1 Corinthians 3:5

3:5 What is Apollos, really? Or what is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, and each of us in the ministry the Lord gave us. ¹ 

1 Corinthians 3:12

3:12 If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, ² 

1 Corinthians 3:21

3:21 So then, no more boasting about mere mortals! ³  For everything belongs to you,

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¹ tn Grk “and to each as the Lord gave.”

² sn The various materials described here, both valuable (gold, silver, precious stones) and worthless (wood, hay, or straw) refer to the quality of work built on the foundation, or possibly to the motivation of those doing the building. The materials themselves have been understood (1) as deeds or (2) as people (since ultimately the passage is addressing those who minister to others).

³ tn Grk “so then, let no one boast in men.”