Weymouth New Testament in Modern Speech: 1 Corinthians | Page 3

efforts, and as the Lord granted power to each, you accepted the faith. 003:006 I planted and Apollos watered; but it was God who was, all the time, giving the increase. 003:007 So that neither the planter nor the waterer is of any importance. God who gives the increase is all in all. 003:008 Now in aim and purpose the planter and the waterer are one; and yet each will receive his own special reward, answering to his own special work. 003:009 Apollos and I are simply fellow workers for and with God, and you are *God's* field--God's* building. 003:010 In discharge of the task which God graciously entrusted to me, I-- like a competent master-builder--have laid a foundation, and others are building upon it. But let every one be careful how and what he builds. 003:011 For no one can lay any other foundation in addition to that which is already laid, namely Jesus Christ. 003:012 And whether the building which any one is erecting on that foundation be of gold or silver or costly stones, of timber or hay or straw-- 003:013 the true character of each individual's work will become manifest. For the day of Christ will disclose it, because that day is soon to come upon us clothed in fire, and as for the quality of every one's work--the fire is the thing which will test it. 003:014 If any one's work--the building which he has erected-- stands the test, he will be rewarded. 003:015 If any one's work is burnt up, he will suffer the loss of it; yet he will himself be rescued, but only, as it were, by passing through the fire. 003:016 Do you not know that you are God's Sanctuary, and that the Spirit of God has His home within you? 003:017 If any one is marring the Sanctuary of God, him will God mar; for the Sanctuary of God is holy, which you all are. 003:018 Let no one deceive himself. If any man imagines that he is wise, compared with the rest of you, with the wisdom of the present age, let him become "foolish" so that he may be wise. 003:019 This world's wisdom is "foolishness" in God's sight; for it is written, "He snares the wise with their own cunning." 003:020 And again, "The Lord takes knowledge of the reasonings of the wise-- how useless they are." 003:021 Therefore let no one boast about his human teachers. 003:022 For everything belongs to you--be it Paul or Apollos or Peter, the world or life or death, things present or future-- everything belongs to you; 003:023 and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God. 004:001 As for us Apostles, let any one take this view of us-- we are Christ's officers, and stewards of God's secret truths. 004:002 This being so, it follows that fidelity is what is required in stewards. 004:003 I however am very little concerned at undergoing your scrutiny, or that of other men; in fact I do not even scrutinize myself. 004:004 Though I am not conscious of having been in any way unfaithful, yet I do not for that reason stand acquitted; but He whose scrutiny I must undergo is the Lord. 004:005 Therefore form no premature judgements, but wait until the Lord returns. He will both bring to light the secrets of darkness and will openly disclose the motives that have been in people's hearts; and then the praise which each man deserves will come to him from God. 004:006 In writing this much, brethren, with special reference to Apollos and myself, I have done so for your sakes, in order to teach you by our example what those words mean, which say, "Nothing beyond what is written!"--so that you may cease to take sides in boastful rivalry, for one teacher against another. 004:007 Why, who gives you your superiority, my brother? Or what have you that you did not receive? And if you really did receive it, why boast as if this were not so? 004:008 Every one of you already has all that heart can desire; already you have grown rich; without waiting for us, you have ascended your thrones! Yes indeed, would to God that you had ascended your thrones, that we also might reign with you! 004:009 God, it seems to me, has exhibited us Apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; for we have come to be a spectacle to all creation--alike to angels and to men. 004:010 We, for Christ's sake, are labeled as "foolish"; you, as Christians, are men of shrewd intelligence. We are mere weaklings: you are strong. You are in high repute: we are outcasts. 004:011 To this very moment we endure both hunger and thirst, with scanty clothing and