1 Corinthians Chapter 3

CORINTH: RICH GREEK CITY/STATE

(Acts 18:1 [KJV])
After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;

(Acts 18:8 [KJV])
And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.

(Acts 19:1 [KJV])
And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

(1 Corinthians 1:2 [KJV])
Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called [to be] saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

(2 Corinthians 1:1 [KJV])
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy [our] brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:

(2 Corinthians 1:23 [KJV])
Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.

(2 Corinthians 6:11 [KJV])
O [ye] Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.

(2 Timothy 4:20 [KJV])
Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.

• Lots of good, fresh water
• Lots of good, arable soil
• Lots of good clay for ceramics, pottery, etc., hence "Corinthian Pottery"
• Shops, fountains, carved stone temples to the Greek gods, porticos, metal workshops abounded
• As a part of a major shipping lane, Corinth has four ports, on the Gulf of Corinth, between two seas
• A temple to Apollo was there
• Another temple was one to Aphrodite, an acropolis known as Acrocorinth, which was associated with prostitutes for the seafaring men, which made it a rich city
• Perusing the two letters Paul wrote to them, it is obvious that they were apostate and backslidden.

(1 Corinthians 3:1 [KJV])
And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, [even] as unto babes in Christ.

• There is a very different communication one can have and does have with new believers versus mature ones.
• Sad to say today, there are too many "old, new" believers in America who are carnal, babes in Christ, after decades, because they follow men who do not follow God and do not follow God, read His Word, never been discipled, just attend fellowships and listed to speakers, orators, watch videos, listen to podcasts and audio books
• Being saved for decades, attending Sunday morning, Sunday night, midweek service, teaching, having a big ministry, being a famous author, whatever the case. All a waste if you yourself are not in the Word, studying it, believing it as written, not influenced by any heresy, not blown about by every wind of doctrine
• It is one thing when you are forced to be a shut in...but if you can read or even today listen to the word out loud, it is necessary to do so. But it is quite another when you simply do not want to grow into a mature Christian, or through extreme arrogance think that you know enough to stop studying it

(Hebrews 5:12 [KJV])
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which [be] the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

(1 Peter 2:2 [KJV])
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

(1 Corinthians 3:2 [KJV])
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.

• Apparently Paul gave them the Gospel, then had to teach it over and over until they
• This is what has to happen to these undiscipled Christians; they need to start, which they never did, being freshly born again, decades later
• They talk and barely understand Gospel terms, and do not understand basic Old Testament history, the Creation, Fall, Flood, history of Israel
• They get their doctrine from televangelists and not God's Word.
• He gave them milk then, hoping they would get to the meat later on, as normal babies do. Stuck, on milk means they are not weaned, discipled yet. A sad, normal state today.

(1 Corinthians 3:3 [KJV])
For ye are yet carnal: for whereas [there is] among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

• The reason for the divisions then, as now, is doctrinally mature believers versus babes in Christ who get their doctrines as stated in the notes above
• The implied answer to the asked question here is a resounding, "YES!"
• Walking "as men" means men of the world, who know nothing of God, just like a babe in Christ

(1 Corinthians 3:4 [KJV])
For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I [am] of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

• Once again, the implied answer to the asked question here is a resounding, "YES!"
• Only prideful, arrogant, lazy carnality leads to following men and not following Christ through prayer and His Word

(1 Corinthians 3:5 [KJV])
Who then is Paul, and who [is] Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

• The implied answer and the real one for all of us is, "WE ARE NOBODY...CHRIST IS ALL IN ALL!!"
• We are merely vessels, channels through whom, by whom, God does His work is all we are.
• We start life as empty vessels. We get saved, the vessel now contains the Holy Ghost.
• To gain God's power via the Holy Ghost, we must empty our vessel daily so as to be filled

(John 15:5 [KJV])
I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

(1 Corinthians 3:6,7 [KJV])
I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

• If one has good, proper soil (necessary) and good, proper water in proper amounts (necessary), having planted it at the proper depth and time (necessary), the rest is STILL up to God to make it grow
• Spiritually, the soil is a prayed for, prepared heart (soil), the Gospel message of the LORD Jesus Christ (Living Water) delivered, implanted when God calls us and them, God does the rest
• No physical seed can grow without God, no matter the soil, no matter the water, no matter the seed. The same as with the spiritual seed.

(1 Corinthians 3:8 [KJV])
Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

• Paul, Apollos working together as one. You and I, working together as one. God and us, working together as one.
• Our reward for believing is salvation. Our reward for working is actual eternal rewards given on our glorious judgment day (for rewards)
• Each will be unique to us

(1 Corinthians 3:9 [KJV])
For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, [ye are] God's building.

