Therefore let no one boast in men. For 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;
- BSB Therefore, stop boasting in men. 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 didn’t spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how would he not also with him freely give us all things?
- Rom 8:28We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.
- Jer 9:23–24Yahweh says, “Don’t let the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might. Don’t let the rich man glory in his riches.
- 1 Cor 4:6Now these things, brothers, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that in us you might learn not to think beyond the things which are written, that none of you be puffed up against one another.
- Rev 21:7He who overcomes, I will give him these things. I will be his God, and he will be my son.
- 1 Cor 1:12–17Now I mean this, that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos,” “I follow Cephas,” and, “I follow Christ.”
- 1 Cor 3:4–7For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” aren’t you fleshly?
- Rom 4:13For the promise to Abraham and to his offspring that he should be heir of the world wasn’t through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
- 2 Cor 4:5For we don’t preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake;
- 2 Cor 4:15For all things are for your sakes, that the grace, being multiplied through the many, may cause the thanksgiving to abound 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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