Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. Truth to Learn The work of ministry is a team effort, but the rewards given will be based on individual effort. Behind the Words “One” is translated...
1 Corinthians 3:7 – Faithfully Serve and Trust
So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Truth to Learn Every Christian needs to serve, trusting God for the result. Behind the Words The Greek word translated “so then” is hōste. It is made up of hōs, meaning “in...
1 Corinthians 3:6 – Farmers and Gardeners
I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. Truth to Learn We are called to be servants, planting seeds and nourishing the church. God will do the rest. Behind the Words Phuteuō is the Greek verb translated “planted.” It is derived from phuton (a plant), which is itself derived...
1 Corinthians 3:5 – Leader or Servant?
Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? Truth to Learn A pastor leads by being an example of a humble servant. Behind the Words The Greek word translated “who” is tis, an interrogative pronoun meaning “who?”...
1 Corinthians 3:4 – Only One Master
For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not carnal? Truth to Learn When preference leads to arguments, we leave the realm of the Spirit and enter the realm of the flesh. Behind the Words “Says” is translated from the Greek verb...
1 Corinthians 3:3 – Now and Later!
for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? Truth to Learn Immature Christians live for themselves; spiritual Christians live their lives in a Godly manner, for the glory of God. Behind the Words The...
1 Corinthians 3:2 – Milk or Meat?
I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; Truth to Learn Infants are satisfied with milk. Those who are growing require a lot more nourishment in order to grow. Behind...
1 Corinthians 3:1 – Eternal Babies
And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. Truth to Learn Some Christians don’t grow in their relationship with Christ. Behind the Words The word “could” is translated from a form of dunamis, meaning “to be able”...
1 Corinthians 2:16 – Understanding God’s Wisdom
For "Who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ. Truth to Learn Christians can understand the wisdom of God, with His help. Behind the Words “Known” is translated from ginōskō, which we saw back in verse fourteen. It...
1 Corinthians 2:15 – The Spiritual Christian
But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. Truth to Learn A spiritual Christian is one who is under God’s control. Behind the Words The words “he who is spiritual” are translated from the Greek adjective pneumatikos. This word is derived...
1 Corinthians 2:14 – The Truth Revealed
But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. Truth to Learn Christians understand the Bible because of the Holy Spirit. Behind the Words The word translated “natural” is...
1 Corinthians 2:13 – Inspired Word of God
These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. Truth to Learn The Bible is the inspired Word of God. Believe it! Behind the Words “Speak” is translated from the verb laleō. This word refers to...
1 Corinthians 2:12 – Free and Undeserved
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. Truth to Learn God freely reveals Himself to Christians through His Spirit. Behind the Words Lambanō is the...
1 Corinthians 2:11 – Revealer Of Secrets
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. Truth to Learn The Holy Spirit reveals God to Christians. Behind the Words The Greek word translated...
1 Corinthians 2:10 – The Spirit Reveals
But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. Truth to Learn The Holy Spirit reveals the truth of the gospel to Christians. Behind the Words “Has revealed” is translated from the verb apokaluptō. This word is...
1 Corinthians 2:9 – They Can’t Understand
But as it is written: "eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love him." Truth to Learn Natural man can’t understand the mystery of salvation. Behind the Words The words “it is written”...
1 Corinthians 2:8 – Acts of Ignorance
which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Truth to Learn Christians should not be ignorant of God’s wise plan. Behind the Words “None” is translated from oudeis. This Greek word is made up of ou,...
1 Corinthians 2:7 – No More Mystery
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, Truth to Learn Christians are to openly proclaim the good news to everyone. Behind the Words “Mystery” is transliterated (a word taken directly from one language to another)...
1 Corinthians 2:6 – Wise Maturity
However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. Truth to Learn Mature Christians understand the true wisdom of God’s Word. Behind the Words “We speak” is translated from the Greek...
1 Corinthians 2:5 – Wisdom vs. Power
that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. Truth to Learn Man’s message may be wise, but God’s message is powerful. Behind the Words The word translated “faith” is pistis. This is the noun form of the verb peithō, which means...
1 Corinthians 2:4 – Persuasion vs. Power
And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, Truth to Learn Man’s preaching may be persuasive, but God’s message is powerful. Behind the Words “Speech” is translated from logos, which refers to “a word as...
1 Corinthians 2:2 – And Him Crucified
For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Truth to Learn Christ’s crucifixion is the central theme of Christianity. Behind the Words “Determined” is translated from the Greek verb krinō, which literally means “to discriminate between good and evil,” that is “to judge,...
1 Corinthians 2:1 – Not Eloquent Preaching
And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. Truth to Learn Paul did not depend on eloquence to get his message across. Behind the Words The words “when I came” are from the...
1 Corinthians 1:31 – Where’s Your Focus
that, as it is written, "he who glories, let him glory in the Lord." Truth to Learn The focus of our life needs to be on God, not the things of man. Behind the Words The words “it is written” are translated from the Greek verb graphō , which literally...
1 Corinthians 1:30 – All From God
But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— Truth to Learn Our salvation is all from God. Behind the Words The word translated “of” is ek, which means “out of” or “from.” It is an indication of the...
1 Corinthians 1:29 – God Deserves the Glory
that no flesh should glory in His presence. Truth to Learn God deserves the praise for who we are and what we have. Behind the Words “That” is translated from the Greek word hopōs, which is an adverb of manner. The basic meaning of this word is, “in what manner,...
1 Corinthians 1:28 – The Non-People
and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, Truth to Learn God chose the lowly, non-people to be His. Behind the Words “Base things” is the translation of...
1 Corinthians 1:27 – God’s “Foolish” Choice
But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; Truth to Learn God purposely choose weak and foolish sinners to be His. Behind the...
1 Corinthians 1:26 – Calling the Lowly
For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. Truth to Learn God calls lowly sinners to His kingdom and to His family. Behind the Words The Greek word translated “you see” is blepō, which means “to...
1 Corinthians 1:25 – Wise Counsel
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. Truth to Learn The wisdom of God often seems like foolishness to us. Behind the Words We have looked at the Greek word for foolishness (mōros) several times now. It is expressed...
1 Corinthians 1:24 – Wisdom and Power
but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Truth to Learn Preach the “foolish message” and watch God’s power at work. Behind the Words The word “called” is translated from the plural form of klētos, a noun which...