Explanation: In 1 Corinthians 3, Paul criticizes his readers for their carnality which he defines as spiritual immaturity. This immaturity was manifest in their envying, strife, and divisions. Some said they were of Paul, others said they were of Apollos (1-4). But Paul and Apollos were merely ministers. Paul planted. Apollos watered. But God gave the increase. Paul and Apollos were nothing. Paul and Apollos labored together with God, but the Corinthians were God's farm and God's building (5-9). Paul was a master builder who laid the foundation, but another (presumably Apollos) built upon it. This foundation is Jesus Christ, and Paul cautions those who build on this foundation to build with gold, silver, and precious stones, not wood, hay, or stubble. Everyone's work will be tested by fire. If it abides, he will be rewarded. If it is burned, he will suffer loss, but he will be saved, as if through fire (10-15). They are God's holy temple, and God's Spirit dwells in them. If anyone defiles the temple, God will destroy them (16-17). If anyone seems to be wise in this world, they deceive themselves. The world's wisdom is foolishness to God. He takes the wise in their own craftiness. He knows that the thoughts of the wise are vain. So no one should glory in men. Everything is ours -- Paul, Apollos, Cephas, the world, life, death, things present, and things to come. "And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's" (18-23).
     [Sermons: Martyn Lloyd-Jones. Various. ]
     [Illustration: Today's image depicts a magnificent building. It combines functions as a fortress castle and a religious edifice which once housed the Teutonic Knights. In today's chapter, Paul refers to his work of converting and instructing people as the erection of a great building which he also refers to as a religious edifice -- specifically, a temple. ]

     ¹ And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. ² 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. 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? ⁴ For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? ⁵ Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? ⁶ I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. ⁷ So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. ⁸ Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. ⁹ For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. 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. ¹¹ For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹² Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 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. ¹⁴ If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. ¹⁵ If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. ¹⁶ Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? ¹⁷ If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. 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. ¹⁹ For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. ²⁰ And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. ²¹ Therefore let no man glory 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 ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.

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