A chiasm is a literary structure where vocabulary of the first section of a passage is repeated in reverse order in the second. The center of the chiasm is typically the climax of the passage. In 1 Corinthians 3 the center and climax explains how every person’s work will be tested by fire (1 Cor 3:12-15). AAnd I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, for you are still fleshly. (3:1-2)BFor since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men? For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not mere men? What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers;you are God’s field, God’s building. (3:3-9)CAccording to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise (Greek: sophos) master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building (Greek: epoikodomeō) on it. But each man must be careful how he builds (Greek: epoikodomeō) on it. For no man (Greek: mēdeis) can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (3:10-11)DNow (Greek: de) if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work.If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. (3:12-14)D’If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but (Greek: de) he himself will be saved, yet (Greek: de) so as through fire. (3:15)C’Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells (Greek: oikeō) in you? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are. Let no man (Greek: oudeis) deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise (Greek: sophos) in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise (Greek: sophos). For the wisdom (Greek: sophia) of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, “He is THE ONE WHO CATCHES THE WISE (Greek: sophos) IN THEIR CRAFTINESS”; and again, “THE LORD KNOWS THE REASONINGSwise (Greek: sophos), THAT THEY ARE USELESS.” (3:16-20)B’So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to of theyou, (3:21-22)A’and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God. (3:23)