1 Corinthians 3:4
in 1 Corinthians 3For when one of you says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere men?
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For when one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not men?
KJV
For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
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This verse in 1 Corinthians 3
Commentary
10 notes on this verseFor while one saith, I am of Paul, etc. - It was notorious that both Paul and Apollos held the same creed; between them there was not the slightest difference: when, therefore, the dissentients began to prefer the one to the other, it was the fullest proof of their carnality; because in the doctrines of these apostles there was no difference: so that what the people were captivated by must be something in their outward manner, Apollos being probably more eloquent than Paul.
This site's exposition
For while one saith, I am of Paul
The party slogans from chapter one resurface as exhibit one for the carnality just charged, one saith, I am of Paul, and another, I am of Apollos, are ye not carnal. The repetition shows the division has not been settled by chapter one's rebuke alone, and Paul must now attack the false view of ministry underneath the slogans rather than the slogans themselves. The bench reads the return to this specific complaint as proof the letter's argument builds rather than merely restates.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"For when one saith, I am Paul, and I of Apollos, are ye not carnal?" And he points out that this, so far from helping them at all or causing them to acquire any thing, had even become an obstacle to their profiting in the greater things. For this it was which brought forth jealousy, and jealousy had made them "carnal;" and the having become "carnal" left them not at liberty to hear truths of the sublimer sort.
The Medieval Church2 voices
He designates by the names of Paul and Apollos the distinguished men and teachers among the Corinthians.
Fourthly, he clarifies the proof, saying: For when one of you says, I belong to Paul, because I have been baptized and instructed by Paul, and another, I belong to Apollos, which shows that there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not merely …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
I am of Apollos - St. Paul named himself and Apollos, to show that he would condemn any division among them, even though it were in favour of himself, or the dearest friend he had in the world. Are ye not carnal - For the Spirit of God allows no party zeal.
For while one saith, I am of Paul,....
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Factious spirits act upon human principles, not upon principles of true religion; they are guided by their own pride and passions, and not by the rules of Christianity: Do you not walk as men? Note, It is to be lamented that many who should walk as Christians, that is, above the common rate of men, do indeed walk as men, live and act too much like other men.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
(1Co 1:12). are ye not carnal--The oldest manuscripts read, "Are ye not men?" that is, "walking as men" unregenerate (1Co 3:3).
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
For while one saith ...; - See the note at 1Co 1:12.
The words behind it
15 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὅταν | hotan | When | G3752 → | 123 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| λέγῃ | lege | may say | G3004 → | 1325 times |
| τις· | tis | one; | G5100 → | 528 times |
| ἐγὼ | ego | I myself | G1473 → | 839 times |
| μέν | men | indeed | G3303 → | 176 times |
| εἰμι | eimi | am | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| Παύλου, | paulou | of Paul, | G3972 → | 158 times |
| ἕτερος | heteros | another | G2087 → | 97 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ἐγὼ | ego | I myself | G1473 → | 839 times |
| Ἀπολλῶ, | apollo | of Apollos, | G625 → | 10 times |
| οὐκ | ouk | surely | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| ἄνθρωποί | anthropoi | human | G444 → | 549 times |
| ἐστε;¶ | este | are you? | G1510 → | 2333 times |
ὅτανWhen
hotanG3752 →123 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
λέγῃmay say
legeG3004 →1325 times
τις·one;
tisG5100 →528 times
ἐγὼI myself
egoG1473 →839 times
μένindeed
menG3303 →176 times
εἰμιam
eimiG1510 →2333 times
Παύλου,of Paul,
paulouG3972 →158 times
ἕτεροςanother
heterosG2087 →97 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
ἐγὼI myself
egoG1473 →839 times
Ἀπολλῶ,of Apollos,
apolloG625 →10 times
οὐκsurely
oukG3756 →1664 times
ἄνθρωποίhuman
anthropoiG444 →549 times
ἐστε;¶are you?
esteG1510 →2333 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Corinthians 3:3for you are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and dissension among you, are you not worldly? Are you not walking in the way of man?
it leads to
- James 3:16
For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.
- Galatians 5:15
But if you keep on biting and devouring one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.
- Titus 3:3
For at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, misled, and enslaved to all sorts of desires and pleasures—living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
- James 4:1–2
What causes conflicts and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from the passions at war within you?
- Ephesians 4:22–24
to put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
- James 3:16
Through
1 Corinthians 4:6Brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written. Then you will not take pride in…
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 11:4
For if someone comes and proclaims a Jesus other than the One we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit than the One you received, or a different gospel than the one you…
- 2 Corinthians 12:6
Even if I wanted to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will credit me with more than he sees in…
- 2 Corinthians 12:19
Have you been thinking all along that we were making a defense to you? We speak before God in Christ, and all of this, beloved, is to build you up.
- 2 Corinthians 11:4
Where this verse is studied
About 1 Corinthians
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the First Epistle to the Corinthians; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Corinthians 8; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Corinthians.