1 Corinthians 3 And I myself, brothers, was not able to speak to you folks as to spiritual ones (people having the effect of the Breath; folks controlled by the Attitude), but to the contrary as to fleshly folks (= ones who focus on that which affects the flesh; = natural people who live as alienated and estranged from God) – as to infants in Christ (or: non-speaking babies in the Anointing).

JMNT⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹ And I myself, brothers, was not able to speak to you folks as to spiritual ones (people having the effect of the Breath; folks controlled by the Attitude), but to the contrary as to fleshly folks (= ones who focus on that which affects the flesh; = natural people who live as alienated and estranged from God) – as to infants in Christ (or: non-speaking babies in [the] Anointing). ² I gave you folks milk to drink, not solid food, for you were continuing not as yet being able or having power. But then, neither are you yet now (at present) able (or: having power), for you are still fleshly ones (continue being focused on the natural realm and ordinary life). ³ For you see, in which place (or: insofar as) [there is] jealousy and strife and folks standing apart (divisions and disunities) among you folks – are you not existing being fleshly folks (people adapted to flesh and self), even constantly walking around (= living your life) according to, on the level of, in the sphere of, and corresponding to humanity? ⁴ For whenever anyone repeatedly says, "I myself am indeed of Paul (belong to Paul; have my association with Paul)," yet a different one [says], "I, myself, of Apollos" – are you not continuing being fleshly humans (= people acting like the estranged flesh; = non-spiritual)? ⁵ What, then (or: So then, what), is Apollos? And what is Paul? [They are] attending servants and dispensers of [spiritual] provisions, through whom you folks came to believe and trust – even as the Lord [= Christ or Yahweh] gave (or: gives) to and in each one. ⁶ I myself plant (or: planted), Apollos irrigated (or: waters; caused [you] to drink), but then God was causing [it/you] to progressively grow up and increase (be augmented). ⁷ So that neither is the one habitually planting anything [special] (anyone [of importance]), nor the one habitually irrigating (watering; giving drink), but rather God: the One habitually and progressively causing growth and increase. ⁸ Now the one continually planting and the one continually irrigating are one (exist being a unit), yet each one will receive his own wage (pay; compensation) corresponding to his own labor (toil). ⁹ For we are God's fellow-workers (or: we are co-workers of and from God; we exist being co-workers who belong to God). You folks are God's farm (or: field under cultivation), God's building (or: construction project; structure, or act of building). ¹⁰ Corresponding to, in accord with and to the level of God's grace and favor [which are] being given to (or: by) me, as a skillful master-carpenter (a wise chief-builder; a clever head-artisan; [the] learned and insightful leading-builder; wise architect, engineer or foreman; a wise originating begetter) I lay [other MSS: have laid] a foundation (or: laid a foundation [Stone]), yet another is progressively building a house upon [it]. Now let each one continue watching to observe (= take care) how he keeps on building the house upon [it] (or: upon the house), ¹¹ for no one can (or: continues able to; is having power to) lay another foundation (or: to place or set another foundation [Stone] of the same kind) beside (or: in addition to and distinct from) the One lying (or: continuing being laid): which is (continues being) Jesus Christ (Jesus [the] Anointed One; = Jesus, [the] Messiah). ¹² Now if anyone proceeds building a house (a superstructure) upon the [other MSS: this] Foundation – gold and silver [with] precious (valuable) stones; wood [and] thatching: herbage (or: grass; hay) [or] stalk (or: straw; stubble) – ¹³ each one's work will make itself to be visible in clear light (or: will become apparent), for the Day will make [it] evident (show [it] plainly). Because it is being progressively unveiled (continually revealed) within the midst of Fire, and the Fire, Itself, will test, examine and put to the proof (or: prove by testing) what sort of work each one's exists being. ¹⁴ If anyone's work which he built upon [it] will remain, he will receive wages (pay; compensation). ¹⁵ If anyone's work will be burned down, he will incur a loss (sustain the damage; forfeit [it]), yet he himself will be saved (rescued and delivered; healed and restored to health; returned to his original state and condition), and as in this way – through Fire! ¹⁶ Have you folks not seen, to now know, that you people continuously exist being God's Temple (Divine habitation; holy place and holy of holies; inner sanctuary), and God's Spirit is constantly dwelling (God's Breath is making Its home; the Wind which is God is housing Himself; the Attitude from God is progressively co-habiting) within the midst of you folks? ¹⁷ If anyone habitually spoils, ruins, wrecks or corrupts God's Temple, God will spoil, ruin, wreck and corrupt this person; for you see, God's Temple – which you folks, yourselves, are (exist being) – is set-apart (holy; sacred; different from the common). ¹⁸ Let no one continue to be completely cheating, tricking, deceiving or deluding himself: if anyone among you folks habitually imagines (thinks; supposes; presumes) [himself] to be wise (to exist being a clever one) within this age (this era; this period of time), let him come to be (or: birth himself) stupid (dull; foolish; a fool) – to the end that he can come to be (or: may birth himself) wise. ¹⁹ For you see, the wisdom (cleverness; skill) of this world System (or: pertaining to this ordered and controlling arrangement of cultures, religions and politics; or: from this secular society) is stupidity (exists as nonsense and foolishness) [when put] beside or next to God (or: in God’s presence). For it has been written, "He is the One habitually laying hold of and catching in His fist the wise (clever) ones, within the midst of their every act (or: capability and readiness to do or work; cunning; craftiness)." [Job. 5:13] ²⁰ And again, " [The] Lord [= Yahweh] continues, by intimate experience, knowing the reasonings (thought processes; designs) of the wise ones, that they are and continue being fruitless and to no purpose." [Ps. 94:11] ²¹ Hence (or: And so), let no one continue boasting in people (in humanity), for all people are yours (or: all things pertain to you), ²² whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas; whether [the] world (System of culture, religion, economy and politics or government), or life, or death; whether things standing or having been placed within [your situation], or things being about to be (impending things), all people and all things [are] yours (or: everything pertains to you, belongs to you, and [is] from you folks), ²³ yet you folks [are] Christ's – yet Christ [is] God's! (or: Now you have your source and origin in [the] Anointed, and [the] Anointed has His source and origin in God; or: But you belong to [Messiah]; [Messiah] belongs to God.)