I Corinthians 3: Building on the Right Foundation
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.
I Corinthians 3 addresses the immaturity and divisions within the Corinthian church. I Corinthians 3 emphasizes the importance of spiritual growth, unity, and building on the right foundation, which is Jesus Christ. Paul challenges the Corinthians to move beyond their worldly mindset and embrace true spiritual wisdom.
Immature in Christ (3:1-4)
Paul begins by expressing his disappointment that he cannot address the Corinthian believers as "spiritual people" (pneumatikos). Instead, he must speak to them as "people of the flesh" (sarkikos), or "worldly" (3:1). This isn't a question of their salvation, which Paul affirmed earlier (1:4-9). Rather, it speaks to their ongoing behavior and mindset. They are acting as if they were still living according to their pre-salvation worldview, demonstrating a lack of spiritual discernment.
Paul compares them to infants who can only digest milk, unable to handle the "solid food" of deeper Christian teaching (3:2). This solid food represents the ability to understand and apply spiritual truths based on Scripture, leading to spiritual maturity. There had been approximately a five-year gap between Paul’s visit to Corinth and this letter, we can conclude that a new believer can attain a basic level of spiritual maturity in five years, if he or she prioritizes spiritual development.
The evidence of their immaturity lies in their divisions and rivalries. They are aligning themselves with different leaders – Paul, Apollos, Peter – creating factions and causing "jealousy and strife" (3:3-4; see 1:10-13). This behavior, Paul argues, is characteristic of "mere humans" (anthrōpos), behaving like unbelievers, rather than spiritual people. A spiritual person seeks to think about a matter as Christ would think (see 2:16)—he or she is biblically informed and spiritually illumined—and then applies that perspective to life decisions. Without such an orientation, life will lead to chaos at the personal, family, and church levels.
Servants of God (3:5-9)
Paul shifts the focus from the leaders to the Lord. He emphasizes that he and Apollos are merely "servants" (diakonos) through whom the Corinthians believed (3:5). Each has been assigned a specific role by the Lord. Paul planted the seed of the gospel, and Apollos watered it, but it is God who "gives the growth" (3:6).
The Corinthians were aligning themselves with personalities in the church, Paul explains the futility of such an outlook. If believers were to align themselves with anyone, then, it should have been with the Lord—not with his servants. Paul and Apollos were coworkers with legitimate labor from God, but they were not the Corinthian church’s source (3:8-9). Their source of spiritual life and growth was God.
Paul stresses that the planter and the waterer are united in purpose and will each receive their wages from God (3:8). The emphasis is on their shared labor in God's service, not on their individual importance. The Corinthians are "God's field, God's building" (3:9), highlighting God's ownership and the importance of working together for His purposes.
Building on the Foundation of Christ (3:10-15)
Paul uses another metaphor, comparing the church to a building. He describes himself as a "skilled master builder" who laid the foundation, which is "Jesus Christ" (3:10-11). He warns that each person must be careful how they build on this foundation (3:10).
A sturdy foundation is essential. And spiritually speaking, the only one you want to build on is Jesus because he paid top dollar, so to speak, to save you from your sins so that you might have eternal life and fellowship with God. If you have trusted in him, beware what you build. For God will call you to give an account for it.
He introduces the concept of different building materials: "gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, straw" (3:12). The quality of the materials represents the quality of the work and the motives behind it. Building with lasting materials (gold, silver, precious stones) signifies work done with integrity, faithfulness, and a focus on eternal values. Using inferior materials (wood, hay, straw) represents work done with selfish motives, lack of diligence, or a focus on temporary gains.
The day will disclose everyone’s work (3:13)—that is, “the day” when Christians stand before the judgment seat of Christ (see 2 Cor 5:10). Under the revealing gaze of the Lord Jesus, the quality of our work will be tested by fire to determine our level of loss or rewards (3:13). Those whose deeds and faithfulness withstand the flames will receive a reward (3:14). But anyone whose work is burned up . . . will experience loss before Christ. Though he himself will be saved . . . as through the fire of Christ’s judgment seat, he will receive nothing to show for a life that should have been lived for God. Don’t give God your leftovers; give him the best you’ve got to offer. This passage affirms the eternal security of unfaithful believers who enter heaven with little or nothing to show in terms of service to God and his kingdom.
