1 Corinthians 3:5-17 - The Role Of God's Servants

⁵ What, I ask, is Apollos? or what is Paul? Servants through whom you were led to accept the Faith; and that only as the Lord helped each of you. ⁶ I planted, and Apollos watered, but it was God who caused the growth. ⁷ Therefore neither the man who plants, nor the man who waters, is of any account, but only God who causes the growth. ⁸ In this the man who plants and the man who waters are one; yet each will receive his own reward in proportion to his own labor. ⁹ For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's harvest field, God's building. ¹⁰ In fulfillment of the charge which God had entrusted to me, I laid the foundation like a skillful master-builder; but another man is now building upon it. Let every one take care how he builds; ¹¹ For no man can lay any other foundation than the one already laid-Jesus Christ. ¹² Whatever is used by those who build upon this foundation, whether gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, ¹³ The quality of each man's work will become known, for the Day will make it plain; because that Day is to be ushered in with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of every man's work. ¹⁴ If any man's work, which he has built upon that foundation, still remains, he will gain a reward. ¹⁵ If any man's work is burnt up, he will suffer loss; though he himself will escape, but only as one who has passed through fire.

¹⁶ Do not you know that you are God's Temple, and that God's Spirit has his home in you? ¹⁷ If any one destroys the Temple of God, God will destroy him; for the Temple of God is sacred, and so also are you.