1 Corinthians: Chapter 3 (verses 3:18–4:5)

In this post, we’ll go over the last six verses of 1 Corinthians 3 and continue into the first five verses of chapter 4, which address the same topics.

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.¹

Paul addresses members of the Corinthian church, knowing that the Corinthians think they are wise. However, to be wise in God’s eyes means becoming a fool in this age.

Paul begins by challenging the Corinthian believers. He points out that they may consider themselves wise, but in reality they are deceiving themselves. God views things differently than they do. As Christians, they need to have the mind of Christ.²

Earlier in this chapter, Paul made the point that it is Christ alone upon whom the church must be built, and he spoke of the judgment that will come upon those who build wrongly and the reward that will come to those who build properly at the last day and the Lord’s judgment. Therefore, deceiving oneself about one’s standing before God should be regarded as serious. To come to the day of judgment and to think that one “stands” only to find out that one doesn’t would be a shocking discovery.

Paul goes on to say: For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”³

Paul is expressing the other side of the coin of what he said earlier, when he wrote that “the wisdom of God [Christ crucified] is foolishness to the world.”⁴ Here he writes, “The wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight.” Having been shown the foolishness of their wisdom, the Corinthians are now urged to take on God’s perspective, since their human “wisdom” is folly.

The first part of the quotation is from Job 5:13, He catches the wise in their own craftiness. There, Eliphaz (wrongly) argues that no one can be right before God. He correctly speaks of those who are not right before God as perishing “without wisdom.”⁵ He speaks of the “fool” (the one who does not do God’s will) as being slain by envy.⁶ He then says that the Lord “frustrates the devices of the crafty…. He catches the wise in their own craftiness.”⁷ Eliphaz urges Job to commit his cause to God, which is exactly what Paul is saying to those who may be deceiving themselves.

Paul then uses a second quotation, this time from Psalm 94:11, with some minor wording changes. The Psalm says: The LORD knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath.⁸ Paul writes: The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile. He points to the futility of all man’s plans and opinions, which God knows aren’t achieving anything of lasting value. God’s wisdom and plans stand in contrast to the thoughts, plans, and wisdom of this world.

So let no one boast in men.⁹

Any “boast” should only ever be in the Lord Himself for those who have understood the message of Christ crucified. Paul’s aim is unity, but this requires a proper understanding of God and His ways. Any dependence on human wisdom needs to be eliminated from the thinking of God’s people.

For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.¹⁰

Paul returns to the list of leaders he mentioned earlier in 1 Corinthians 1:12. However, what is notable here is how wide-reaching this list is. Paul moves his readers from thinking of particular leaders to thinking about the total inheritance of God’s people. Instead of thinking “I am of Paul” or of Apollos or Cephas, the church is told that “all things are yours.”

Paul has used the name “God” five times for emphasis in verses 3:16–17, so it is appropriate that he finishes this section of his letter with “God”—Christ is God’s. He is God’s Son and Messiah, the one who came to earth for the sake of the church. The church is Christ’s. Since all things belong to God and to His Son, so all things are for the benefit of believers. They are Christ’s.

In chapter 4, Paul goes on to say: This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.¹¹

Paul writes that the Corinthian believers should think of Paul, Apollos, and others as servants of Christ. He has described them as laborers given a specific task to do in the master’s field.¹² He emphasizes this to urge the Corinthians to stop dividing themselves into factions based on loyalty to specific Christian teachers. Paul wants them to follow Christ, first and foremost, not men like himself or Apollos.

Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.¹³

In this passage, Paul describes himself and other church leaders as stewards of the mysteries of God. A “steward” is one who manages something that does not belong to him, such as when a wealthy man entrusts the managing of his assets or running of his household to a trusted servant. Someone who is given this level of trust must be one who is known to be truthful, a trustworthy and faithful person with integrity. Paul is making the point that he and other Christian teachers must be found faithful by God to be stewards of the mysteries of God. They must be trustworthy, people of integrity.

But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.¹⁴

Paul was aware that the Corinthians and others had been judging his worthiness and that of Apollos and other church leaders. He dismissed their judgment, calling it a very small thing to be judged by them or even by a human court. However, Paul isn’t saying that he is above their judgment because of his position as an apostle. In the verses that follow, he makes it clear that their judgments don’t matter because they are not the judge.

Paul goes on to say that he is not qualified to judge himself. If he can’t judge himself, why should he worry about the opinions of others?

For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.¹⁵

When Paul thinks of his stewardship, he is not aware of anything against him, any lack of integrity or unfaithfulness in carrying out his duties. However, this doesn’t mean that he is innocent. He is familiar with the truth of Jeremiah 17:9, which says: The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? Paul knows that he is not perfect or infallible. He is saying that no human being’s opinion, even of themselves, matters in comparison to that of God.

Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.¹⁶

On that last day, the Lord’s judgment will expose everything. It will reveal whether a person truly did belong to the Lord, but it will also reveal the lasting value, or otherwise, of a leader’s work. God will inspect a steward’s fidelity, looking into the depths of the heart, its thoughts and intentions, showing the individual’s true colors.

Paul mentions these facts about future judgment so that the Corinthians will desist from judging him and others. Paul tells the Corinthian Christians to stop judging the quality of another’s service to the Lord. Instead, they should wait for the Lord to come, and He will pronounce the verdict. God’s verdict is the only one that counts, and He is the only one qualified to evaluate what is inside a person. Based on the Lord’s judgment, each believer will receive their reward from God.

---

Note
Unless otherwise indicated, all scriptures are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.