1 Corinthians 3
In 1 Corinthians 3, Paul corrects the divisions in the Corinthian church and shows that their quarrels proved they were still spiritually immature. They were acting according to the flesh by exalting human leaders such as Paul and Apollos instead of looking to Christ. Paul explains that ministers are only servants through whom God works: one plants, another waters, but God gives the increase. He then uses the picture of a building to show that Jesus Christ is the only true foundation of the church, and every teacher must be careful how he builds upon that foundation. The chapter also reminds believers that the church is God’s temple, where the Spirit of God dwells, and therefore must not be defiled by division, false teaching, or pride.
1 Corinthians 3:1-3 (NKJV)
1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.
2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able;
3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?
Paul tells the Corinthians that he could not speak to them as fully spiritual people, because they were still carnal and immature, like babies in Christ. They could only receive “milk,” meaning basic teaching, not “solid food,” meaning deeper spiritual truth, because they were not ready for it. Their envy, strife, and divisions showed that they were still thinking and acting according to the flesh instead of being led by the Spirit. Even though they had spiritual gifts, their character and conduct showed that they were still behaving like ordinary worldly people.
1 Corinthians 3:4-5 (NKJV)
4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?
5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one?
Paul points to their party spirit as proof of their carnality. Some were saying, “I am of Paul,” while others said, “I am of Apollos.” They were making human leaders the center of their identity. Paul corrects this by saying that he and Apollos were only ministers, or servants, through whom the Corinthians believed. The Lord was the One working through each servant. Therefore, the church should not divide itself around preachers or teachers, because the servant is not greater than the Master.
1 Corinthians 3:6-7 (NKJV)
6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.
7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.
Paul uses the picture of farming to explain ministry. Paul planted the seed by first preaching the gospel in Corinth, and Apollos watered by teaching and strengthening the believers afterward. But neither Paul nor Apollos could create spiritual life or growth. Only God gives the increase. This means ministers have different roles, but the power and glory belong to God alone. No human worker should be exalted as if the growth came from him.
1 Corinthians 3:8-9 (NKJV)
8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.
Paul uses the picture of planting and watering to show that he and Apollos are not rivals—they are partners working toward the same goal, even though they do different jobs. Their reward from God won’t depend on which role they had, but on how faithfully and sincerely they did their work. Paul also lifts their work to a higher level by calling them "fellow workers" with God, meaning they are not doing this alone but are actually partnering with God Himself in spreading the gospel. And when Paul calls the church a "field" and a "building," he is showing that God is constantly at work among His people—helping them grow like a garden and building them up like a structure under construction. In short, every worker matters, every effort counts, and it is all part of what God is doing in and through His church.
1 Corinthians 3:10-11 (NKJV)
10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.
11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Paul describes himself as a wise master builder, but he makes clear that this was only by the grace of God given to him. His role was to lay the foundation of the church in Corinth by preaching Christ. That foundation is Jesus Christ, and no other foundation can be laid. This means all true teaching, ministry, and church life must be built upon Christ—His life, His death, His resurrection, and His truth. Paul also warns that each person must be careful how he builds, because not every kind of teaching or work is suitable for God’s church.
1 Corinthians 3:12-15 (NKJV)
12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,
13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.
14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.
15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
Paul continues the picture of building on the foundation of Christ. Gold, silver, and precious stones represent faithful, lasting work—true teaching, sincere service, and spiritual fruit that comes from God. Wood, hay, and straw represent weak, careless, or fleshly work that may look impressive for a time but will not last. Paul says the Day will reveal each person’s work, meaning the day of judgment will test its true quality, like fire tests materials. If a person’s work remains, he will receive a reward. If his work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself may still be saved. This shows that God cares not only that we build on Christ, but also how we build.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (NKJV)
16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
Paul reminds the Corinthians that they are the temple of God, because the Spirit of God dwells in them. In the Old Testament, the temple was the place where God’s presence dwelt, but now God dwells among His people by His Spirit. In this context, Paul is especially speaking of the church as a spiritual temple, though the principle also applies to individual believers. Because God’s temple is holy, the church must not be defiled by division, false teaching, pride, or sinful behavior. Anyone who damages or corrupts God’s temple will face serious judgment, because God cares deeply about the holiness, unity, and purity of His people.
1 Corinthians 3:18-20 (NKJV)
18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise 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 is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”;
20 and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”
Paul warns the Corinthians not to deceive themselves by trusting in worldly wisdom. If someone thinks he is wise according to this age, he must become “a fool” in the world’s eyes by humbling himself and receiving God’s wisdom. The wisdom of this world may seem impressive, but before God it is foolishness when it rejects His truth. Paul quotes Scripture to show that God exposes the cleverness of the proud and knows that human thoughts are empty without Him. True wisdom begins with humility and dependence on God, not confidence in human ideas.
1 Corinthians 3:21-23 (NKJV)
21 Therefore 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 things present or things to come—all are yours.
23 And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.
Paul concludes by telling the Corinthians not to boast in human leaders. They were saying, “I am of Paul,” “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” but Paul shows that this thinking was too small. These ministers were not masters over the believers; they were gifts given for the church’s benefit. In Christ, all things are theirs—leaders, life, death, the present, and the future—because God works all things for His people. But Paul ends with the proper order: believers belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God. Therefore, their confidence and boasting should not be in men, but in God through Christ.