But God hath opened them unto us by his spirit. For the spirit searcheth all things, yee the bottom of God's secrets. For what man knoweth the things of a man: save the spirit of a man which is within him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the spirit of God. And we have not received the spirit of the world: but the spirit which cometh of God, for to know the things that are given to us of God, which things also we speak, not in the cunning words of man's wisdom, but with the cunning words of the holy ghost, making spiritual comparisons of spiritual things. For the natural man perceiveth not the things of the spirit of God: For they are but foolishness unto him. Neither can he perceive them because he is spiritually examined: but he that is spiritual discusseth all things: yet he himself is judged of no man. For who knoweth the mind of the lord, other who shall inform him? but we understand the mind of Christ.
The .iij. Chapter.
And I could not speak unto you brethren as unto spiritual: but as unto carnal, even as it were unto babes in Christ. I gave you milk to drink and not meat. For ye then were not strong, no neither yet are strong. For ye are yet carnal. As long verily as there is among you envying, strife and dissension: are ye not carnal, and walk after the manner of men? As long as one saith: I hold of Paul, and another, I am of apollo, are ye not carnal? What is Paul? what thing is apollo? but ministers by whom ye believed even as the lord gave every man grace. I have planted: Apollo watered: but God gave increase. So then, neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth: but God which gave the increase.
He that planteth, and he that watereth, are neither better than the other. Every man yet shall receive his reward according to his labour. We are God's laborers: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. According to the grace of God given unto me, as a wise builder have I laid the foundation, another hath built thereon: but let every man take heed how he buildeth upon. For other foundation can no man lay, than that which is laid, which is Iesus Christ. If any man build on this foundation, gold, silver, precious stones, timber, hay, or stubble: every man's work shall appear. For the day shall declare it, and it shall be shewed in fire, and the fire shall try every man's work what it is. If any man's work that he hath built upon, bide, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work burn, he shall suffer loss: but he shall be safe himself: nevertheless yet as it were thorow fire.
Are ye not ware that ye are the temple of God, and how that the spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy. For the temple of God is holy, which temple are ye. Let no man deceive himself. If any man seem wise among you, let him be a fool in this world, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written: he compasseth the wise in their craftiness. And again, God knoweth the thoughts of the wise that they be vain. Therefore let no man rejoice in men. For all things are yours, whether it be Paul, other Apollo, either Cephas: whether it be the world, either life, either death, whether they be present things or things to come: all are yours, and ye are Christe's, and Christ is God's.
The .iiij. Chapter.
Let men this wise esteem us, even as the ministers of Christ, and disposers of the secrets of God. Furthermore it is required of the disposers that they be found faithful. With me is it but a very small thing, that I should be judged of you, either of man's day. No I judge not mine own self. I know nought by myself: yet am I not thereby justified. It is the lord that judgeth me. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the lord come, which will lighten things that are hid in darkness: and open the counsels of the hearts. And then shall every man have praise of God.
These things brethren I have described in mine own person, and Apollos: for your sakes, that ye might learn by us that no man count of himself beyond that which is above written: that one swell not against another for any man's cause. For who preferreth thee? What hast thou, that thou hast not received? if thou have received it: why rejoicest thou as though thou haddest not received it? Now ye are full: now ye are made rich: ye reign as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we might reign with you.
Me thinketh that God hath shewed us which are apostles, for the hindmost of all, as it were men appointed to death. For we are a gazingstock unto the world, and to the angels, and to men, we are fools for Christe's sake, and ye are wise thorow Christ: we are weak, and ye are strong. Ye are honorable, and we are despised. Even unto this day we hunger and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted with fists, and have no certain dwelling place, and labour working with our own hands. We are reviled, and yet we bless. We are persecuted, and suffer it. We are evil spoken of, and we pray. We are made as it were the filthiness of the world, the offscouring of all things, even unto this time.
I write not these things to shame you: but as my beloved sons I warn you. For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ: yet have ye not many fathers. In Christ Iesu, I have begotten you thorow the gospell. Wherefore I desire you to counterfeit me. For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, which is my dear son, and faithful in the lord, which shall put you in remembrance of my ways which I have in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in all congregations. Some swell as though I would come no more at you: but I will come to you shortly, if God will, and will know, not the words of them which swell, but the power. For the Kingdom of God is not in words, but in power. What will ye? Shall I come unto you with a rod, or else in love, and in the spirit of meekness?