• Husbandry means management, responsibility
• God built us, owns us, takes care of us, helps us, rewards us in the end

(1 Corinthians 3:10 [KJV])
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.

• Paul here is not being proud and arrogant, he is bragging on what God gave him, which is wisdom and the gift of building churches; the gift, the calling of apostleship
• The foundation was the Gospel, the milk, the infancy of those believers
• Moving on place to place around the empire, he established churches, raised leaders to build the building, which is the actual church body, including only the people following Christ, the raising of the members
• He started the building project for others to finish, who he showed how to finish it-otherwise, it would have remained a foundation with no building
• It is how we Christian men are to do it.
• Even with a good foundation, the building can be built wrong, meaning we can grow wrong with bad teaching, with bad doctrine, with bad examples

(1 Corinthians 3:11-12 [KJV])
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

• The foundation is everything to any building, as building and construction is always bottom up
• Any other foundation is not a foundation.....just a pile of things that does not have the ability to hold anything up.
• If the roof is bad, you redo the roof. If any wall damage, you repair that wall damage...but...
• ...if the foundation is bad, you have to tear down the entire structure and fix that foundation to start over, because the building is at risk of collapsing, cracking, toppling from one good strong gust of wind, one small flood
• The good foundation will mean that years, decades, centuries and even millennia later that house built correctly will be standing through all storms, winds, floods, or at least the foundation will enable any reconstruction needed or desired

A PROPER FOUNDATION

• No matter the type, definition of foundation, a bad one leads to a bad result; a good one to a good result
• Nations have foundations
• Mountains have foundations
• Cities have foundations
• The physical heavens have a foundation
• The world has a foundation
• One can lay a foundation on a person, as in a rule, a realm, a kingdom can have a foundation
• People have foundations
• Godly nations have moral foundations
• The LORD Jesus Christ is the foundation, a pure foundation, the chief cornerstone of the church, His body
• The utterance by Jesus Himself, "I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world." refers to the timing of the Creation and all events for the earth
• On top of the foundation of the LORD Jesus Christ Himself, the foundation in the first century was the prophets of the Old Testament and the apostles themselves
• The New Jerusalem has a foundation

(Exodus 9:18 [KJV])
Behold, to morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now.

(Deuteronomy 32:22 [KJV])
For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.

(Joshua 6:26 [KJV])
And Joshua adjured [them] at that time, saying, Cursed [be] the man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest [son] shall he set up the gates of it.

(2 Samuel 22:8 [KJV])
Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth.

(2 Samuel 22:16 [KJV])
And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered, at the rebuking of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.

(1 Kings 5:17 [KJV])
And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, [and] hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house.

(1 Kings 6:37 [KJV])
In the fourth year was the foundation of the house of the LORD laid, in the month Zif:

(1 Kings 7:9 [KJV])
All these [were of] costly stones, according to the measures of hewed stones, sawed with saws, within and without, even from the foundation unto the coping, and [so] on the outside toward the great court.

"Coping" here simply means a capstones on a wall to shed water.

(1 Kings 7:10 [KJV])
And the foundation [was of] costly stones, even great stones, stones of ten cubits, and stones of eight cubits.

(1 Kings 16:34 [KJV])
In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest [son] Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.

"IN" here, by context and definition, means "ON".

(2 Chronicles 8:16 [KJV])
Now all the work of Solomon was prepared unto the day of the foundation of the house of the LORD, and until it was finished. [So] the house of the LORD was perfected.

(2 Chronicles 23:5 [KJV])
And a third part [shall be] at the king's house; and a third part at the gate of the foundation: and all the people [shall be] in the courts of the house of the LORD.

(2 Chronicles 31:7 [KJV])
In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished [them] in the seventh month.

(Ezra 3:6 [KJV])
From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt offerings unto the LORD. But the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not [yet] laid.

(Ezra 3:10 [KJV])
And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel.

(Ezra 3:11 [KJV])
And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because [he is] good, for his mercy [endureth] for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.

(Ezra 3:12 [KJV])
But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, [who were] ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:

(Ezra 4:12 [KJV])
Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls [thereof], and joined the foundations.

(Ezra 5:16 [KJV])
Then came the same Sheshbazzar, [and] laid the foundation of the house of God which [is] in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it been in building, and [yet] it is not finished.

(Ezra 6:3 [KJV])
In the first year of Cyrus the king [the same] Cyrus the king made a decree [concerning] the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, [and] the breadth thereof threescore cubits;

(Job 4:19 [KJV])
How much less [in] them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation [is] in the dust, [which] are crushed before the moth?

