Leaders
1Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? 4For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?
5What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.
10By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
16Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? 17If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.
18Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. 19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”3:19 Job 5:13; 20and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”3:20 Psalm 94:11 21So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours, 22whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas3:22 That is, Peter or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23and you are of Christ, and Christ is of 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.
