Therefore, stop boasting in men. All things are yours,
Parallel translations
- WEB Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours,
- KJV Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
- NKJV Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours:
- NASB So then, no one is to be boasting in people. For all things belong to you,
- NLT So don’t boast about following a particular human leader. For everything belongs to you—
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Therefore no one should boast in human leaders, for all things already belong to the believers. Christians lack nothing, so glorying in mere men is foolish.
Overview
Paul draws his conclusion: since human wisdom is worthless, boasting in leaders like Paul or Apollos is absurd. Far from needing to claim one teacher, believers possess 'all things' in Christ. This frees them from factionalism, for nothing is gained by partisanship when everything is already theirs.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Rom 8:32He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things?
- Rom 8:28And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.
- Jer 9:23–24This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the wealthy man in his riches.
- 1 Cor 4:6Brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written. Then you will not take pride in one man over another.
- Rev 21:7The one who overcomes will inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son.
- 1 Cor 1:12–17What I mean is this: Individuals among you are saying, “I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos,” “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.”
- 1 Cor 3:4–7For when one of you says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere men?
- Rom 4:13For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not given through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.
- 2 Cor 4:5For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.
- 2 Cor 4:15All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is extending to more and more people may overflow in thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Christ crucified is the wisdom and power of God; he is our Passover sacrificed for us, the firstfruits of resurrection, the foundation on which everything is built.
How 1 Corinthians 3:21 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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