1 Corinthians 2 - 3
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And I, when I came to you, brothers, x did not come proclaiming to you y the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom.
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For I decided to know nothing among you except z Jesus Christ and him crucified.
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And a I was with you b in weakness and in fear and much trembling,
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and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of c the Spirit and of power,
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that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but d in the power of God.
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Yet among e the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not f a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, g who are doomed to pass away.
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But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, h which God decreed before the ages for our glory.
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None of i the rulers of this age understood this, for j if they had, they would not have crucified k the Lord of glory.
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But, as it is written,
l "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has m prepared n for those who love him" -
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these things o God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even p the depths of God.
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For who knows a person's thoughts q except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
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Now r we have received not s the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.
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And we impart this t in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, u interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
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The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are v folly to him, and w he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
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The x spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.
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y "For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But z we have the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 3
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But I, brothers, could not address you as a spiritual people, but as b people of the flesh, as c infants in Christ.
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d I fed you with milk, not solid food, for e you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready,
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for you are still of the flesh. For while there is f jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?
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For g when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," h are you not being merely human?
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What then is Apollos? What is Paul? i Servants through whom you believed, j as the Lord assigned to each.
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k I planted, l Apollos watered, m but God gave the growth.
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So n neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.
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He who plants and he who waters are one, and each o will receive his wages according to his labor.
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For we are p God's fellow workers. You are God's field, q God's building.
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r According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a s foundation, and t someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it.
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For no one can lay a u foundation other v than that which is laid, w which is Jesus Christ.
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Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw -
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x each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed y by fire, and z the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.
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If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, a he will receive a reward.
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If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, b but only as through fire.
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c Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?
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If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For d God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.
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e Let no one deceive himself. f If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.
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For g the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, h "He catches the wise in their craftiness,"
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and again, i "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile."
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So j let no one boast in men. For k all things are yours,
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whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future - all are yours,
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and l you are Christ's, and m Christ is God's.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 2:4
And my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.
1 Corinthians 2:13
And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
2 Corinthians 1:12
For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.
1 Corinthians 1:17
For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
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Cross References
Romans 16:25
Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages
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Cross References
Galatians 6:14
But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
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Cross References
Acts 18:1
After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.
Acts 18:6
And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.
Acts 18:12
But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal.
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 11:30
If I must boast, I will boast of the things tha...
2 Corinthians 12:5
On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my o...
2 Corinthians 12:9
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for ...
2 Corinthians 13:4
For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by ...
2 Corinthians 13:9
For we are glad when we are weak and you are st...
Galatians 4:13
You know it was because of a bodily ailment tha...
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 4:20
For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.
Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Romans 15:19
By the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God - so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ.
1 Thessalonians 1:5
Because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
2 Peter 1:16
For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 4:7
But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
2 Corinthians 6:7
By truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left.
Zechariah 4:6
Then he said to me, "This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.
2 Corinthians 10:4
For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.
2 Corinthians 12:9
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
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Cross References
Philippians 3:15
Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.
1 Corinthians 3:1
But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.
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Cross References
James 3:15
This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 1:28
God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are.
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Cross References
Romans 16:25 - 26
Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages
Ephesians 3:5
Which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.
Ephesians 3:9
And to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things.
Colossians 1:26
The mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.
2 Timothy 1:9
Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.
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Cross References
Acts 13:27
For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him.
Luke 24:20
And how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him.
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Cross References
Acts 3:17
And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers.
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Cross References
James 2:1
My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.
Psalms 24:7 - 10
Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.
Acts 7:2
And Stephen said: "Brothers and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran.
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Cross References
Isaiah 64:4
From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him.
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Cross References
Matthew 25:34
Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
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Cross References
James 1:12
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
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Cross References
Matthew 16:17
And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon...
Galatians 1:12
For I did not receive it from any man, nor was ...
Galatians 1:16
Was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order t...
Ephesians 3:3
How the mystery was made known to me by revelat...
Ephesians 3:5
Which was not made known to the sons of men in ...
John 14:26
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Fathe...
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Cross References
Revelation 2:24
But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden.
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Cross References
Proverbs 20:27
The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts.
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Cross References
Romans 8:15
For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!
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Cross References
1 John 4:4
Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 2:1
And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom.
