1 Corinthians 3
1 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.
Ary izaho, ry rahalahy, tsy nahazo niteny taminareo tahaka ny amin’ izay araka ny Fanahy, fa tahaka ny amin’ izay mbola nofo, dia tahaka izay mbola zaza ihany ao amin’ i Kristy.
2 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,
Ronono no nomeko anareo, fa tsy ventin-kanina, satria tsy mbola natanjaka ianareo; eny, mbola tsy matanjaka mandraka ankehitriny aza,
3 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.
fa mbola araka ny nofo ihany ianareo. Fa raha misy fialonana sy fifandirana eo aminareo, tsy araka ny nofo va ianareo ka mandeha araka ny fanaon’ ny olona?
4 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]
Fa raha hoy ny anankiray: Izaho an’ i Paoly, ary ny anankiray kosa: Izaho an’ i Apolosy, moa tsy olona ihany va ianareo?
5 [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.
Koa inona moa Apolosy, ary inona moa Paoly? Mpanompo ihany izay nahatonga anareo ho mpino ireo, dia samy araka ny nomen’ ny Tompo azy avy.
6 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.
Izaho namboly, Apolosy nandena, fa Andriamanitra no nampitombo.
7 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].
Ka dia tsinontsinona izay mamboly, na izay mandena, fa Andriamanitra Izay mampitombo no izy.
8 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.
Ary iray ihany ny mpamboly sy ny mpandena; nefa samy handray izay valim-pitiany avy araka ny fisasarany izy.
9 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].
Fa mpiara-miasa amin’ Andriamanitra izahay; ary sahan’ Andriamanitra sy trano arafitr’ Andriamanitra ianareo.
10 [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].
Araka ny fahasoavan’ Andriamanitra nomena ahy, tahaka ny fanaon’ ny mpità-marika mahay no nanaovako ny fanorenana, ary ny hafa mandrafitra eo amboniny; nefa aoka ny olona rehetra hitandrina izay arafiny eo amboniny.
11 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.
Fa tsy misy mahay manao fanorenana hafa afa-tsy izay natao, dia Jesosy Kristy.
12 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.
Ary raha misy mandrafitra volamena, na volafotsy, na vato tsara, na hazo, na bozaka, na mololo, eo ambonin’ ny fanorenana,
13 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].
dia haseho avokoa ny asan’ ny olona rehetra; fa ny andro no hampiseho azy, satria haseho amin’ afo izany andro izany, ka dia hozahan-toetra, amin’ ny afo ny asan’ ny olona rehetra.
14 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].
Raha maharitra ny asan’ ny olona, izay narafiny teo amboniny, dia handray valim-pitia izy.
15 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)
Raha ho levon’ ny afo ny asan’ ny olona, dia ho fatiantoka izy; fa ny tenany kosa dia hovonjena, nefa toy ny avy ao amin’ ny afo ihany izy.
16 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.
Tsy fantatrareo va fa tempolin’ Andriamanitra ianareo, ary ny Fanahin’ Andriamanitra mitoetra no anatinareo?
17 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].
Raha misy manimba ny tempolin’ Andriamanitra, dia mba hosimban’ Andriamanitra kosa izy; fa masìna ny tempolin’ Andriamanitra, dia ianareo izany.
18 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)
Aza misy mamita-tena. Raha misy eo aminareo manao azy ho hendry amin’ izao tontolo izao, aoka ho adala izy mba ho hendry. (aiōn g165)
19 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!
Fa ny fahendren’ izao tontolo izao dia fahadalana eo anatrehan’ Andriamanitra; fa voasoratra hoe: Ny hafetsen’ ny hendry ihany no entiny misambotra azy.
20 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.
Ary indray: Jehovah no mahalala ny hevitry ny hendry fa zava-poana izany
21 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!
Ka dia aza misy manao olona ho reharehany; fa anareo ny zavatra rehetra:
22 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.
na Paoly, na Apolosy, na Kefasy, na izao tontolo izao, na fiainana, na fahafatesana, na ny zavatra ankehitriny, na ny zavatra ho avy; dia anareo izany rehetra izany;
23 [You should boast about] Christ, [not about your leaders, because] you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.
ary ianareo an’ i Kristy ary Kristy an’ Andriamanitra.
