Commentary of the Book of 1st Corinthians
By Dr. Barry L. Jenkins
Text Used: Legacy Standard Bible
Bible Study 1 Corinthians 3: 1-23
Text:
Jesus Christ, Our Foundation
3 And I, brothers, was not able to speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to fleshly men, as to infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food, for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are still not able, 3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking [a]like mere men? 4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not mere men?
5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave to each one. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. 7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, but each will receive his own [b]reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s [c]field, God’s building.
10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, [d]precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each man’s work will become evident, for the day will indicate it because it is revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test [e]the quality of each man’s work. 14 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
16 Do you not know that you are a [f]sanctuary of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If any man destroys the [g]sanctuary of God, God will destroy him, for the [h]sanctuary of God is holy, and [i]that is what you are.
18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, “He is the one who catches the wise in their craftiness”; 20 and again, “The Lord knows the reasonings of the wise, that they are useless.” 21 So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, 23 and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.
Verse by verse commentary:
Verse 1: “And I, brothers, was not able to speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to fleshly men, as to infants in Christ.”
Paul considered the Corinthians, despite having received the Holy Spirit and therefore being "spiritual" in the most fundamental sense, to be behaving in a way that contradicted this truth. He had to address them as individuals with limited spiritual understanding.
While they were no longer "natural," Paul asserted that they were not "spiritual" (fully controlled by the Holy Spirit) but rather "carnal" (controlled by the fallen flesh). This struggle with the fallen flesh exists for all believers, but the Corinthians' carnality indicated immaturity. Paul implied they should have been mature, given his teaching, and therefore had no excuse for their current state.
The Apostle was not establishing two classes of believers but distinguishing between mature and immature believers. He emphasized that the Corinthians already possessed the Holy Spirit and had everything necessary to become mature and spiritual, negating the idea that a second class of believers needed an additional spiritual work of the Holy Spirit, i.e. the Baptism with the Holy Spirit.
Verse 2: “I gave you milk to drink, not solid food, for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are still not able,”
Spiritual immaturity prevents a person from grasping the richest truths of Scripture. The difference between "milk" and "solid food" is not the type of truth, but the depth. "Milk" refers to the more easily understood doctrinal truths given to new believers, while "solid food" represents the deeper aspects of scriptural doctrines.
Verse 3: “for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?”
A Christian who is described as carnal, or fleshly, is characterized by the presence of contention and fragmentation, fostering an atmosphere of disorder. This conduct is observable even within many conservative churches through slander, resentment, hostility, jealousy, and conflict, all of which indicate the ascendancy of the fleshly nature.
For example, some Christians rationalize displays of temper as "candidness," when, in fact, it constitutes mere malice. The introduction of gossip, envy, strife, and division invariably allows the flesh to dominate, possessing the potential to transform any church assembly—such as a Sunday school class, a missionary society, or a prayer meeting—into a state of disarray.
Verse 4: “For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not mere men?”
Factionalism, the tendency toward internal division and the formation of competing groups, was not merely a superficial disagreement but was, in fact, the direct and inevitable consequence of the spiritual immaturity—or "carnality"—that plagued the Corinthian church. The Apostle Paul, in addressing this crisis, diagnosed the root cause as a mindset that elevated human leaders and preferences above the unifying power of the Gospel and the centrality of Christ. This "carnal" state meant the believers were acting according to the "flesh" or the unredeemed human nature, rather than being fully guided by the Holy Spirit. Instead of seeing themselves as one body built on the sole foundation of Jesus Christ, they were behaving like unspiritual people, prioritizing allegiance to certain teachers—such as Paul, Apollos, or Cephas—and boasting in human wisdom or eloquence. This behavior resulted in a deeply destructive pattern of sectarianism, where the church's energy was spent on internal conflict and strife, fundamentally undermining their unified witness and mission in the world.
Verse 5: “What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave to each one.”
The profound truth is that the ability to receive spiritual enlightenment and life—faith itself—is not a human achievement but a divine gift. It is the Lord alone who can give the faith to the spiritually ignorant and dead. The natural man, being spiritually dead in trespasses and sins, cannot comprehend the things of God (1 Corinthians 2:14). Therefore, when someone moves from a state of spiritual ignorance or death into a life of belief, it is exclusively a work of God's sovereign will and power.
Consequently, salvation is God’s work of grace to whom He chooses to give it. It is a gift freely bestowed, unearned, and undeserved. This doctrine of grace emphasizes that salvation does not depend on human effort, merit, or decision alone, but on God's prior and effectual call (Ephesians 2:8-9). He initiates the process, regenerates the heart, grants repentance, and implants the necessary faith. This foundational principle underscores the absolute necessity of divine intervention for anyone to be rescued from sin and brought into a saving relationship with Christ, solidifying the idea that God receives all the glory for the redemption of humanity.
Verse 6: “I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.”
Paul and Apollos were both servants of God, working together in ministry. Paul's role was like that of a missionary; he "planted" by opening up new territories. Apollos followed, "watering" by holding meetings, preaching, and helping to build up the believers.
Verse 7: “So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.”
Salvation is solely the work of God's grace, given by His choice to the spiritually ignorant and dead, and it is the Lord alone who grants them faith.
Verse 8: “Now he who plants and he who waters are one, but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.”
God uses various human instruments to bring about salvation. These people are equally valued and rewarded for their cooperation, but all praise belongs to God, as He is the sole Savior. Consequently, any foolish favoritism toward human leaders is inappropriate.
