Day 136 – Wednesday, July 9, 2025

One Year Journey Through the New Testament

1 Corinthians 3

Welcome to our journey through the New Testament!

Sectarianism is Carnal

1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. ² I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; ³ for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? ⁴ For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal? 

(1 Corinthians 3:1–4, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Paul begins this chapter with a scolding of the Corinthians. He calls them carnal and identifies them as babies in the faith.
• He uses the family life analogy of having to feed them milk instead of solid food. They have not yet grown up.
• The reason for this scolding goes back to his statements in chapter one about sectarianism. The envy and are divided over their favorite leader in the church. Are you Team Paul or Team Apollos?

Watering, Working, Warning

⁵ Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? ⁶ I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. ⁷ So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. ⁸ Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

⁹ For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. ¹⁰ According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. ¹¹ For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹² Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, ¹³ each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. ¹⁴ If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

¹⁶ Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? ¹⁷ If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. 

(1 Corinthians 3:5–17, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Paul then asks very pointed questions. Who is Paul or who is Apollos, but servants of the Lord? He gives the well-known answer to the importance of each: “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.”
• Each person will receive a reward for their labor, but only God deserves glory. Paul speaks of Jesus as the foundation upon which any house should be built (including the church and the home).
• He also speaks of the need for the right building materials. He uses the analogy of gold, silver, and precious stones. He also discourages the use of wood, hay, and stubble. The final reckoning will be a judgment by fire. Only the right materials will survive!
• He finishes the section with a reminder that we are the temple of God, and the dwelling of the Holy Spirit as Christians. Do not defile the temple.

Avoid Worldly Wisdom

¹⁸ Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. ¹⁹ For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”; ²⁰ and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” ²¹ Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: ²² whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours. ²³ And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s. 

(1 Corinthians 3:18–23, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Finally, Paul warns against deception. The wisdom of the world is false. The “foolishness” of God is the true wisdom.
• Do not boast or brag of men and women, but present Christ as the object of worship, for we all belong to Him.

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All Scriptures from New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

Join us this afternoon at 5:00 pm for a discussion of this chapter live online. Live@5 with Dr. Greg Sloop can be found on Facebook on the Dr. Greg Sloop page or on the Kannapolis Church of God Facebook page or Youtube page. Another blog will be posted each weekday at 6:00 a.m.