1 Corinthians Chapter 3 — Foundation and Growth in Christ
Paul addresses divisions within the Corinthian church, emphasizing that leaders are merely fellow workers while God provides the spiritual growth.
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.”✡Job 5:13
20And again, “The Lord knows the reasoning of the wise, that it is worthless.”✡Psalms 94:11
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.
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
1 Corinthians 3:6
“I planted. Apollos watered. But God gave the increase.”
It highlights that human efforts are secondary to God's ultimate role in spiritual development.
1 Corinthians 3:11
“For no one can lay any other foundation than that which has been laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
This verse establishes Christ as the essential core of Christian faith and community.
1 Corinthians 3:16
“Don’t you know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?”
It underscores the sacredness and collective identity of the church body as the dwelling place of the Spirit.
Chapter Summary
In 1 Corinthians Chapter 3, Paul rebukes the believers in Corinth for their spiritual immaturity and internal divisions. He describes them as 'fleshly' because they argue over which leader to follow, specifically mentioning himself and Apollos. Paul explains that while he may have planted the seed and Apollos watered it, only God is responsible for the growth. He uses the metaphor of a building to describe the church, identifying Jesus Christ as the only solid foundation. Paul warns that every person's work will be tested by fire on the 'Day' to reveal its true value and permanence. Finally, he reminds the believers that they are collectively God's temple, where His Spirit dwells, and cautions against relying on worldly wisdom, which is foolishness in God's sight. He concludes by stating that all things belong to the believers because they belong to Christ.
Frequently Asked Questions
Paul uses this metaphor to describe their spiritual immaturity. Because they were focused on worldly divisions and jealousy rather than spiritual growth, they were not yet ready for deeper teachings or 'solid food.'
Paul uses agricultural imagery to show that different leaders have different roles in ministry. One might start the work and another might continue it, but neither is more important than God, who makes the growth happen.
Paul explains that the community of believers is the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. This highlights the holiness of the church and serves as a warning against anything that would cause division or destruction within that community.
Paul states that the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. He encourages believers not to boast in human leaders or intellectual status, as God's perspective transcends human reasoning.
Study Note
The transition from agricultural metaphors (planting and watering) to architectural metaphors (building and foundation) illustrates different aspects of the church's collective development and responsibility.
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