Verse 9: “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.”
The core message is that God is solely responsible for the success of Christian ministry. This is true whether Paul's statement implies that Christian workers partner with God, or that Christians who work together belong to God.
Verse 10: “According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it.”
The foundation was established nearly two millennia ago; it is not within our capacity to lay it ourselves. Our role is solely to direct attention to that foundation, which is Jesus Christ, and to build upon it. The crucial endeavor is to disseminate the Word of God and to proclaim the gospel, which is the exclusive means of salvation for humanity.
Verse 11: “For no one can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
The fundamental question for the believer is whether their foundation is built upon Him. Upon believing in Christ with a regenerated heart, one presents no prior achievements, offering nothing to gain everything. You were established upon that Rock, which is Christ. It is upon this foundation that you may now build; this is the context in which good works become relevant.
Verse 12: “ Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,”
The phrase, "if anyone builds," primarily refers to evangelists and pastors, but also includes all believers called to build the church through faithful ministry. The materials used in this building are significant:
Gold, silver, precious stones: These represent dedicated, spiritual service in building the church.
Wood, hay, straw: These are inferior materials, suggesting shallow activity that lacks eternal value. They do not necessarily imply evil actions.
Verse 13: “each man’s work will become evident, for the day will indicate it because it is revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work.”
Believers have the freedom to build upon the established foundation using diverse materials, such as gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or stubble. This choice is crucial because these materials undergo different tests by fire. Work built with materials like gold, silver, and precious stones will withstand and be refined by fire, signifying its lasting quality and ensuring a reward. Conversely, work constructed with wood, hay, and stubble will be entirely consumed and vanish. Ultimately, this passage teaches that the possibility of receiving a reward motivates a believer to choose materials that will endure the testing of their work.
Verse 14: “If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.”
The scripture promises that a believer who bases his or her life and ministry upon the foundation of the Lord Jesus Christ using materials of lasting value i.e. gold, silver, or precious stones shall receive a reward. These materials symbolize works of divine origin, purity, and enduring quality, such as genuine spiritual fruit, selfless sacrifice, and ministry driven by God's will. When the ultimate test of fire, representing God's judgment, is applied to the believer's work, only these incorruptible elements will survive. The reward granted will correspond to the quality and durability of the work that remains, a testament to a life faithfully lived and built according to God's eternal standards.
Verse 15: ‘If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”
A believer's salvation remains secure, even if their works are found to be without value.
Verse 16: “ Do you not know that you are a sanctuary of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”
In the Old Testament, God demonstrated His presence in the temple by filling it with the cloud of His glory. Today, He dwells among His people by filling them with the Holy Spirit. Here, Paul addresses God's people as a collective body, shifting his focus in 1 Corinthians 6:19 to the individual Christian's body.
Verse 17: “If any man destroys the sanctuary of God, God will destroy him, for the sanctuary of God is holy, and that is what you are.”
It is possible, according to Paul, that some Christian builders in Corinth are doing more than just using perishable materials; they may be actively ruining God's work. Such individuals will not escape judgment.
Verse 18: “Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise.”
Those who seek to destroy the church with their human wisdom, believing they can succeed in defiling it, should instead reject that worldly intellect. They would be much better off embracing what appears as foolishness—the message of Christ's cross.
Verse 19: “ For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, “He is the one who catches the wise in their craftiness”;
The wisdom valued by worldly people—such as political strategy, philosophical thought, or skilled public speaking—is considered "foolishness before God." When compared to His divine wisdom, their esteemed knowledge falls short.
Verse 20: “ and again, “The Lord knows the reasonings of the wise, that they are useless.”
God possesses perfect and complete knowledge of human thought—even the deepest, wisest, and most secret plans and intentions. Nothing is hidden from Him; rather, "all things are naked and bare" before Him (Hebrews 4:13). Furthermore, God recognizes these thoughts as vanity. Even the wisest human thoughts are heavily mixed with weakness and folly. When compared to God's understanding, humanity's best and wisest thoughts are utterly vain. This reality should encourage modesty, self-distrust, and deference to God's wisdom. It ought to make us thankful for His revelations and willing to be taught by Him, preventing us from being led astray by attractive claims of human wisdom and skill, and away from the simplicity of Christ or His heavenly doctrine.
Verse 21: “So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you,”
The quarreling among the Corinthians is shown to be petty and absurd by this principle. Since we belong to Christ, everything belongs to us through Him, which leaves no room for jealousy in our lives.
Verse 22: “whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you,”
A person who belongs to Christ is a spiritual child of God, and their Father provides all spiritual blessings for them. Therefore, the Corinthians' division and allegiance to mere men is absurd, considering what God has, in fact, given to the Corinthian church.
Verse 23: “and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.”
The deepest motivation for Christian unity is the profound truth that believers belong to Christ and, consequently, to one another. This shared identity—being adopted in Christ and sealed by the Spirit—creates a spiritual family surpassing all earthly divisions. Furthermore, belonging to Christ inherently means belonging to His body, the Church, as illustrated in 1 Corinthians 12. Just as the body's parts need each other, believers are interconnected, each gifted for the common good. Therefore, this dual-sense of belonging is the supreme incentive for unity. When conflicts arise, recalling "We are one in Christ" is essential; to harm a fellow believer is to harm Christ's body. This truth makes unity a divine imperative, demanding humility, patience, and forgiveness.
