BOOK 46 OF 66 · PAULINE EPISTLES · KING JAMES BIBLE

1 Corinthians 3

1 Corinthians book home•Chapter 3 of 16•23 verses

Chapter overviewAt a glance + deeper study

REVIEWED OVERVIEW

1 Corinthians 3 Overview

Paul calls the Corinthians carnal because jealousy and party spirit still dominate them. Paul and Apollos are servants through whom they believed; God gives the increase. Christ is the only foundation, and each believer’s work will be tested for reward or loss, while God’s temple must not be defiled.

1 CorinthiansBook

3Chapter

23Verses

Pauline EpistlesDivision

Before you read 1 Corinthians 3

Coming from

Paul explains that he came preaching Christ crucified rather than impressive human wisdom. God’s hidden wisdom is revealed by the Spirit, who searches the deep things of God, and spiritual truth must be received through the Spirit rather than judged merely by the natural man.

In this chapter

Leads into

Paul tells the Corinthians to regard apostles as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries. Faithfulness matters more than premature human judgment. He contrasts Corinthian self-satisfaction with the apostles’ suffering and urges the church to imitate his Christ-centered example as he prepares to address arrogant troublemakers.

Key understandingExplore deeper

‘Carnal’ describes genuine believers behaving immaturely; it is not proof that they were never saved.

The fire tests works built on the foundation, not whether Christ remains the foundation. Verse 15 explicitly says the man himself ‘shall be saved; yet so as by fire.’

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Ministers are servants, not rival foundations

One plants, another waters, but God gives the increase.

Christ alone is the foundation

Christian labor must be built upon Him rather than personalities.

Believers can lose reward without losing salvation

Works may burn while the believer is still saved.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

1 Corinthians 1:12–13

Chapter 3 continues the rebuke of party spirit introduced in chapter 1.

2 Corinthians 5:10

Paul later teaches that believers appear before Christ’s judgment seat for deeds done in the body.

Ephesians 2:20–22

The church is also pictured as God’s building and temple in Christ.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Do not use carnality as proof a person was never a believer

Paul addresses the Corinthians as brethren.

Do not turn the reward judgment into loss of eternal life

Verse 15 explicitly preserves salvation while works are lost.

Do not make ministers the source of spiritual growth

God gives the increase.

Read 1 Corinthians 3 watching for…

The word ‘carnal’ and why Paul uses it.

The planting/watering/building metaphors.

The single foundation named.

What the fire tests.

The distinction between losing reward and being saved.

Chapter outline3 sections

1-9Carnal divisions show immaturity, while ministers are servants and God gives the increase 10-17Each person must take heed how he builds on Christ the foundation because works will be tested 18-23Worldly wisdom is foolishness with God, and believers belong to Christ

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.