Skip to content
ScriptureDepth

1 Corinthians 3

ScriptureDepth's study of 1 Corinthians 3

“So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.”

1 Corinthians 3:7

Paul writes to the Corinthians about the roles of workers in the church, asserting that the growth of their faith depends solely on 'God who gives the increase'.

What 1 Corinthians 3 is about

Paul identifies the Corinthians as fleshly and immature in their faith (vv. 1-3). They act like babies in Christ, showing jealousy and strife among themselves. Some claim to follow Paul, while others follow Apollos, which shows their immaturity (vv. 4). Paul and Apollos are merely servants of God. Paul planted the church, and Apollos watered it, but God gave the growth (vv. 5-7). Both the planter and the waterer will be rewarded for their work (vv. 8). Paul describes himself as a wise master builder who laid the foundation, which is Jesus Christ. Others must be careful in how they build on this foundation (vv. 10-11). Their work will be tested by fire (vv. 12-13). The church is God’s temple where the Spirit lives (vv. 16). Paul warns against worldly wisdom (vv. 18-20) and encourages the Corinthians that everything belongs to them and to Christ (vv. 21-23).

The church is God’s holy temple, and each person must consider how they build on this foundation.

Read the full chapter text ↓

1 Corinthians 3 at a glance

  1. 1 Corinthians 3:1–4Addressing Spiritual Immaturity
  2. 1 Corinthians 3:5–9Servants of God
  3. 1 Corinthians 3:10–15Building on the Foundation
  4. 1 Corinthians 3:16–20The Church as God's Temple
  5. 1 Corinthians 3:21–23Belonging to Christ

Key verse: 1 Corinthians 3:7

Summary and study helps: AI-drafted (September 2026), checked by automated Scripture gates. Spotted an error? Report it. Fixes are listed on the corrections page.

Chapter text

Read 1 Corinthians 3 (WEB)

Addressing Spiritual Immaturity 1 Corinthians 3:1–4

Verse 1. Brothers, I couldn’t speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshly, as to babies in Christ. Verse 2. I fed you with milk, not with meat; for you weren’t yet ready. Indeed, not even now are you ready, Verse 3. for you are still fleshly. For insofar as there is jealousy, strife, and factions among you, aren’t you fleshly, and don’t you walk in the ways of men? Verse 4. For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” aren’t you fleshly?

Servants of God 1 Corinthians 3:5–9

Verse 5. Who then is Apollos, and who is Paul, but servants through whom you believed; and each as the Lord gave to him? Verse 6. I planted. Apollos watered. But God gave the increase. Verse 7. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Verse 8. Now he who plants and he who waters are the same, but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. Verse 9. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s farming, God’s building.

Building on the Foundation 1 Corinthians 3:10–15

Verse 10. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another builds on it. But let each man be careful how he builds on it. Verse 11. For no one can lay any other foundation than that which has been laid, which is Jesus Christ. Verse 12. But if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or stubble; Verse 13. each man’s work will be revealed. For the Day will declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself will test what sort of work each man’s work is.

Verse 14. If any man’s work remains which he built on it, he will receive a reward. Verse 15. If any man’s work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, but as through fire.

The Church as God's Temple 1 Corinthians 3:16–20

Verse 16. Don’t you know that you are a temple of God, and that God’s Spirit lives in you? Verse 17. If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, which you are. Verse 18. Let no one deceive himself. If anyone thinks that he is wise among you in this world, let him become a fool, that he may become wise. Verse 19. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He has taken the wise in their craftiness.” Verse 20. And again, “The Lord knows the reasoning of the wise, that it is worthless.”

Belonging to Christ 1 Corinthians 3:21–23

Verse 21. Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, Verse 22. whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come. All are yours, Verse 23. and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

World English Bible (public domain)

Back to the summary ↑

Go deeper

Ask the AI about 1 Corinthians 3

Bring your question about the chapter, the key verse, or how this passage fits the rest of Scripture. Ask unlimited questions and keep study notes on every chapter. 7 days free, no card.

Ask the AI about 1 Corinthians 3Start your free week

Main themes in 1 Corinthians 3

Spiritual Maturity

In vv. 1-3, Paul addresses the Corinthians' spiritual immaturity by comparing them to 'babies in Christ.' He notes that they are not yet ready for solid food because they are still 'fleshly' and exhibit 'jealousy, strife, and factions.' This critique sets the stage for understanding the need for growth in their faith and behavior, as their current state hinders their maturity in Christ.

