1 Corinthians 3 - Study the King James Bible

And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

could not = was not able to.
speak . App-121 .
unto = to.
spiritual . Greek. pneumatikos. See 1 Corinthians 12:1 .
carnal . Greek. sarkikos, as in Romans 7:14 , but the texts read sarkines. See 2 Corinthians 3:3 .
in . App-104 .
Christ . App-98 .

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.

have fed you with = gave you . . . to drink (Greek. potizo) .
hitherto, &c . = ye were not as yet able to bear it. Instead of supplying the ellipsis with "to bear it", we might read "not as yet strong enough".
neither . Greek. oute or oude.

For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

carnal. Greek. sarkikos. See 1 Corinthians 3:1 .Romans 7:14 .
among . App-104 .
envying . Greek. zelos. See Acts 5:17 .
strife . Greek. eris. See 1 Corinthians 1:11 .
divisions . dichoatasia. See Romans 16:17 . But the texts omit "and divisions".
as = according to. App-104 .
men = a man. App-123 .

For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

while = whenever.
another . App-124 .
carnal . Greek. sarkikos, as in 1 Corinthians 3:3 ; but the texts read "men" ( anthropoi ).

Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

ministers = servants. App-190 .
by = through. App-104 . 1 Corinthians 3:1 .
believed . App-150 .
the Lord . App-98 .
gave . See Ephesians 4:11 .
every man = each (one).

I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

have planted = planted. See Acts 18:1-18 .
watered . Greek. potizo , as in 1 Corinthians 3:2 . See Acts 18:27 Acts 19:1 .
God . App-98 .
gave the increase = was causing it to grow. Imperf. because God's work was continuing, Paul's or any other's only temporary.

So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

neither . . . neither . Greek. oute . . . oute.
any thing . Greek. neut. of tis . App-123 . Compare 2 Corinthians 3:5 .Galatians 1:2 , Galatians 1:6 ; Galatians 6:3 .

Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

one = one thing. Both belong to the same company of servants, of whom God is the Master.
his own . Emph. Greek. idios.
according to . App-104 .

For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.

we . i.e. Paul and Sosthenes. See 1 Corinthians 1:1 .
labourers together with God = God's fellow-workers. The word "God" is in the genitive of possession ( App-17 ), as in the two other clauses of the verse. It is the Figure of speech Anaphora ( App-6 ), and the verse should read: "God's fellow-workers we are: God's husbandry, God's building, ye are. "Ministers are co-workers with one another, not with God, as though He were one of them. Were it so, "God" would be in the dative case.
labourers together with . Greek. sunergos. Occurs thirteen times. Three times as here, used generally; in all other cases used of individuals, Timothy, Titus, Luke, &c.
husbandry = tilled field. Greek. georgion. Only here. Compare Numbers 24:6 . Psalms 80:15 .
building . Greek. oikodome. Used in Matthew 24:1 .Mark 13:1 , Mar 13:2 ; 2 Corinthians 5:1 .Ephesians 2:21 , of an edifice. Elsewhere twelve times of the act of building, and translated "edifying", in a metaphorical sense.

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.

grace . App-184 .
masterbuilder . Greek. architekton. Only here.
have . The texts omit.
foundation . Compare App-146 .
another . App-124 .
buildeth thereon . Greek. epoikodomeo. See Acts 20:32 .
take heed = see. App-133 .

11.

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

no man = no one. Greek. oudeis.
than = beside. App-104 .
Jesus Christ . App-98 .

12.

Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

Now . = But.
if . App-118 .
any man = any one. Greek. tis . App-123 .
upon . App-104 .
hay . Greek. chortos. Translated twelve times "grass", twice "blade", Matthew 13:26 . Mark 4:28 . Only here rendered "hay". Note the Figure of speech Asyndeton ( App-6 ).
stubble . Greek. kalame. Only here. All these six things are perishable (1 Peter 1:7 ).

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.

be made = become.
manifest . App-106 .
the day . i.e. the day of the Lord. See Acts 2:20 .
declare . Greek. deloo. See 1 Corinthians 1:11 .
revealed . App-106 .
by = in. App-104 .
try = test, or prove. Greek. dokimazo.

14.

If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

abide. Greek. meno . See p. 1511.

15.

If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

burned = burned up. Greek. katakaio. Compare Matthew 3:12 . Luk 3:17 . 2 Peter 3:10 .
suffer loss . Greek. zemioo. Elsewhere, Matthew 16:26 . Mark 8:36 . Luke 9:25 . 2 Corinthians 7:9 . Philippians 1:3 , Philippians 1:8 . He will Jose his reward. Compare 2 John 1:8 .

16.

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

Know ye not . This expression occurs twelve times in Paul's epistles. Elsewhere, 1 Corinthians 5:6 ; 1 Corinthians 6:2 , 1 Corinthians 6:3 , 1 Corinthians 6:9 , 1 Corinthians 6:15 , 1Co 6:16 , 1 Corinthians 6:19 ; 1 Corinthians 9:13 , 1 Corinthians 9:24 .Romans 6:16 ; Romans 11:2 . One other occurance is in James 4:4 . It conveys a delicate reproach.
Know . App-133 .
Temple . Greek. naos. See Matthew 23:16 . There is no art. because naos is the predicate.
Spirit . The Holy Spirit. App-101 .
in = among. App-104 . The Spirit dwells in the shrine formed by the collective body of believers. Compare Ephesians 2:22 .

17.

If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

defile . Greek. phth eiro. Same word as "destroy" below. Occurs also in 1 Corinthians 15:33 . 2Co 7:2 ; 2 Corinthians 11:3 .Ephesians 4:22 .Jude 1:10 . Revelation 19:2 (corrupt). The word "mar" will suit both clauses. The man who mars God's Temple by introducing divisions, and the wisdom that is not from above (James 3:15 ), will himself be marred (1 Corinthians 3:15 ).
him = this one. Greek. houtos. Emphatic.
holy . Greek. hagios .
which = and such, i.e. holy, or separated. Omit " temple " in the last clause.

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.

no man = no one. Greek. medeis.
deceive . Greek. exapatao. See Romans 7:11 .
world . App-129 .
fool . Greek. moros, as in 1 Corinthians 1:25 , 1 Corinthians 1:27 .
that = in order that. Greek. hina.
be = become.

19.

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

world . Greek. kosmos. App-129 .
foolishness . Greek. moria. See 1 Corinthians 1:18 .
with . App-104 .
is = has been.
taketh . Greek. drassomai. Only here. Found in the Septuagint, but not in Job 5:13 , from which this is quoted.
craftiness . Greek. punourgia. See Luke 20:23 . This is the only time Job is quoted in the NT.

20.

And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

The LORD . No art. App-98 .
knoweth . App-132 .
thoughts = reasonings.
vain . Greek. mataios. See Acts 14:15 . Quoted from Psalms 94:11 .

21.

Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;

Therefore = So then.
glory = boast, as in 1 Corinthians 1:29 .

22.

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

life . Greek. zoe. App-170 .
present . Greek. enistemi. See Romans 8:38 .
to come = about to be. Greek. mello .

23.

And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.