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1 Corinthians 3

World English Bible

WEB

1Brothers, I couldn’t speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshly, as to babies in Christ. 2I fed you with milk, not with solid food, for you weren’t yet ready. Indeed, you aren’t ready even now, 3for you are still fleshly. For insofar as there is jealousy, strife, and factions among you, aren’t you fleshly, and don’t you walk in the ways of men? 4For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” aren’t you fleshly? 5Who then is Apollos, and who is Paul, but servants through whom you believed, and each as the Lord gave to him? 6I planted. Apollos watered. But God gave the increase. 7So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8Now he who plants and he who waters are the same, but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s farming, God’s building. 10According 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. 11For no one can lay any other foundation than that which has been laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12But if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, 13each man’s work will be revealed. For the Day will declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself will test what sort of work each man’s work is. 14If any man’s work remains which he built on it, he will receive a reward. 15If any man’s work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, but as through fire. 16Don’t you know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? 17If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, which you are. 18Let no one deceive himself. If anyone thinks that he is wise among you in this world, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He has taken the wise in their craftiness.” 20And again, “The Lord knows the reasoning of the wise, that it is worthless.” 21Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, 22whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come. All are yours, 23and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

1 Corinthians Chapter 3 addresses the issue of divisions within the church at Corinth, emphasizing the importance of unity among believers. The Apostle Paul begins by expressing his concern that the Corinthians are still acting like mere humans, as they are divided over their allegiance to different leaders, such as #Paul and #Apollos. He reminds them that both he and Apollos are merely servants through whom they came to faith, and it is God who gives the growth. This highlights the centrality of God’s role in the life of the church and the futility of boasting in human leaders. Paul uses the metaphor of planting and watering to illustrate that while he planted the seed of the Gospel and Apollos watered it, it is ultimately God who causes it to grow (1 Corinthians 3:6-7).

Paul further explains that believers are God’s field and God’s building, emphasizing their identity in Christ. He introduces the concept of the church as a temple, where the Holy Spirit dwells. Paul warns that each person must be careful how they build upon the foundation of Jesus Christ, as their work will be tested by fire on the Day of Judgment (1 Corinthians 3:12-15). This serves as a reminder that the quality of our work for the Lord matters, and only what is done for Him will endure. The chapter concludes with a call to recognize the value of being part of God’s family and the importance of living in accordance with His wisdom rather than worldly standards, reinforcing the idea that true wisdom comes from God alone (1 Corinthians 3:18-23).

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Referenced by

  1. Acts 18:24-26v6Acts 18:24-26 describes Apollos being instructed more accurately in the way of God by Priscilla and Aquila, which complements Paul's statement in 1 Corinthians 3:6 about planting, Apollos watering, and God giving the growth.
  2. Romans 7:14v1Romans 7:14 describes the law as spiritual but acknowledges human weakness, similar to 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 where Paul addresses the Corinthians as people of the flesh, not yet ready for spiritual maturity.

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