1 Corinthians 3:22 - Printer Friendly

ESV: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future — all are yours,

NIV: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours,

NASB: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come; all things belong to you,

CSB: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come —everything is yours,

NLT: whether Paul or Apollos or Peter, or the world, or life and death, or the present and the future. Everything belongs to you,

KJV: Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;

NKJV: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours.

In this and the previous verse, Paul offers an astounding new reason why the Christians in Corinth should not be divided over which Christian teacher they follow, and which ones they don't. Paul is saying, "Why limit yourself to following the teaching of just one human teacher when God has given all these teachers to you as a gift? Why say 'I follow Paul' when God has given to you Apollos and Peter, as well, to learn from?"

Then Paul takes this idea to an even more expansive level: All things belong to those who belong to Christ. This includes the service of Christian teachers, yes, but also the world. And life and death. And the present and the future. In other words, why would any believers see themselves as being limited by anything in the world, including life and death and time? Christ is over all of that, and we are in Christ.

The point here is not that all so-called-Christian teaching is equally valuable. Paul has just pointed out that some human efforts won't stand the fires of God's judgment (1 Corinthians 3:12–15). Scripture also clearly warns of the dangers of false teachers (Galatians 1:8–9; 2 Peter 2:1). But when teachers of truth differ only in name, or style, or emphasis, it's counterproductive to bicker about which one deserves more loyalty.

Paul is asking the Corinthian Christians to own the idea that by being in Christ we gain not only salvation but also all that comes with sharing in Christ's inheritance as the Son of God (Romans 8:12–17). Literally nothing that belongs to God is not available to us through Christ.

First Corinthians 3:16–23 is the third metaphor Paul uses to explain the relationship between works, spiritual growth, and God's judgment of our efforts. An emphasis here is on the superiority of God's wisdom compared to the fallible knowledge of man, echoing statements from chapters 1 and 2. Paul's main point here, again, is that we ought to focus on allegiance to Christ and His will, rather than being divided over loyalty to different human teachers.

Paul cannot call the Corinthian Christians ''spiritual'' people. Though they are in Christ, they continue to live to the flesh. They are spiritual infants, not ready for solid food. Divisions among them prove they are still serving themselves, picking sides in a senseless debate between Christian teachers. Paul insists that both he and Apollos are mere servants of the Lord and co-workers. They are not in competition. Those who lead the Corinthians must build carefully because their work will be tested on the day of the Lord. Christian leaders who build the church will have their work judged by Christ to see if they have built on the foundation of Christ. All human wisdom will be shown to be futile and worthless.

First Corinthians 3 follows Paul's teaching that only spiritual people can understand the wisdom of God. Paul cannot fully call the Corinthian Christians spiritual people, though, because they continue to live of the flesh, as if they were still infants trapped in an immature condition. Evidence includes the divisions among them. Paul insist that he and Apollos are both servants of the same master. The Corinthians should follow God, not them. Those whose work is worthless will suffer loss, but they will be saved. After this, Paul will expound on the idea that believers ought to set Christ as their example, rather than being defined in terms of their earthly leaders.

First Corinthians is one of the more practical books of the New Testament. Paul writes to a church immersed in a city associated with trade, but also with corruption and immorality. These believers are struggling to properly apply spiritual gifts and to resist the ungodly practices of the surrounding culture. Paul's letter gives instructions for real-life concerns such as marriage and spirituality. He also deals with the importance of unity and gives one of the Bible's more well-known descriptions of love in chapter 13.