Introduction

First Corinthians 3 addresses the Corinthians' spiritual immaturity, revealed in their jealousy and quarreling. Paul presents leaders as mere servants and the church as God's field and building. How we build on Christ's foundation will be tested by fire.

Spiritual Infants (verses 1-4)

Paul could not address the Corinthians as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. He gave them milk, not solid food, for they were not ready. They are still not ready, for they are still worldly. Where there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? When one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," aren't you being merely human?

• Milk, Not Meat: Immaturity limits what can be taught
• Jealousy Reveals: Worldliness shows in rivalry
• Merely Human: Factions are unregenerate behavior

Servants in God's Field (verses 5-9)

What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Only servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned each. Paul planted, Apollos watered, but God made it grow. Neither the planter nor the waterer is anything—only God who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters are one, each rewarded according to labor. We are co-workers in God's service; you are God's field, God's building.

• Servants Only: Leaders are instruments, not causes
• God Grows: Human effort plants and waters; God gives increase
• United Purpose: Planter and waterer have one purpose

Building on the Foundation (verses 10-17)

By the grace given, Paul laid a foundation as an expert builder; others build on it. But each should be careful how they build. No one can lay any foundation other than Christ Jesus. If anyone builds with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, the work will be shown for what it is—fire will test the quality. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but will be saved, though only as through fire. Don't you know you are God's temple and God's Spirit dwells among you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person—for God's temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.

Foolishness and Wisdom (verses 18-23)

Don't deceive yourselves. If anyone thinks they are wise by this world's standards, they should become fools to become wise. This world's wisdom is foolishness in God's sight. "He catches the wise in their craftiness" and "The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile." So stop boasting about human leaders! All things are yours—Paul, Apollos, Cephas, the world, life, death, the present, the future—all belong to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.

Key Takeaways

• Immaturity Divides: Spiritual infants fight over leaders
• God Gets Credit: Leaders plant and water; God grows
• Christ is Foundation: No other foundation will stand
• All Belongs to You: Don't limit yourself to one leader—all are yours

Reflection Questions

• Are you still on spiritual milk? What evidence of maturity or immaturity do you see?
• How are you building on Christ's foundation—with lasting materials or combustible ones?
• Do you realize that all things—including all Christian teachers—belong to you in Christ?