Bible / 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 3
Douay-Rheims Bible, Challoner revision (1749–1752), the traditional Catholic English Bible, translated from the Latin Vulgate. If you read a modern Bible, this is the same Scripture in older English; some names are spelled differently (Cesarea for Caesarea, Apocalypse for Revelation). About this translation
1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal. As unto little ones in Christ.
2 I gave you milk to drink, not meat: for you were not able as yet. But neither indeed are you now able: for you are yet carnal. Fathers
3 For, whereas there is among you envying and contention, are you not carnal and walk you not according to man?
4 For while one saith: I indeed am of Paul: and another: I am of Apollo: are you not men? What then is Apollo and what is Paul?
5 The ministers of him whom you have believed: and to every one as the Lord hath given.
6 I have planted, Apollo watered: but God gave the increase.
7 Therefore, neither he that planteth is any thing, nor he that watereth: but God that giveth the increase. Fathers
8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth, are one. And every man shall receive his own reward, according to his own labour.
9 For we are God’s coadjutors. You are God’s husbandry: you are God’s building. CCC
10 According to the grace of God that is given to me, as a wise architect, I have laid the foundation: and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
11 For other foundation no man can lay, but that which is laid: which is Christ Jesus. CCC
12 Now, if any man build upon this foundation, gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble:
13 Every man’s work shall be manifest. For the day of the Lord shall declare it, because it shall be revealed in fire. And the fire shall try every man’s work, of what sort it is. Fathers
14 If any man’s work abide, which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15 If any man’s work burn, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire. CCC
16 Know you not that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? CCC · Fathers
17 But if any man violate the temple of God, him shall God destroy. For the temple of God is holy, which you are. CCC · Fathers
18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seem to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written: I will catch the wise in their own craftiness.
20 And again: The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
21 Let no man therefore glory in men.
22 For all things are yours, whether it be Paul or Apollo or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come. For all are yours.
23 And you are Christ’s. And Christ is God’s.
This chapter in the Catechism and the early Church
Where the Catechism of the Catholic Church cites these verses (from its footnotes on vatican.va), and where the earliest Church Fathers quote them (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1, public domain). Short quotes only; follow the links for the full text.
Read the Fathers
“And on this account does Paul declare to the Corinthians, "I have fed you with milk, not with meat, for hitherto ye were not able to bear it.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XXXVIII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Fathers
“Just as it is one that planteth, and another who watereth, but one God who giveth the increase.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XXV. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism
- CCC 756 “Often, too, the Church is called the building of God. the Lord compared himself to the stone which the builders rejected, but…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 756 “Often, too, the Church is called the building of God. the Lord compared himself to the stone which the builders rejected, but…”
Read the Fathers
“Truly, under the inspiration of the Spirit, he wrote to you concerning himself, and Cephas, and Apollos,”
Quoted in First Letter to the Corinthians, St. Clement of Rome (c. AD 96), Chapter XLVII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism
- CCC 1031 “The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the…”
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 797 “What the soul is to the human body, the Holy Spirit is to the Body of Christ, which is the Church." "To…”
“If any man, therefore, will defile the temple of God, him will God destroy: for the temple of God is holy, which [temple] ye are.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book V, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter VI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 797 “What the soul is to the human body, the Holy Spirit is to the Body of Christ, which is the Church." "To…”
“For every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be hewn down, and cast into the fire;" and "whosoever shall defile the temple of God, him shall God defile.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter VIII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
“Shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot?”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book V, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter VI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
A modern English Catholic translation will be added once its publisher grants permission.