1 corinthians 3

Read 1 Corinthians 3 at Bible Gateway.

1 Cor 1:4-3:23 chiastic structure

1a) 1 Cor 1:4-9, The grace of God which was given to you in Christ Jesus, so that you come short in no gift;

1b) 1 Cor 1:10-17, Divisions in the church: I am of Paul, Apollos, Cephas, or Christ;

1c) 1 Cor 1:18-25, The cross is foolishness to those who are perishing;

1d) 1 Cor 1:26-31, That no flesh should glory in His presence;

1e) 1 Cor 2:1-5, Paul’s initial preaching + he knew not anything among them but Jesus Christ and Him crucified;

1f) 1 Cor 2:6-8, We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery among those who are mature;

1g) 1 Cor 2:9, Eye has not seen nor ear heard the things which God has prepared for those who love Him;

1h) 1 Cor 2:10, But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit;

central axis) 1 Cor 2:10b-11, “For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God;”

2h) 1 Cor 2:12a, We have received the Spirit who is from God;

2g) 1 Cor 2:12b, That we might know the things freely given to us by God;

2f) 1 Cor 2:13-3:1, These things we speak to the spiritual vs. the natural (carnal or immature) man;

2e) 1 Cor 3:5-15, Ministers who built the church from the foundation of Jesus Christ;

2d) 1 Cor 3:16-18a, Let no one deceive himself;

2c) 1 Cor 3:18b-20, The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God;

2b) 1 Cor 3:21a, Therefore let no one boast in men;

2a) 1 Cor 3:21b-23, For all things are yours, and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He has taken the wise in their craftiness.” And again, “The Lord knows the reasoning of the wise, that it is worthless.” 1 Cor 3:19-20

Beloved, are you ever mocked for believing in God, believing His word, believing the true history of the earth instead of the false evolutionary narrative, for believing His word has not passed away but is still applicable to us today and we ought to order our lives using it as the plumb line? Are you ever mocked for turning the other cheek, accepting outcasts while others are judging them, and being kind in the face of reviling? Are you ever mocked for loving and associating with other believers whose doctrine does not line up with yours point for point? The wise of this world mocks the wisdom of God, because it is foolishness to them. But their wisdom is foolishness with God. Our culture and media glorifies the reasoning of the wise, and mocks us – but their reasoning is worthless! You just need to remind yourself of that fact from time to time! ♥