Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians
Compiled by WD Kemner August 2024
1 Corinthians Chapter 3 Overview
Built upon a foundation
1 Corinthians Chapter 3 verses 1-2
Concordance: Principle for Teaching
1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
Principle for teaching. Giving them only what they can handle. Further the growth the more depth that can be taught.
1 Corinthians Chapter 3 verses 3-4
Concordance: Divisions within the Body
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?
4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
Fights developed over which minister they followed. The belief that there was significance to the teacher’s authority.
1 Corinthians Chapter 3 verses 5-11
5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's 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.
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
The process of growth. Teaching builds upon itself. The foundation is one – Jesus Christ
1 Corinthians Chapter 3 verses 12-15
Concordance: Works of Man; Judged at the end; Adding to the Gospel
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
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.
14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Works of man will be judged by fire to see what they are built upon for a foundation and building materials.
1 Corinthians Chapter 3 verses 16-17
Concordance: Human Body
16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in 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.
Often ignored passage. What an individual does to their own physical body is being done to the temple of God. We disrespect the temple of God in the society we live in.
1 Corinthians Chapter 3 verses 18-23
Concordance: Wisdom
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.
19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are your's;
22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are your's;
23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.
Verse 19: quotes Job 5:13.
Verse 20: Psalm 94:11.