For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?
Parallel translations
- WEB For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” aren’t you fleshly?
- KJV For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
- BSB For when one of you says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere men?
- NASB For when one person says, “I am with Paul,” and another, “I am with Apollos,” are you not ordinary people?
- NLT When one of you says, “I am a follower of Paul,” and another says, “I follow Apollos,” aren’t you acting just like people of the world?
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
When they line up behind Paul or Apollos as rival figureheads, they show they are merely worldly. Partisan loyalty to leaders is a fleshly, not spiritual, attitude.
Overview
Paul returns to the slogans of chapter 1, exposing them as proof of carnality. To champion one minister against another treats God's servants as party leaders and misunderstands their role. This sets up Paul's correction in the next verses, which redefines what ministers actually are.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- 1 Cor 1:12Now I mean this, that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos,” “I follow Cephas,” and, “I follow Christ.”
- 1 Cor 3:3for you are still fleshly. For insofar as there is jealousy, strife, and factions among you, aren’t you fleshly, and don’t you walk in the ways of men?
- 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.
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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 3:4 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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