1Cor 3 | MHM | STEP | The Spirit of Party Reproved In this section, Paul criticizes the Corinthians for their spiritual immaturity and divisive behavior. Although they had received the gospel and started their Christian journey, they had not grown in grace and knowledge as they should have. Instead of acting as mature believers, they were behaving like spiritual infants, caught up in quarrels and divisions. v. 1 : Paul tells the Corinthians that he could not address them as “spiritual” people but as “carnal” and as “babes in Christ.” Although they had been renewed by God’s grace and had started their relationship with Christ, they were still ruled by their human desires and weaknesses. They had learned the basics of Christianity, but they had not grown in understanding, faith, or holiness (1 Corinthians 3:1 ). This was especially disappointing because they were proud of their supposed wisdom and knowledge. Paul reminds them that true maturity in Christ means growing in spiritual understanding and living a life guided by the gospel.

‏ 1 Corinthians 3

The Spirit of Party Reproved

In this section, Paul criticizes the Corinthians for their spiritual immaturity and divisive behavior. Although they had received the gospel and started their Christian journey, they had not grown in grace and knowledge as they should have. Instead of acting as mature believers, they were behaving like spiritual infants, caught up in quarrels and divisions.

v. 1: Paul tells the Corinthians that he could not address them as “spiritual” people but as “carnal” and as “babes in Christ.” Although they had been renewed by God’s grace and had started their relationship with Christ, they were still ruled by their human desires and weaknesses. They had learned the basics of Christianity, but they had not grown in understanding, faith, or holiness (1 Corinthians 3:1 ^a). This was especially disappointing because they were proud of their supposed wisdom and knowledge. Paul reminds them that true maturity in Christ means growing in spiritual understanding and living a life guided by the gospel.

v. 2: Paul explains that he had to give them “milk” instead of “meat” because they were not ready for deeper teachings. “Milk” refers to the elementary truths of the faith, while “meat” represents the more advanced and profound doctrines. He says they still cannot handle more solid spiritual truths because they have not grown enough. Paul emphasizes that it is natural for spiritual infants to grow and mature, and it is their responsibility to advance in their faith. Christians should not always remain at the beginner level but should strive to understand more of God’s truth and live it out (1 Corinthians 3:2 ^b).

v. 3: Paul accuses them of being “carnal” because of their jealousy, strife, and divisions. These behaviors show that they are still controlled by their sinful nature. Instead of being united in love, they were competing and arguing with each other. Paul says, “Are you not carnal, and walk as men?” They were acting like ordinary people who do not know Christ, rather than as mature Christians who are guided by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:3 ^c). True religion brings peace and unity, not contention and division.

v. 4: Paul gives an example of their divisiveness: some were saying, “I am of Paul,” while others were saying, “I am of Apollos.” They were forming factions based on their favorite ministers, which was a clear sign of their immaturity. Paul reminds them that such behavior is not spiritual but worldly. Mature Christians should focus on Christ rather than creating divisions based on human leaders (1 Corinthians 3:4 ^d).

Mutual Agreement of Ministers

In this section, Paul teaches the Corinthians how to correct their attitude toward their church leaders. He wants them to understand that ministers are simply God’s servants. They should not become followers of one minister over another, but remember that all leaders work together for God’s purpose. Paul also explains that true success in ministry comes from God, not from human effort.

v. 5: Paul asks, “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom you believed?” He reminds the Corinthians that he and Apollos are only servants whom God used to help them believe. Each minister works as the Lord gives them ability (1 Corinthians 3:5 ^e). The apostles are not the source of faith or salvation; they are just instruments in God’s hands.

v. 6: Paul says, “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.” Paul started the church in Corinth, and Apollos helped the believers grow, but only God could make their faith strong and fruitful (1 Corinthians 3:6 ^f). God uses different people for different roles, but all the growth comes from Him.

v. 7: Paul continues, “So then neither he that planteth is any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.” Even the best ministers cannot produce results without God’s blessing (1 Corinthians 3:7 ^g). Ministers should be humble and give all glory to God for anything good that happens through their work.

v. 8: Paul explains that “he that planteth and he that watereth are one.” All faithful ministers serve together in the same work for God. They may have different jobs, but their goal is the same. Each minister will receive a reward from God based on how faithfully they serve (1 Corinthians 3:8 ^h). God is a fair judge and will reward each one for their own labor.

v. 9: Paul says, “We are labourers together with God: you are God’s husbandry, you are God’s building.” The church belongs to God, not to any human leader. Ministers are fellow workers with God, and the believers are like a field or a building that belongs to Him . Paul wants the Corinthians to see themselves as God’s people, not as followers of Paul or Apollos.

v. 10: Paul describes himself as a “wise master-builder” who laid the foundation of the church in Corinth. He says this is only by the grace of God. Other ministers build on that foundation. Paul warns that everyone who builds on this foundation must be careful. It is important to teach only what agrees with the truth of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:10 ⁱ). Ministers should not add their own ideas or mix in things that do not fit with the gospel.

