1 Wakorintho 3
1 Ndugu zangu, mimi sikuweza kusema nanyi kama watu wa kiroho, bali kama watu wa mwilini, kama watoto wachanga katika Kristo.
My fellow believers, [when I was with you previously], I was not able to teach you as [I would teach people who are controlled by the Holy] Spirit {[whom the Holy] Spirit [controls]}. Instead, [I had to teach you as I would teach] people whom their self-directed nature controls. [I taught very simple concepts to you who had recently believed] in Christ, [as a parent would speak very simple words] to a baby.
2 Naliwanywesha maziwa, wala si chakula kigumu, kwa kuwa hamkuwa tayari kwa hicho chakula. Naam, hata sasa hamko tayari.
I did not [teach] you [things that were difficult for you to understand, just like a woman does not] give [her baby] solid food [that the baby cannot chew and digest]. [And just like a woman] ([gives her baby milk/breast-feeds her baby]), [I taught you simple spiritual concepts], because at that time you were not able to understand difficult things. And you are still not able to understand difficult concepts,
3 Ninyi bado ni watu wa mwilini. Kwa kuwa bado kuna wivu na magombano miongoni mwenu, je, ninyi si watu wa mwilini? Je, si mwaendelea kama watu wa kawaida?
because you are still controlled by your self-directed nature. Some of you are jealous and quarreling. (That shows that your self-directed nature is controlling you!/Does not that prove your self-directed nature is controlling you?) [RHQ] It shows that [you are acting like] unbelievers act.
4 Kwa maana mmoja anaposema, “Mimi ni wa Paulo,” na mwingine, “Mimi ni wa Apolo,” je, ninyi si wanadamu wa kawaida?
By some of you saying, “I am [loyal to] Paul,” and others saying, “I am [loyal to] Apollos,” (you show that [you are acting like] unbelievers./does not it show that [you are acting like] unbelievers?) [RHQ]
5 Kwani, Apolo ni nani? Naye Paulo ni nani? Ni watumishi tu ambao kupitia wao mliamini, kama vile Bwana alivyompa kila mtu huduma yake.
[So what you really ought to think about] Apollos and me [RHQ] is that we(dl) are merely men who serve God. As a result of our [telling you the message about Christ], you trusted in him. Both of us [(dl)] are merely doing the work that the Lord appointed us to do.
6 Mimi nilipanda mbegu, Apolo akatia maji, lakini Mungu ndiye aliikuza.
I was [the first one who preached God’s message to you. I was like] [MET] someone who plants seeds. [Later], Apollos [taught you more of God’s message. That was like] [MET] someone who waters plants [after they start to grow]. But it is God who [enables people to grow spiritually, just like he is the one who] causes [plants] to grow.
7 Hivyo mwenye kupanda na mwenye kutia maji si kitu, bali Mungu peke yake ambaye huifanya ikue.
So [the person who first preaches God’s message to people is not important, and the person who later teaches people more of God’s message is not important, just like] [MET] it is not the person who plants [the seeds] or the person who waters [the plants] who is important. Instead, it is God, who causes plants to grow [and who causes people to grow spiritually, who is important].
8 Apandaye mbegu ana lengo sawa na yule atiaye maji na kila mmoja atalipwa kulingana na kazi yake.
The person [who first preaches God’s message to people and the one who later teaches them more of God’s message] [MET] both (are [trying to reach the] same [goal]/have the same [purpose]). And [God] will reward each of them according to how they served him.
9 Kwa kuwa sisi tu watendakazi pamoja na Mungu. Ninyi ni shamba la Mungu, jengo la Mungu.
Remember that Apollos and I are both working together for God. [You do not belong to us]. Just like a field [belongs to its owner, not to those who work in it], you belong to God, [not to us who work for him]. 1 Corinthians 3:9b-15 Also, a house belongs to its owner. [It does not belong to the man who built it. Similarly, God is the one to whom you belong].
10 Kwa neema Mungu aliyonipa, niliweka msingi kama mjenzi stadi na mtu mwingine anajenga juu yake. Lakini kila mmoja inampasa awe mwangalifu jinsi anavyojenga.
[Just like] a skilled person puts a foundation in the ground [before he builds a house], as a result of God kindly helping me [MET], [I was the first one who declared the message about Christ to you. And, just like] others build a house on its foundation, there were [others who later taught you more about Christ]. But [just like each person who builds a house] must be careful about what materials he uses to build it [MET], each person [who teaches God’s truth must be careful about what he teaches].
