Movatterモバイル変換

1 Corinthians 3:5-8
Who then is Paul, and whois Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? …

1 Corinthians 9:19-22
For though I be free from allmen, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more…

2 Corinthians 4:5
For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

or the.

Romans 8:37-39
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us…

Philippians 1:21
For to me to liveis Christ, and to dieis gain.

or the world
The term "world" here can refer to the entirety of creation and the systems within it. In a biblical context, it often denotes the fallen state of humanity and the temporal nature of worldly things. However, Paul is emphasizing that the world, in its entirety, is under the dominion of Christ and, by extension, belongs to believers. This echoes the idea found inRomans 8:17, where believers are co-heirs with Christ, inheriting all things.

or life
Life, in this context, refers to the present existence of believers. Paul is reminding the Corinthians that their current life is a gift from God and is to be lived for His glory. This aligns with the teaching inPhilippians 1:21, where Paul states, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Life is an opportunity to serve God and others, reflecting the eternal life that believers have in Christ.

or death
Death, often seen as the ultimate enemy, is here presented as something that also belongs to believers. Through Christ's resurrection, death has been conquered (1 Corinthians 15:54-57). For Christians, death is not the end but a transition to eternal life with God. This perspective transforms the fear of death into a hope-filled expectation of being with Christ.

or the present
The present refers to the current circumstances and experiences of believers. Paul is encouraging the Corinthians to understand that their present situation, with all its challenges and opportunities, is under God's sovereign control. This is consistent with the teaching inRomans 8:28, where all things work together for the good of those who love God.

or the future
The future encompasses the unknown and the promises of what is to come. For believers, the future is secure in Christ, who holds all things together (Colossians 1:17). This assurance allows Christians to live with hope and confidence, knowing that God's promises are sure and that they have an eternal inheritance (Ephesians 1:18).

All of them belong to you
This concluding phrase emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the believer's inheritance in Christ. Everything—leaders, the world, life, death, the present, and the future—is under the authority of Christ and, therefore, belongs to those who are in Him. This reflects the teaching inEphesians 1:3, where believers are blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ. It underscores the sufficiency and supremacy of Christ in all things, encouraging believers to find their identity and security in Him alone.

1 Corinthians 3:22 begins by naming the apostle whose ministry birthed the Corinthian church: “whether Paul.”

• Paul is a servant, not a celebrity. Earlier he wrote, “What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed” (1 Corinthians 3:5).

• Because believers are “in Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:17), every faithful teacher sent by God is a gift meant to build them up (Ephesians 4:11-12).

• Paul himself said, “All things work together for good to those who love God” (Romans 8:28); his own labor is part of that “all things.”

The eloquent Apollos came later, watering what Paul had planted (Acts 18:24-28;1 Corinthians 3:6).

• His different style enriched the same gospel, showing that variety in giftedness serves one purpose—edifying the church (1 Corinthians 12:4-6).

• The Corinthians had tried to claim him as a party leader (1 Corinthians 1:12), but Paul reminds them that Apollos already belongs to them in Christ; they need not grasp for ownership.

Cephas (Peter) represents the original circle of apostles (Galatians 2:9).

• His authority and witness to the risen Lord are theirs as well (1 Corinthians 9:5;1 Peter 5:1-2).

• God did not give multiple leaders so the church could divide, but so it could be “built together into a dwelling place for God” (Ephesians 2:20-22).

“The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof” (Psalm 24:1); because believers are heirs with Christ, the created order ultimately serves their good (Romans 8:19-21).

• They need not fear worldly pressures (1 John 5:4).

• Even persecution becomes a platform for witness (Philippians 1:12-14).

Jesus promised “life in all its fullness” (John 10:10).

• Every breath, talent, relationship, and opportunity is a stewardship entrusted to believers (Colossians 3:17).

• Paul could say, “For to me, to live is Christ” (Philippians 1:21), because life itself is folded into their inheritance.

Death, the last enemy, is now a servant too.

• “To die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).

• Christ has “destroyed him who holds the power of death” (Hebrews 2:14-15), so death merely ushers believers into the Lord’s presence (2 Corinthians 5:8).

Right now, Jesus is “with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

• Present trials produce eternal glory (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).

• God supplies “everything we need for life and godliness” in the current moment (2 Peter 1:3).

Nothing ahead can sever believers from Christ’s love (Romans 8:38-39).

• An imperishable inheritance is “kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:4).

• The future includes reigning with Christ in His coming kingdom (Revelation 20:6).

Paul concludes, “and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God” (1 Corinthians 3:23).

• Because they are united to Christ, every servant, circumstance, and season is woven into their inheritance.

• This truth eliminates boasting in human leaders and fuels humble gratitude (1 Corinthians 4:7).

1 Corinthians 3:22 sweeps from apostles to eternity, declaring that everything—people, experiences, time itself—has been placed at the disposal of those who are in Christ. Far from fostering pride or factionalism, this grand inventory should make believers rest secure, serve one another, and fix their hope on the Lord who is sovereign over all.

"The lifting of a latch;
Nought but a step into the open air
Out of a tent already luminous
With light which shines through its transparent folds."Or things present, or things to come. "He that overcometh shall inherit all things" (Revelation 21:7), because Christ has received all things from the Father.

Parallel Commentaries ...