The big picture
1 Corinthians 3 opens in verse 1 with “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 12 with “Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay…”, and closes in verse 23 with “And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.” Repeated or prominent terms include wise, Apollos, carnal, man’s, temple. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
1 Corinthians · King James Version · 231 Corinthians 3:1-8
1–8: I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto…
1 Corinthians 3:1–8 opens with “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto…” and reaches “Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Corinthians 3 develops its own movement around wise, Apollos, carnal, man’s, temple, with particular weight carried by carnal, Apollos, able.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 3 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.” Naming Christ keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
1 Corinthians 3:1-8
King James Version1And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
2I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
3For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
4For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
5Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
6I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
7So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
8Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
1 Corinthians 3:9-16
9–16: For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are…
1 Corinthians 3:9–16 opens with “For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” and reaches “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Corinthians 3 develops its own movement around wise, Apollos, carnal, man’s, temple, with particular weight carried by man’s, work, fire.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
1 Corinthians 3:9-16
King James Version9For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
10According 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.
11For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13Every 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.
14If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
16Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1 Corinthians 3:17-23
17–23: If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the…
1 Corinthians 3:17–23 opens with “If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which…” and reaches “And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Corinthians 3 develops its own movement around wise, Apollos, carnal, man’s, temple, with particular weight carried by wise, temple, world.
Context that brings the passage to life
“If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
1 Corinthians 3:17-23
King James Version17If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
18Let 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.
19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
20And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
21Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
22Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;
23And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
1 Corinthians 3:1 begins with “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.”
Where the chapter turns
1 Corinthians 3:12 forms a natural hinge: “Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;”
The final note
1 Corinthians 3:23 leaves the reader with “And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words wise, Apollos, carnal, man’s, temple, work help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
How does blame move through the conversation?
The man points to the woman and indirectly to God; the woman points to the serpent. Neither response repairs trust.
Where does mercy appear?
Continued life, the promise involving offspring, and clothing accompany the expulsion.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.