The Living Word

KING JAMES VERSION

"The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever."

— Isaiah 40:8

1 Corinthians 3

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And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

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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.

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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?

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4

For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

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5

Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

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6

I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

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7

So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

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8

Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

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9

For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.

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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.

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11

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

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12

Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

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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.

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14

If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

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15

If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

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16

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

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17

If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

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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.

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19

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

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20

And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

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21

Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are your's;

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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;

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23

And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.

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Chapter Study & Analysis

Overview

1 Corinthians 3 corrects the "carnality" of the Corinthians, who were still acting like spiritual infants. Paul uses the metaphors of a building and a temple to explain that leaders are merely laborers on God’s foundation, which is Christ.

CONTEMPORARY APPLICATIONS

1. Building on the Foundation: There is only one foundation: Jesus Christ (v. 11). Every work we do for the Kingdom must be built upon Him, or it will eventually be consumed by fire.
2. Quality of Work: We must take heed how we build (v. 10). Our service should be made of "gold, silver, and precious stones"—works of eternal value—rather than temporary, worldly efforts.
3. The Temple of God: The church is the temple of God, and His Spirit dwells in it (v. 16). This calls for a high level of holiness and respect for the sanctity of the body of believers.

Practical Lessons

FORMAL PRAYER

Almighty Architect, who hast laid the only true foundation in Jesus Christ: help us to build wisely upon it. May our labor be found faithful in the day of trial, and keep us holy as the temple wherein Thy Spirit dwells. Amen.

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