1 Corinthians3

Paul addresses the Corinthians as carnal, not spiritual, due to their divisions and factionalism, emphasizing that he and Apollos are merely ministers through whom God gives the increase. He declares that Jesus Christ is the sole foundation, and all subsequent work will be tested by fire. Furthermore, believers are the temple of God, and worldly wisdom is foolishness in God's sight, urging them not to glory in men but to recognize that all things are theirs in Christ.

Carnality and Immaturity in the Church

1
And I, brethren, was not able to speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshly--as to babes in Christ;
2
with milk I fed you, and not with meat, for ye were not yet able, but not even yet are ye now able,
3
for yet ye are fleshly, for where there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not fleshly, and in the manner of men do walk?
4
for when one may say, `I, indeed, am of Paul;' and another, `I--of Apollos;' are ye not fleshly?

Ministers are God's Fellow Workers

5
Who, then, is Paul, and who Apollos, but ministrants through whom ye did believe, and to each as the Lord gave?
6
I planted, Apollos watered, but God was giving growth;
7
so that neither is he who is planting anything, nor he who is watering, but He who is giving growth--God;
8
and he who is planting and he who is watering are one, and each his own reward shall receive, according to his own labour,
9
for of God we are fellow-workmen; God's tillage, God's building ye are.

Building on the Foundation of Christ

10
According to the grace of God that was given to me, as a wise master-builder, a foundation I have laid, and another doth build on it ,
11
for other foundation no one is able to lay except that which is laid, which is Jesus the Christ;
12
and if any one doth build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw--
13
of each the work shall become manifest, for the day shall declare it , because in fire it is revealed, and the work of each, what kind it is, the fire shall prove;
14
if of any one the work doth remain that he built on it , a wage he shall receive;
15
if of any the work is burned up, he shall suffer loss; and himself shall be saved, but so as through fire.

The Community is God's Temple

16
have ye not known that ye are a sanctuary of God, and the Spirit of God doth dwell in you?
17
if any one the sanctuary of God doth waste, him shall God waste; for the sanctuary of God is holy, the which ye are.

True Wisdom and Divine Ownership

18
Let no one deceive himself; if any one doth seem to be wise among you in this age--let him become a fool, that he may become wise,
19
for the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, for it hath been written, `Who is taking the wise in their craftiness;'
20
and again, `The Lord doth know the reasonings of the wise, that they are vain.'
21
So then, let no one glory in men, for all things are yours,
22
whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things about to be--all are yours,
23
and ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's.
Use ← → arrow keys to navigate
Settings

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Reading Width 45 chars

Options