1 Corinthians 2:4
And my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.
1 Corinthians 1:17
For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 10:12
Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 1:18
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
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Cross References
Romans 8:7
For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 3:1
But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.
1 Corinthians 14:37
If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord.
Galatians 6:1
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
Proverbs 28:5
Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand it completely.
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Cross References
Isaiah 40:13
Who has measured the Spirit of the Lord, or what man shows him his counsel?
Romans 11:34
"For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?"
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Cross References
John 15:15
No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
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Cross References
Isaiah 40:13
Who has measured the Spirit of the Lord, or what man shows him his counsel?
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 2:15
The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.
Romans 7:14
For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 2:14
The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
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Cross References
Hebrews 5:13
For everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child.
1 Corinthians 2:6
Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away.
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Cross References
Hebrews 5:12 - 13
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food.
1 Peter 2:2
Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation -
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Cross References
John 16:12
I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.
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Cross References
Galatians 5:19 - 20
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality.
1 Corinthians 1:11
For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers.
1 Corinthians 11:18
For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part.
Romans 13:13
Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 1:12
What I mean is that each one of you says, "I follow Paul," or "I follow Apollos," or "I follow Cephas," or "I follow Christ.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 3:3
For you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 6:4
But as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities.
Ephesians 3:7
Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power.
Colossians 1:25
Of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known.
2 Corinthians 3:3
And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
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Cross References
Romans 12:6
Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 4:15
For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
1 Corinthians 9:1
Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord?
1 Corinthians 15:1
Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand.
Acts 18:4 - 11
And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.
2 Corinthians 10:14 - 15
For we are not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach you. For we were the first to come all the way to you with the gospel of Christ.
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Cross References
Acts 18:27
And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 15:10
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.
Colossians 1:18
And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 12:11
I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing.
Galatians 6:3
For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
Galatians 2:6
And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality) - those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 3:14
If the work that anyone has built on the founda...
1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, i...
2 John 1:8
Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what...
1 Corinthians 4:5
Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the ...
Galatians 6:4 - 5
But let each one test his own work, and then hi...
Matthew 16:27
For the Son of Man is going to come with his an...
Romans 2:6
He will render to each one according to his works:
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Cross References
Mark 16:20
And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.]]
2 Corinthians 6:1
Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
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Cross References
Ephesians 2:20 - 22
Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone.
Colossians 2:7
Rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
1 Corinthians 3:16
Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?
Psalms 127:1
Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.
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Cross References
2 Peter 3:15
And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him.
Romans 12:3
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 3:11 - 12
For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Romans 15:20
And thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation.
Revelation 21:14
And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 4:15
For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
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Cross References
Isaiah 28:16
Therefore thus says the Lord God, "Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: 'Whoever believes will not be in haste.
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 11:4
For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.
Galatians 1:6 - 7
I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel -
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Cross References
Ephesians 2:20
Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 4:5
Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 3:15
If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
2 Thessalonians 1:8
In flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
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Cross References
1 Peter 1:7
So that the tested genuineness of your faith - more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire - may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 3:8
He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.
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Cross References
Psalms 66:12
You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.
Isaiah 43:2
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.
Jude 1:23
Save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 6:19
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own.
2 Corinthians 6:16
What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Ephesians 2:21
In whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 7:1
Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.
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Cross References
Isaiah 5:21
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight!
Galatians 6:3
For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 8:2
If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know.
Jeremiah 8:8 - 9
How can you say, 'We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us'? But behold, the lying pen of the scribes has made it into a lie.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 1:20
Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
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Cross References
Job 5:13
He catches the wise in their own craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end.
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Cross References
Job 5:13
He catches the wise in their own craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end.
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Cross References
Psalms 94:11
The Lord - knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath.
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Cross References
Psalms 94:11
The Lord - knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 3:4 - 6
For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not being merely human?
1 Corinthians 1:12
What I mean is that each one of you says, "I follow Paul," or "I follow Apollos," or "I follow Cephas," or "I follow Christ.
1 Corinthians 4:6
I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another.
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Cross References
Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 10:7
Look at what is before your eyes. If anyone is confident that he is Christ's, let him remind himself that just as he is Christ's, so also are we.
Galatians 3:29
And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 11:3
But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.