(Job 22:16 [KJV])
Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood:

(Job 38:4 [KJV])
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.

(Job 38:6 [KJV])
Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;

(Psalms 11:3 [KJV])
If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

(Psalms 18:7 [KJV])
Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.

(Psalms 18:15 [KJV])
Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.

(Psalms 82:5 [KJV])
They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.

(Psalms 87:1 [KJV])
A Psalm [or] Song for the sons of Korah. His foundation [is] in the holy mountains.

(Psalms 102:25 [KJV])
Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens [are] the work of thy hands.

(Psalms 104:5 [KJV])
[Who] laid the foundations of the earth, [that] it should not be removed for ever.

(Psalms 137:7 [KJV])
Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase [it], rase [it, even] to the foundation thereof.

(Proverbs 8:29 [KJV])
When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:

(Proverbs 10:25 [KJV])
As the whirlwind passeth, so [is] the wicked no [more]: but the righteous [is] an everlasting foundation.

(Isaiah 16:7 [KJV])
Therefore shall Moab howl for Moab, every one shall howl: for the foundations of Kirhareseth shall ye mourn; surely [they are] stricken.

(Isaiah 24:18 [KJV])
And it shall come to pass, [that] he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake.

(Isaiah 28:16 [KJV])
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner [stone], a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

(Isaiah 40:21 [KJV])
Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?

(Isaiah 44:28 [KJV])
That saith of Cyrus, [He is] my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.

(Isaiah 48:13 [KJV])
Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: [when] I call unto them, they stand up together.

(Isaiah 51:13 [KJV])
And forgettest the LORD thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where [is] the fury of the oppressor?

(Isaiah 51:16 [KJV])
And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou [art] my people.

(Isaiah 54:11 [KJV])
O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, [and] not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.

(Isaiah 58:12 [KJV])
And [they that shall be] of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.

(Jeremiah 31:37 [KJV])
Thus saith the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD.

(Jeremiah 50:15 [KJV])
Shout against her round about: she hath given her hand: her foundations are fallen, her walls are thrown down: for it [is] the vengeance of the LORD: take vengeance upon her; as she hath done, do unto her.

(Jeremiah 51:26 [KJV])
And they shall not take of thee a stone for a corner, nor a stone for foundations; but thou shalt be desolate for ever, saith the LORD.

(Lamentations 4:11 [KJV])
The LORD hath accomplished his fury; he hath poured out his fierce anger, and hath kindled a fire in Zion, and it hath devoured the foundations thereof.

(Ezekiel 13:14 [KJV])
So will I break down the wall that ye have daubed with untempered [morter], and bring it down to the ground, so that the foundation thereof shall be discovered, and it shall fall, and ye shall be consumed in the midst thereof: and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD.

(Ezekiel 30:4 [KJV])
And the sword shall come upon Egypt, and great pain shall be in Ethiopia, when the slain shall fall in Egypt, and they shall take away her multitude, and her foundations shall be broken down.

(Ezekiel 41:8 [KJV])
I saw also the height of the house round about: the foundations of the side chambers [were] a full reed of six great cubits.

(Micah 1:6 [KJV])
Therefore I will make Samaria as an heap of the field, [and] as plantings of a vineyard: and I will pour down the stones thereof into the valley, and I will discover the foundations thereof.

(Micah 6:2 [KJV])
Hear ye, O mountains, the LORD'S controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel.

(Habakkuk 3:13 [KJV])
Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, [even] for salvation with thine anointed; thou woundedst the head out of the house of the wicked, by discovering the foundation unto the neck. Selah.

(Haggai 2:18 [KJV])
Consider now from this day and upward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth [month, even] from the day that the foundation of the LORD'S temple was laid, consider [it].

(Zechariah 4:9 [KJV])
The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you.

(Zechariah 8:9 [KJV])
Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, which [were] in the day [that] the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built.

(Zechariah 12:1 [KJV])
The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.

(Matthew 13:35 [KJV])
That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

(Matthew 25:34 [KJV])
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

(Luke 6:48 [KJV])
He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

(Luke 6:49 [KJV])
But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

(Luke 11:50 [KJV])
That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;

(Luke 14:29 [KJV])
Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish [it], all that behold [it] begin to mock him,

(John 17:24 [KJV])
Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

(Acts 16:26 [KJV])
And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.

(Romans 15:20 [KJV])
Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:

(1 Corinthians 3:10 [KJV])
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.

