1 Corinthians3
New Living Translation
1Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ.
2I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready,
3for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world?
4When one of you says, “I am a follower of Paul,” and another says, “I follow Apollos,” aren’t you acting just like people of the world?
5After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us.
6I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow.
7It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow.
8The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work.
9For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building.
10Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful.
11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.
12Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw.
13But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value.
14If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward.
15But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.
16Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?
17God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.
18Stop deceiving yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world’s standards, you need to become a fool to be truly wise.
19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, “He traps the wise in the snare of their own cleverness.”
20And again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise; he knows they are worthless.”
21So don’t boast about following a particular human leader. For everything belongs to you—
22whether Paul or Apollos or Peter, or the world, or life and death, or the present and the future. Everything belongs to you,
23and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 1 Corinthians 3.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The Corinthians reproved for their contentions. (1–4). The true servants of Christ can do nothing without him. (5–9). He is the only foundation, and every one should take heed what he builds thereon. (10–15). The churches of Christ ought to be kept pure, and to be humble. (16, 17). And they should not glory in men, because ministers and all things else are theirs through Christ. (18–23).
vv1-4
The most simple truths of the gospel, as to man's sinfulness and God's mercy, repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, stated in the plainest language, suit the people better than deeper mysteries. Men may have much doctrinal knowledge, yet be mere beginners in the life of faith and experience. Contentions and quarrels about religion are sad evidences of carnality. True religion makes men peaceable, not contentious. But it is to be lamented, that many who should walk as Christians, live and act too much like other men. Many professors, and preachers also, show themselves to be yet carnal, by vain-glorious strife, eagerness for dispute, and readiness to despise and speak evil of others.
vv5-9
The ministers about whom the Corinthians contended, were only instruments used by God. We should not put ministers into the place of God. He that planteth and he that watereth are one, employed by one Master, trusted with the same revelation, busied in one work, and engaged in one design. They have their different gifts from one and the same Spirit, for the very same purposes; and should carry on the same design heartily. Those who work hardest shall fare best. Those who are most faithful shall have the greatest reward. They work together with God, in promoting the purposes of his glory, and the salvation of precious souls; and He who knows their work, will take care they do not labour in vain. They are employed in his husbandry and building; and He will carefully look over them.
vv10-15
The apostle was a wise master-builder; but the grace of God made him such. Spiritual pride is abominable; it is using the greatest favours of God, to feed our own vanity, and make idols of ourselves. But let every man take heed; there may be bad building on a good foundation. Nothing must be laid upon it, but what the foundation will bear, and what is of a piece with it. Let us not dare to join a merely human or a carnal life with a Divine faith, the corruption of sin with the profession of Christianity. Christ is a firm, abiding, and immovable Rock of ages, every way able to bear all the weight that God himself or the sinner can lay upon him; neither is there salvation in any other. Leave out the doctrine of his atonement, and there is no foundation for our hopes. But of those who rest on this foundation, there are two sorts. Some hold nothing but the truth as it is in Jesus, and preach nothing else. Others build on the good foundation what will not abide the test, when the day of trail comes. We may be mistaken in ourselves and others; but there is a day coming that will show our actions in the true light, without covering or disguise. Those who spread true and pure religion in all its branches, and whose work will abide in the great day, shall receive a reward. And how great! how much exceeding their deserts! There are others, whose corrupt opinions and doctrines, or vain inventions and usages in the worship of God, shall be made known, disowned, and rejected, in that day. This is plainly meant of a figurative fire, not of a real one; for what real fire can consume religious rites or doctrines? And it is to try every man's works, those of Paul and Apollos, as well as others. Let us consider the tendency of our undertakings, compare them with God's word, and judge ourselves, that we be not judged of the Lord.
Key Words
καί (kaí): and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἐγώ (egṓ): I, me
ἀδελφός (adelphós): a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like G1 (Α))
δύναμαι (dýnamai): to be able or possible
οὐ (ou): the absolute negative (compare G3361 (μή)) adverb; no or not
λαλέω (laléō): to talk, i.e. utter words
ὑμῖν (hymîn): to (with or by) you
ὡς (hōs): which how, i.e. in that manner (very variously used, as follows)
πνευματικός (pneumatikós): non-carnal, i.e. (humanly) ethereal (as opposed to gross), or (dæmoniacally) a spirit (concretely), or (divinely) supernatural, regenerate, religious
ἀλλά (allá): properly, other things, i.e. (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations)
Cross References
1 Corinthians 3Directly quoted in verse 19: 'He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.'
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Directly quoted in verse 20: 'The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.'
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Direct parallel regarding the metaphor of milk vs. strong meat for babes in Christ.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
The explicit factional slogans ('I am of Paul... Apollos') repeated from chapter 1.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Elaborates the building metaphor with Christ as the chief cornerstone and saints as the temple.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin, JFB
Exhortation to desire the sincere milk of the word, defining 'babes'.
Supported by John Calvin
Historical account of Apollos ministering in Achaia (Corinth) after Paul, watering what Paul planted.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Old Testament messianic foundation stone prophecy which Paul identifies here as Jesus Christ.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Confirms believers collectively are the living temple of God wherein His Spirit dwells.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
Defines 'envying, strife, and divisions' explicitly as works of the flesh (carnal).
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Prophetic image of testing, refining, and trying God's people through the fire.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Echoes 'all things are yours' through the supreme gift of God giving His Son.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Illustrates the reward given to faithful servants who build productively.
Supported by JFB
An Old Testament picture of being saved 'yet so as by fire' (a brand plucked out).
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallels Paul's earlier critique of worldy wisdom being destroyed by God.
Supported by Matthew Poole