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1 Corinthians, 3

1. And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, [even] as unto babes in Christ.

1. I could not, friends, speak to you as spiritual persons but as fleshly people, for you are still infants in Christ.

2. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able [to bear it], neither yet now are ye able.

2. I gave you milk and not solid food, for you were not ready for it and up to now you cannot receive it

3. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas [there is] among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

3. for you are still of the flesh. As long as there is jealousy and strife, what can I say but that you are at the level of the flesh and behave like ordinary people.

4. For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I [am] of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

4. While one says: "I follow Paul," and the other: "I follow Apollos," what are you but people still at a human level?

5. Who then is Paul, and who [is] Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

5. For what is Apollos? What is Paul? They are ministers and through them you believed, as it was given by the Lord to each of them.

6. I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

6. I planted, Apollos watered the plant, but God made it grow.

7. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

7. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who makes the plant grow.

8. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

8. The one who plants and the one who waters work to the same end, and the Lord will pay each according to their work.

9. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, [ye are] God's building.

9. We are fellow-workers with God, but you are God's field and building.

10. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

10. I, as a good architect, according to the capacity given to me, I laid the foundation, and another is to build upon it. Each one must be careful how to build upon it.

11. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

11. No one can lay a foundation other than the one which is already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

12. Then if someone builds with gold upon this foundation, another with silver and precious stones, or with wood, bamboo or straw,

13. Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

13. the work of each one will be shown for what it is. The day of Judgment will reveal it, because the fire will make everything known. The fire will test the work of everyone.

14. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

14. If your work withstands the fire, you will be rewarded;

15. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

15. but if your work becomes ashes, you will pay for it. You will be saved, but it will be as if passing through fire.

16. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

16. Do you not know that you are God's temple, and that God's Spirit abides within you?

17. If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which [temple] ye are.

17. If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him. God's temple is holy, and you are this temple.

18. Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

18. Do not deceive yourselves. If anyone of you considers himself wise in the ways of the world, let him become a fool, so that he may become wise.

19. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

19. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's eyes. To this, Scripture says: God catches the wise in their own wisdom.

20. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

20. It also says: The Lord knows the reasoning of the wise, that it is useless.

21. Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;

21. Because of this, let no one become an admirer of humans, for everything belongs to you,

22. Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;

22. Paul, Apollos, Cephas - life, death, the present and the future. Everything is yours,

23. And ye are Christ's; and Christ [is] God's.

23. and you, you belong to Christ, and Christ is of God.



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Footnotes:

3:1-4 - Paul rebukes the Corinthians for their spiritual immaturity, revealed by divisions and rivalry among followers of different leaders. True wisdom comes from God, not from human leaders (see also Hebrews 5:12-14 and 1 Peter 2:2).

3:5-9 - Paul and Apollos are simply God's servants, working together to build up the church. The real work of building the church is done by God, and human servants are instruments in His hands (see also Matthew 13:23 and John 4:37-38).

3:10-15 - The quality of every believer's work will be tested by fire on the Day of the Lord. The foundation is Christ, and all believers must build on this foundation with materials that stand up to judgment (see also 1 Peter 1:7 and Luke 6:48-49).

3:16-17 - The body of believers is God's temple, and the Holy Spirit dwells in it. Care and respect for this temple are fundamental to the holiness and purity of the church (see also 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 and 2 Corinthians 6:16).

Verses related to 1 Corinthians, 3:

1 Corinthians chapter 3 addresses spiritual immaturity and true ministry. How to grow in Christ? Paul criticizes divisions in the church, comparing believers to spiritual babies. He uses agricultural and architectural metaphors to illustrate ministry, emphasizing that God gives growth. The text also warns about the responsibility of leaders and the importance of building on the correct foundation: Christ. Consider with us five biblical passages that elucidate the key principles of this instructive chapter.

Hebrews 5:12-13: "Although you should be teachers by now, you need someone to teach you again the elementary principles of God's word. They ended up needing milk, not solid food!" - It relates to 1 Corinthians 3:1-2, about spiritual immaturity and the need for spiritual "milk."

1 Peter 2:5: "You also, like living stones, are being built up into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." - Complements 1 Corinthians 3:9-11, about believers as God's building.

James 3:1: "My brothers, do not let too many of you be teachers, for you know that we who teach will be judged more rigorously." - It relates to 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, about the responsibility of spiritual leaders.

Ephesians 2:20-22: "Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ as the cornerstone, in whom the entire building is fitted together and grows to become a holy sanctuary in the Lord." - Expands the concept of 1 Corinthians 3:11 about Christ as the only foundation.

Romans 8:9: "But you are not under the dominion of the flesh, but of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ." - It relates to 1 Corinthians 3:16, about believers as a temple of the Holy Spirit.

FAQ:

How does Paul explain the division among Christians in 1 Corinthians 3?

Paul laments divisions and teaches that instead of following human leaders, Christians should focus on Christ, who is the true basis of faith. (1 Corinthians 3:3-7)

What does "each one will build on the foundation" mean?

The foundation is Christ, and each Christian is responsible for building his or her faith wisely, as if it were a house, using materials worthy of God. (1 Corinthians 3:10-15)

How does Paul describe the Church as the temple of God?

He teaches that the Church is the temple of God and that anyone who destroys the Church will suffer severe consequences, because the Church is holy. (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)

What does Paul say about human wisdom versus divine wisdom?

Human wisdom is futile in God's sight; believers must turn away from worldly wisdom and seek divine wisdom in Christ. (1 Corinthians 3:18-20)

What does it mean that Christians are "co-workers with God"?

Paul teaches that spiritual leaders are not the owners of faith, but co-workers with God in building up the body of Christ, which is the church. (1 Corinthians 3:9)


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