1 Corinthians 3 - Introduction

For All Things Are Your First Corinthians Three

One of the problems among the Christians at Corinth was that of being "carnal." Paul knew that by that time the Corinthian Christians should have become spiritually mature. However, he still had to "speak unto them as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ." (1 Corinthians 3:1) The word "carnal" means "pertaining to the flesh, or fleshly desires. To be carnal means that your flesh and the word of God are at odds and the flesh is always winning out, because you are allowing it to win!

This chapter addresses the divisions that were separating these brethren into groups that identified themselves with men. Paul rebuked them for allowing the names of preachers to divide the Lord's church. They were carnal being guilty of envying, strife, and divisions. "Strife" means fighting among themselves with words. No wonder Paul called them "carnal!" They were acting like they were of the world.

Paul told them that the preachers they were dividing over were actually in harmony and that they worked together. He wanted them to know that the preachers were nothing more than ministers. These preachers all built upon the same foundation, that of Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 3:11) He wanted it understood that it is wrong to make divisions in the body of Christ. They were admonished to take care not to divide and destroy the church because it is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Later Paul will say that the body of each Christian is the temple of the Holy Spirit.