Overview
In this chapter, Paul addressed the Corinthians as immature believers and emphasized their need for spiritual growth.
He also discussed the divisions among them and used the metaphor of God's field and God's building, to describe the church, and the work of God's servants.
Bible Study/Commentary
Verses 1-4: The Corinthians As Infants In Christ
Paul started this chapter by characterizing the Corinthians as babes in Christ, who were not ready for solid spiritual food, but only for milk, a metaphor about basic teachings.
He attributed this to their behavior that was marked by jealousy and strife, which were signs of living according to the flesh and behaving in a worldly manner.
Verses 5-9: Paul addressed the issue of divisions within the Corinthian church
Believers who were identifying themselves with different church leaders such as Paul or Apollos, were causing these divisions.
He asserted that he and Apollos were merely servants, through whom they had come to believe in Jesus, but that it was God who gave the growth.
Using agricultural metaphors, he emphasized, that while he did the planting, and Apollos watered, it was God who caused the growth.
Both Paul and Apollos had a common purpose.
They were co-workers in God's service, with the Corinthians being God's field, and also God's building.
Verses 10-15: Building On The Foundation Of Christ
Paul continued using the metaphor of the Corinthians, as God's building.
He said, that as a wise master builder, he had laid the foundation, which was Jesus Christ.
Paul went on to say, that no one could build on any other foundation.
He also said that builders must be careful how they build upon this foundation.
He mentioned that people could build on this foundation using different materials; such as gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw.
However, the Day of Judgment would reveal the quality of each person's work.
Everyone's work would be tested by fire, and that If their works survived, they would receive a reward.
If their works were burned up, they would suffer loss, but they themselves would be saved.
Verses 16-23: The Temple of God
Paul reminded the Corinthians that they eere the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lived in them.
He warned them, that if anyone destroyed God's temple, that they would be destroyed by God.
Paul again warned the Corinthians against deceiving themselves with worldly wisdom.
He urged them to become fools, that is, in the world's view, so that they could truly become wise.
Paul concluded the chapter by reminding the Corinthians that they belonged to Christ, and Christ belonged to God, reinforcing the unity that should exist within the church.
Overall Summary
1 Corinthians Chapter 3 emphasized the necessity for spiritual growth and unity among Christians.
Paul corrected the Corinthians' misguided preference for specific church leaders and shifted their focus back to God as the one who truly enabled growth.
He used the metaphor of a building to describe the church, reminding them of the importance of building their lives upon the firm foundation of Jesus Christ.
The chapter ended with a powerful reminder that they were the temple of God, filled with the Spirit of God, and that they belonged to Christ.
1 Corinthians 3
Divisions in the Church
3 But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, 3 for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human?
5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. 9 For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.
10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
16 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.
18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” 20 and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” 21 So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23 and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.
Q&A
1 Corinthians 3:1
Q1: How did Paul describe the Corinthians?
A1: But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:2
Q2: What did Paul feed the Corinthians with initially?
A2: I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now, you are not yet ready,
1 Corinthians 3:3
Q3: What did Paul note among the Corinthians?
A3: for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?
1 Corinthians 3:4
Q4: What did the Corinthians say, indicating their worldly mindset?
A4: For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not being merely human?
1 Corinthians 3:5
Q5: Who is Paul and who is Apollos, according to Paul?
A5: What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each.
1 Corinthians 3:6
Q6: Who gave the growth to the Corinthians' faith?
A6: I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.
1 Corinthians 3:7
Q7: What does Paul note about the one who plants and the one who waters?
A7: So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.
1 Corinthians 3:8
Q8: What do the one who plants and the one who waters become?
A8: He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.
1 Corinthians 3:9
Q9: What are the Corinthians considered?
A9: For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.
1 Corinthians 3:10
Q10: What is Paul's role as a skilled master builder?
A10: According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder, I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it.
1 Corinthians 3:11
Q11: What is the foundation that was laid?
A11: For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:12
Q12: What materials can be used to build on the foundation?
A12: Now, if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—
1 Corinthians 3:13
Q13: What will each one's work become evident by?
A13: each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.
1 Corinthians 3:14
Q14: What happens if someone's work is consumed by the fire?
A14: If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.
1 Corinthians 3:15
Q15: What happens if someone's work is burned up?
A15: If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
1 Corinthians 3:16
Q16: What do the Corinthians collectively represent?
A16: Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?
1 Corinthians 3:17
Q17: What does Paul say about anyone who destroys God's temple?
A17: If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.
1 Corinthians 3:18
Q18: What advice does Paul give regarding worldly wisdom?
A18: Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.
1 Corinthians 3:19
Q19: What does Paul say about the wisdom of this world?
A19: For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their craftiness."
1 Corinthians 3:20
Q20: What does Paul say about the schemes of the wise?
A20: And again, "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile."
1 Corinthians 3:21
Q21: How does Paul instruct the Corinthians regarding boasting?
A21: So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours,
1 Corinthians 3:22
Q22: What does Paul say about the world, life, death, present, and future?
A22: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours,
1 Corinthians 3:23
Q23: What does Paul say about the Corinthians?
A23: and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.