Unity in the Church

In verse 4, Paul addresses the divisions among the Corinthians, where some claim, 'I follow Paul,' and others, 'I follow Apollos.' This rivalry reveals their fleshly nature and results in discord. The passage moves toward a call for unity, highlighting the need for believers to work together as servants of God instead of aligning with individual leaders.

Role of Church Leaders

In verses 5-9, Paul defines the roles of church leaders like himself and Apollos, describing them as 'servants through whom you believed.' He uses planting and watering as metaphors for their cooperative efforts in ministry, while emphasizing that 'God gave the increase.' This section clarifies the shared responsibility of leaders and directs attention to God as the true source of growth.

Divine Judgment

In vv. 12-15, Paul speaks of the judgment of each person’s work in relation to the foundation of Jesus Christ. He states that the quality of each person's work will be revealed and tested by fire, indicating that 'if any man’s work is burned, he will suffer loss.' This highlights the seriousness of building on the right foundation and prepares the readers for the reality of divine judgment regarding their actions.

Chapter outline

How 1 Corinthians 3 unfolds

  1. 1 Corinthians 3:1–4 Addressing Spiritual Immaturity

    Paul speaks to the Corinthians as 'babies in Christ' (vv. 1-2) because they remain 'fleshly' due to 'jealousy, strife, and factions' among them (vv. 3-4). Their claims of following different leaders reveal their immaturity.

  2. 1 Corinthians 3:5–9 Servants of God

    The Apostle Paul distinguishes his role and that of Apollos as mere servants through whom the Corinthians believed (vv. 5-6), emphasizing that it is God who brings growth (v. 7) and all are to receive rewards (v. 8).

  3. 1 Corinthians 3:10–15 Building on the Foundation

    As a wise master builder, Paul laid the foundation of Jesus Christ (v. 10), urging caution about how one builds upon it (vv. 11-12), as works will be tested by fire (v. 13).

  4. 1 Corinthians 3:16–20 The Church as God's Temple

    Paul states that the Corinthians are 'a temple of God' with 'God’s Spirit' living in them (v. 16). He warns that anyone who destroys this temple will face destruction from God (v. 17) and that worldly wisdom is foolishness to God.

  5. 1 Corinthians 3:21–23 Belonging to Christ

    The apostle asserts that all things belong to the believers, including Paul, Apollos, and Cephas (vv. 21-22). Ultimately, believers are Christ's, and Christ belongs to God (v. 23).

Key verses

  • 1 Corinthians 3:7Paul writes to the Corinthians about the roles of workers in the church, asserting that the growth of their faith depends solely on 'God who gives the increase'.

Get a short devotional by email, one passage and one question a day.

One short email each morning, with the free study guide. Unsubscribe anytime. By subscribing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. We use your address only to send this email.

Study questions

Questions for studying 1 Corinthians 3

SummarizeObserveInterpretApply

Uses your daily Ask questions.

  1. observeIn v3, what evidence does Paul give for the Corinthians being 'fleshly'?
  2. observeWhat metaphor does Paul use in v9 when describing the believers' relationship with God?
  3. interpretPaul's statement in v11 about the foundation: what implications does it have for church leadership?
  4. interpretIn v15, why does Paul mention that a man's work may be burned while he himself is saved?
  5. applyWhen have you seen divisions in your community, like the 'jealousy' and 'strife' in v3?

For Bible groups

Study 1 Corinthians 3 with your group

A free one-page handout with the overview, key verse, outline and discussion questions, ready to print for everyone at the table.

Print the group handout

Cross-references

Passages that echo 1 Corinthians 3

Related chapters

Chapters that connect with 1 Corinthians 3

Elsewhere on ScriptureDepth

Where to go from here

1 Corinthians 3: frequently asked questions

What is 1 Corinthians 3 about?+
Paul identifies the Corinthians as fleshly and immature in their faith (vv. 1-3).
What is the key verse in 1 Corinthians 3?+
1 Corinthians 3:7: “So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.”
What are the main themes of 1 Corinthians 3?+
The main themes of 1 Corinthians 3 are Spiritual Maturity, Unity in the Church, Role of Church Leaders, Divine Judgment.

Studying 1 Corinthians with a print Bible beside you? See our study Bible guides.

Study Notes