The Spiritual Foundation

In this passage, Paul explains what true Christian teaching must be built on. The only solid foundation for the church is Jesus Christ. Every teacher and believer must build on Him, not on human ideas or traditions. Paul also warns that not everything built on this foundation will last; the quality of each person’s work will be tested by God. True faithfulness to Christ and His message will stand, but false teachings and empty practices will be exposed and destroyed.

v. 11: Paul says, Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only true foundation for faith and hope. Anyone who builds on something else will not stand. The message of Christ and His work as Mediator is the most important part of Christianity (Ephesians 2:20; 2 Corinthians 5:19 ^j).

v. 12: Paul describes two types of building on this foundation. Some people use “gold, silver, and precious stones”—that is, they teach and live out the pure truths of the gospel as Jesus taught. Others use “wood, hay, and stubble”—they may still believe in Jesus, but they add their own ideas or traditions, which are weak and cannot last (1 Corinthians 3:12 ^k).

v. 13: Paul warns that a day is coming when everyone’s work will be tested by fire. God will reveal what each person has built. If someone’s teaching or work is strong and true, it will survive the test. If it is weak or false, it will be destroyed. This “fire” is a picture of God’s judgment and truth exposing everything as it really is (1 Corinthians 3:13; 1 Corinthians 4:5 ^l).

v. 14: If a person’s work survives the test, they will receive a reward. Faithful ministers and believers who teach and live the true gospel will be honored and blessed by God in the end.

v. 15: If someone’s work is burned up, they will suffer loss. This means their wrong ideas or worthless practices will be destroyed, but if they truly believe in Christ, they can still be saved—“yet so as by fire.” Their salvation will be like being rescued from a burning building. Paul makes it clear that this is not about purgatory, but about God testing and exposing our works. Only true faith and faithfulness to Christ will last (1 Corinthians 3:15 ^m).

Holiness Prescribed

Paul now continues his teaching by reminding the Corinthians that they are God’s building. He uses the image of a temple to show how serious it is to keep the church pure and holy. Paul warns them not to allow anything that would corrupt or destroy God’s temple. Both the whole church and every believer are to be set apart for God and must avoid anything that would defile this special relationship with Him.

v. 16: Paul asks, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” He is reminding the believers that God’s Spirit lives among them, just as He once lived in the temple in Jerusalem. Christians, both as a church and as individuals, are now God’s temple (1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 2:22 ⁿ). Because of this, they should live holy lives, separated from sin and set apart for God’s service.

v. 17: Paul gives a strong warning: “If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy that person; for the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.” If someone teaches or encourages sinful behavior that corrupts the church, they are in danger of God’s judgment. Holiness is not just an option but a requirement for God’s people. Christians should avoid anything that would make God’s temple unclean, whether it is sinful actions or false teachings (1 Corinthians 3:17 ^o). We must keep ourselves pure, because we belong to God.

Humility Prescribed

Paul advises the Corinthians to be humble and not to think too highly of themselves. He warns them that pride and confidence in human wisdom are dangerous. These attitudes lead to divisions and problems in the church. True wisdom comes from God, and those who want to be truly wise must be willing to admit their need for God’s teaching. Paul encourages the believers to put aside pride and to value the simple truth of the gospel above all the clever words and ideas of the world.

v. 18: Paul says, “Let no man deceive himself.” He warns them not to be fooled by people who pretend to have great knowledge or impressive words. If someone thinks they are wise by worldly standards, they must become “a fool” in order to be truly wise. This means admitting that they need God’s wisdom instead of trusting in their own understanding (1 Corinthians 3:18; Psalm 25:9 ^p).

v. 19: Paul explains that “the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.” What people in the world think is smart or clever is nothing compared to God’s wisdom. God can easily defeat human plans and show them to be empty. As it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness (1 Corinthians 3:19; Job 5:13 ^q).

v. 20: Paul adds that God knows “the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.” Even the most clever plans of people are empty and worthless in God’s eyes (1 Corinthians 3:20; Psalm 94:11 ^r). God sees everything and understands all, so we should be humble and trust in His wisdom.

Against Overvaluing Teachers

In this passage, Paul warns the Corinthians not to place too much importance on their teachers. He reminds them that all faithful ministers are servants of God, and their purpose is to build up the church, not to divide it. Paul emphasizes that believers should not create factions by following one teacher over another. Instead, they should see all teachers as gifts from God for their spiritual benefit. Ultimately, everything belongs to those who belong to Christ, but this comes with the responsibility to fully submit to Jesus as Lord.

v. 21: Paul says, “Let no man glory in men.” The Corinthians were wrongly putting their teachers on pedestals, admiring them excessively, and creating divisions by doing so. Paul reminds them that ministers are only human. To follow them blindly or to elevate them above others is wrong, especially when it goes against God’s truth. Faithful ministers serve one Lord and work toward one purpose: the good of the church (1 Corinthians 3:21 ^s).

v. 22: Paul explains that all ministers, whether Paul, Apollos, or Cephas (Peter), belong to the believers. They are not in competition with one another but are united in building up the church. Paul then goes further, saying that not only do ministers belong to them, but “all things are yours.” The world, life, death, things present, and things to come all work for the good of those who belong to Christ. This does not mean believers own the world, but that everything is under God’s control and will ultimately serve their best interests (Psalm 84:11; 1 Corinthians 3:22 ^t).

v. 23: Paul reminds the Corinthians that they belong to Christ. They are His subjects, His property, and must live in submission to Him. Everything they have is because of their relationship with Jesus. Outside of Christ, they have no claim to the blessings of God. Paul concludes by saying, “And Christ is God’s.” Christ is the one anointed by God to act as Mediator and bring glory to God. All things belong to believers so that Christ may be honored, and through Him, God may be glorified (1 Corinthians 3:23 ^u).