(1 Corinthians 3:11 [KJV])
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

(1 Corinthians 3:12 [KJV])
Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

(Ephesians 1:4 [KJV])
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

(Ephesians 2:20 [KJV])
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner [stone];

(1 Timothy 6:19 [KJV])
Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

(2 Timothy 2:19 [KJV])
Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

(Hebrews 1:10 [KJV])
And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:

(Hebrews 4:3 [KJV])
For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

(Hebrews 6:1 [KJV])
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

(Hebrews 9:26 [KJV])
For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

(Hebrews 11:10 [KJV])
For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker [is] God.

(1 Peter 1:20 [KJV])
Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

(Revelation 13:8 [KJV])
And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

(Revelation 17:8 [KJV])
The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

(Revelation 21:14 [KJV])
And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

(Revelation 21:19 [KJV])
And the foundations of the wall of the city [were] garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation [was] jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;

(1 Corinthians 3:13 [KJV])
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.

• Evil works, evil reward. God's work, God rewards
• All that is hidden to us now will be revealed on Judgment Day, no exceptions
• Our rewards from God are inflammable. Our works apart from Him are fuel, kindling, to be burned and gone up in smoke

(1 Corinthians 3:14,15 [KJV])
If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

• If any man's work abides, it is eternal work, and means souls which were saved, work for the kingdom only
• We were plucked from the flames by a Hand from which no man, including ourself, can pluck us out of, and set on an eternal Rock that cannot be moved, shaken, burned, destroyed-EVER
• It is all going to burn here. All but souls bound for heaven. Souls bound for hell will eternally burn, as well as their bodies. This will be their reward, that and all that this life has for them is all they get. When they die, that is gone forever and they will have wasted their life and regret it for all eternity

(1 Timothy 6:7 [KJV])
For we brought nothing into [this] world, [and it is] certain we can carry nothing out.

(Job 1:21 [KJV])
And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

(Psalms 49:17 [KJV])
For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.

(Luke 12:15 [KJV])
And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

(Matthew 13:22 [KJV])
He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

(Mark 4:19 [KJV])
And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS

(Luke 16:19-26 [KJV])
There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that [would come] from thence.

(1 Corinthians 3:16 [KJV])
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

• Apparently some in Corinth did not know this, or did not acknowledge this, or did not remember this. No matter the reason, it is being confirmed here by Paul
• The Spirit of God in us makes us the temple of God, thereby making nothing else that temple, thereby eliminating the need for a building to be called by any other name that implies that it is the temple of God. It can contain the temples of God (us) when we inhabit it, no matter the building's shape, size or location-in Paul's case often, that would be a prison cell

(1 Corinthians 3:17 [KJV])
If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which [temple] ye are.

• We are the building. Our soul is not. Buildings go down; the people in them leave so that this can happen
• The Jewish temples were destroyed; the Jews scattered in the Dispersia
• The temple of God was never destroyed, nor can it be completely destroyed, not to exist, since it is bodies of those who are saved
• If any person who is saved continues in sin, unrepentant, not struggling but wilfully, willingly sinning and excusing that sin, God will take them home because they no longer are glorifying Him, are no longer a testimony for Christ
• Home is to heaven, if this is that person

(Matthew 16:18 [KJV])
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

(Matthew 10:28 [KJV])
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

(Luke 12:4 [KJV])
And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.

(1 Corinthians 3:18 [KJV])
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.

• Humility is the key to learning of God, from God.
• Worldly wisdom is everywhere. Pithy adages, quotes from famous people, all abound
• All of that is fine, but wisdom from God is more valuable and helpful to us

(1 Corinthians 3:19 [KJV])
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

• Since God knows all, worldly wisdom is so utterly meaningless to Him, as it should be to us.
• To take them means to snare, trap them. God gives them just enough rope to hang themselves on their own foolish words.

(1 Corinthians 3:20 [KJV])
And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

• God takes them in their worldly wisdom, their craftiness because their thoughts are vain
• It is therefore our duty to not think like the world. We may need to know what to do mechanically for our work, how to farm, how to fix, how to fish, how to find-but how to conduct ourselves in wisdom to do the right thing is from God only and His Word, even if it is passed down from ancestors who never knew where they got that wisdom from, because their forebears were perhaps saved, or because they themselves have read God's Word at some point

(1 Corinthians 3:21,22 [KJV])
Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;

• Don't follow men and do not exalt them in any way, since all of us are fallible sinners
• All things that matter, in eternity, for eternity, of eternity, are ours. We need no man to get us there, keep us there
• Exalting them makes them capable of being puffed up, thinking themselves above which they are positionally, going in their own power, while calling it God's power

(1 Corinthians 3:23 [KJV])
And ye are Christ's; and Christ [is] God's.

• This is the most important pazrt, Who we belong to.
• We are His by grace through faith, humbly, and belong to no man on earth in any position of power, top to bottom.

1 Corinthians 4