11 Kwa maana hakuna mtu yeyote awezaye kuweka msingi mwingine wowote isipokuwa ule uliokwisha kuwekwa, ambao ni Yesu Kristo.
Just like people can put in [only] one foundation [for a house] [MET], [there is only one message that we can give to people. That message is about] Jesus Christ.
12 Kama mtu yeyote akijenga juu ya msingi huu kwa kutumia dhahabu, fedha, vito vya thamani, miti, majani au nyasi,
Furthermore, people can build a house on its foundation [with materials that are valuable and do not burn easily, such as] gold, silver, and expensive jewels. Or they could build a house with [materials that are not valuable and that burn easily, such as] wood, hay, and straw.
13 kazi yake itaonekana ilivyo, kwa kuwa Siku ile itaidhihirisha. Itadhihirishwa kwa moto, nao moto utapima ubora wa kazi ya kila mtu.
Later it will become clear/evident what kind of material they used to build the house. [Similarly, when people teach others God’s truth], it will later become clear [what kind of things they taught]. [God] will make that clear/evident at the time [when he judges us] [MTY].
14 Kama kile alichojenga kitabaki, atapokea thawabu yake.
When a fire [starts burning a house], it becomes clear whether the builders used [materials in their] work [that will burn, or materials that will not burn]. Similarly [MET], when God judges us, it will be clear whether we taught others things that were long-lasting and valuable or not. If [the materials that are used to] build a house [are materials that] do not burn, the builder will receive a reward [MET]. [Similarly, if we have taught others things that are valuable and long-lasting, God will give us a reward].
15 Kama kazi kitateketea, atapata hasara, ila yeye mwenyewe ataokolewa, lakini tu kama mtu aliyenusurika kwenye moto.
If [the things that we have taught] are not valuable and long-lasting [MET], [we will not get a reward]. We will be saved {[God] will save us} [from hell], but [that is all that we will get. We will be like a man who] escapes from a fire [without saving any of his possessions]. (questioned)
16 Je, hamjui ya kwamba ninyi wenyewe ni hekalu la Mungu na kwamba Roho wa Mungu anakaa ndani yenu?
You need to remember that God [is present among] you [(pl) as he was present in the] Temple [in Jerusalem]. [RHQ] God’s Spirit lives within you.
17 Kama mtu yeyote akiliharibu hekalu la Mungu, Mungu atamwangamiza; kwa maana hekalu la Mungu ni takatifu, na ninyi ndiyo hilo hekalu.
So, [just like] God will destroy anyone who tries to destroy his Temple, [he will destroy anyone who destroys the unity of a congregation. He will do that] because [he has set] you, [his people, apart for himself, just like he set] his Temple [apart for himself].
18 Msijidanganye. Kama mtu yeyote miongoni mwenu akidhani kuwa ana hekima kwa viwango vya dunia hii, inampasa awe mjinga ili apate kuwa na hekima. (aiōn g165)
Some among you think that you are wise because unbelievers thought you were wise previously. Stop deceiving yourselves. [If you really want to be wise, by accepting what God considers to be wise] you should [be willing to let unbelievers consider that you are] foolish [IRO]. (aiōn g165)
19 Kwa maana hekima ya ulimwengu huu ni upuzi mbele za Mungu. Kama ilivyoandikwa: “Mungu huwanasa wenye hekima katika hila yao,”
You should do that because things that unbelievers [consider to be] [IRO] wise, God considers to be foolish. [We can learn from] the Scriptures [what God says about] that: Those who think that they are [IRO] wise, he messes up their plans by the mistakes they make!
20 tena, “Bwana anajua kwamba mawazo ya wenye hekima ni ubatili.”
And [we can learn from] these words of Scripture, The Lord considers as useless the thoughts of [humans who think that they are] [IRO] wise.
21 Hivyo basi, mtu asijivune kuhusu wanadamu! Vitu vyote ni vyenu,
So, stop boasting about [how good one Christian leader is or how good another Christian leader is]. All [of us(exc) exist as leaders only to help] you!
22 ikiwa ni Paulo au Apolo au Kefa au dunia au uzima au mauti, au wakati uliopo au wakati ujao, haya yote ni yenu
Specifically, do not boast about me, or about Apollos, or about Peter! Everything in the world exists to [benefit] you [believers]. Whether you live or whether you die, the things that are happening now or the things that will happen in the future, they are all to benefit you.
23 na ninyi ni wa Kristo, naye Kristo ni wa Mungu.
[You should boast about] Christ, [not about your leaders, because] you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.