God's Temple (3:16-17)
Paul emphasizes the sacredness of the church by declaring, "you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you" (3:16). This is a powerful statement about the collective identity of the believers in Corinth.
Paul wants the Corinthians to take seriously what they were doing (the you here is plural in the original Greek text). They were not their own. As the church of Jesus Christ, they were in fact God’s temple, indwelt by the Spirit of God (3:16). To bring harm upon the church through illegitimate division or false doctrine would result in God’s temporal judgment because God manifests his holy presence among his people (3:17). It is no small thing in God’s eyes to bring destruction upon his church (see Acts 5:1-11).
True Wisdom (3:18-23)
Paul shifts his focus to the nature of true wisdom. He urges them to "become fools so that you may become wise" (3:18). This paradox highlights the difference between worldly wisdom and God's wisdom. The wisdom of the world, which considers everything from an earthly perspective and has no place for a supernatural view of reality, is foolishness with God (3:19). You can call it “wisdom,” if you like, but if a worldview disagrees with God’s view of things, it’s nothing but folly.
Paul points to Job 5:13 and Psalm 94:11, which articulate the truth that our infinite Creator’s thoughts are far superior to the craftiness and reasonings of those whom the world considers wise (3:19-20). The Lord is able to turn their supposed wisdom on its head and use it against them. True wisdom is in God’s hands alone.
Paul concludes by reminding the Corinthians that "all things are yours" (3:21). Because they belong to Christ, they have access to everything they need for spiritual growth and service. Therefore, they should not boast in human leaders (3:21). They shouldn’t exalt one leader over another because God had given all of these teachers to them for their good. They belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God (3:23). Therefore, as Paul says earlier, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord” (1:31).
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.
I Corinthians 3 addresses the immaturity and divisions within the Corinthian church. I Corinthians 3 emphasizes the importance of spiritual growth, unity, and building on the right foundation, which is Jesus Christ. Paul challenges the Corinthians to move beyond their worldly mindset and embrace true spiritual wisdom.
Immature in Christ (3:1-4)
Paul begins by expressing his disappointment that he cannot address the Corinthian believers as "spiritual people" (pneumatikos). Instead, he must speak to them as "people of the flesh" (sarkikos), or "worldly" (3:1). This isn't a question of their salvation, which Paul affirmed earlier (1:4-9). Rather, it speaks to their ongoing behavior and mindset. They are acting as if they were still living according to their pre-salvation worldview, demonstrating a lack of spiritual discernment.
Paul compares them to infants who can only digest milk, unable to handle the "solid food" of deeper Christian teaching (3:2). This solid food represents the ability to understand and apply spiritual truths based on Scripture, leading to spiritual maturity. There had been approximately a five-year gap between Paul’s visit to Corinth and this letter, we can conclude that a new believer can attain a basic level of spiritual maturity in five years, if he or she prioritizes spiritual development.
The evidence of their immaturity lies in their divisions and rivalries. They are aligning themselves with different leaders – Paul, Apollos, Peter – creating factions and causing "jealousy and strife" (3:3-4; see 1:10-13). This behavior, Paul argues, is characteristic of "mere humans" (anthrōpos), behaving like unbelievers, rather than spiritual people. A spiritual person seeks to think about a matter as Christ would think (see 2:16)—he or she is biblically informed and spiritually illumined—and then applies that perspective to life decisions. Without such an orientation, life will lead to chaos at the personal, family, and church levels.
Servants of God (3:5-9)
Paul shifts the focus from the leaders to the Lord. He emphasizes that he and Apollos are merely "servants" (diakonos) through whom the Corinthians believed (3:5). Each has been assigned a specific role by the Lord. Paul planted the seed of the gospel, and Apollos watered it, but it is God who "gives the growth" (3:6).
