哥林多前书第三章第4—11节，保罗了解到哥林多教会里有派别纷争，因为他们弟兄中间有的说要跟随保罗，有的说要跟随亚波罗。保罗说他和亚波罗都不算什么，无非是基督的仆人照着主所赐的能力引导大家相信了耶稣基督而已。保罗说他在哥林多教会栽种了福音，亚波罗浇灌了福音，但是神让福音生长。栽种的和浇灌的都不算什么，但将来各人要照自己所作的工得主的赏赐。保罗说他照神所赐的恩，作为一个有智慧的工头立好了根基，然后别人在上面建造，但是各人要谨慎该如何在上面建造。因为立好的根基就是耶稣基督，人不能再立别的根基，建造只能在耶稣基督这个根基上建造。

林前3:4 有说、我是属保罗的．有说、我是属亚波罗的．这岂不是你们和世人一样么。
For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," aren't you fleshly?
林前3:5 亚波罗算甚么．保罗算甚么．无非是执事、照主所赐给他们各人的、引导你们相信。
Who then is Apollos, and who is Paul, but servants through whom you believed; and each as the Lord gave to him?
林前3:6 我栽种了、亚波罗浇灌了．惟有 神叫他生长。
I planted. Apollos watered. But God gave the increase.
林前3:7 可见栽种的算不得甚么、浇灌的也算不得甚么．只在那叫他生长的 神。
So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.
林前3:8 栽种的和浇灌的都是一样．但将来各人要照自己的工夫、得自己的赏赐。
Now he who plants and he who waters are the same, but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
林前3:9 因为我们是与 神同工的．你们是 神所耕种的田地、所建造的房屋。
For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's farming, God's building.
林前3:10 我照 神所给我的恩、好象一个聪明的工头、立好了根基、有别人在上面建造．只是各人要谨慎怎样在上面建造。
According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another builds on it. But let each man be careful how he builds on it.
林前3:11 因为那已经立好的根基、就是耶稣基督、此外没有人能立别的根基。
For no one can lay any other foundation than that which has been laid, which is Jesus Christ.