The Corinthians were aligning themselves with personalities in the church, Paul explains the futility of such an outlook. If believers were to align themselves with anyone, then, it should have been with the Lord—not with his servants. Paul and Apollos were coworkers with legitimate labor from God, but they were not the Corinthian church’s source (3:8-9). Their source of spiritual life and growth was God.
Paul stresses that the planter and the waterer are united in purpose and will each receive their wages from God (3:8). The emphasis is on their shared labor in God's service, not on their individual importance. The Corinthians are "God's field, God's building" (3:9), highlighting God's ownership and the importance of working together for His purposes.
Building on the Foundation of Christ (3:10-15)
Paul uses another metaphor, comparing the church to a building. He describes himself as a "skilled master builder" who laid the foundation, which is "Jesus Christ" (3:10-11). He warns that each person must be careful how they build on this foundation (3:10).
A sturdy foundation is essential. And spiritually speaking, the only one you want to build on is Jesus because he paid top dollar, so to speak, to save you from your sins so that you might have eternal life and fellowship with God. If you have trusted in him, beware what you build. For God will call you to give an account for it.
He introduces the concept of different building materials: "gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, straw" (3:12). The quality of the materials represents the quality of the work and the motives behind it. Building with lasting materials (gold, silver, precious stones) signifies work done with integrity, faithfulness, and a focus on eternal values. Using inferior materials (wood, hay, straw) represents work done with selfish motives, lack of diligence, or a focus on temporary gains.
The day will disclose everyone’s work (3:13)—that is, “the day” when Christians stand before the judgment seat of Christ (see 2 Cor 5:10). Under the revealing gaze of the Lord Jesus, the quality of our work will be tested by fire to determine our level of loss or rewards (3:13). Those whose deeds and faithfulness withstand the flames will receive a reward (3:14). But anyone whose work is burned up . . . will experience loss before Christ. Though he himself will be saved . . . as through the fire of Christ’s judgment seat, he will receive nothing to show for a life that should have been lived for God. Don’t give God your leftovers; give him the best you’ve got to offer. This passage affirms the eternal security of unfaithful believers who enter heaven with little or nothing to show in terms of service to God and his kingdom.
God's Temple (3:16-17)
Paul emphasizes the sacredness of the church by declaring, "you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you" (3:16). This is a powerful statement about the collective identity of the believers in Corinth.
Paul wants the Corinthians to take seriously what they were doing (the you here is plural in the original Greek text). They were not their own. As the church of Jesus Christ, they were in fact God’s temple, indwelt by the Spirit of God (3:16). To bring harm upon the church through illegitimate division or false doctrine would result in God’s temporal judgment because God manifests his holy presence among his people (3:17). It is no small thing in God’s eyes to bring destruction upon his church (see Acts 5:1-11).
True Wisdom (3:18-23)
Paul shifts his focus to the nature of true wisdom. He urges them to "become fools so that you may become wise" (3:18). This paradox highlights the difference between worldly wisdom and God's wisdom. The wisdom of the world, which considers everything from an earthly perspective and has no place for a supernatural view of reality, is foolishness with God (3:19). You can call it “wisdom,” if you like, but if a worldview disagrees with God’s view of things, it’s nothing but folly.
Paul points to Job 5:13 and Psalm 94:11, which articulate the truth that our infinite Creator’s thoughts are far superior to the craftiness and reasonings of those whom the world considers wise (3:19-20). The Lord is able to turn their supposed wisdom on its head and use it against them. True wisdom is in God’s hands alone.
Paul concludes by reminding the Corinthians that "all things are yours" (3:21). Because they belong to Christ, they have access to everything they need for spiritual growth and service. Therefore, they should not boast in human leaders (3:21). They shouldn’t exalt one leader over another because God had given all of these teachers to them for their good. They belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God (3:23). Therefore, as Paul says earlier, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord” (1:31).