In order to understand what Paul says in verses 22 & 23, we need to look at the entire chapter and determine what Paul is teaching:
CORINTHIANS DEEMED CARNAL
1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not ableto bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
IDOLIZING MINISTERS AND SECTARIANISM IS CARNAL
4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
MINISTERS ARE NOTHING SINCE GOD GIVES THE INCREASE
5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
EVERY CHRISTIAN IS A LABORER WITH GOD
8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
EVERY CHRISTIAN MUST BE INVOLVED IN GOSPEL WORK
10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
OUR WORKS WILL BE JUDGED
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
EVERY CHRISTIAN IS A TEMPLE OF GOD
16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
WORLDLY WISDOM IS FOOLISHNESS BEFORE GOD
18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
NO CHRISTIAN SHOULD GLORY IN MEN SINCE WHAT IS CHRIST'S IS OURS
21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;
23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.
The Corinthians were competing with each other in many ways, including whom they considered their leaders. Paul is telling Christians that the ministers of God are nothing when it comes to the salvation of souls. God uses each one as He sees fit, but it is God who gives the increase. Therefore we are not to idolize men or glory in men. And we are all to be involved in Gospel ministry.
CORINTHIANS DEEMED CARNAL
1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not ableto bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
IDOLIZING MINISTERS AND SECTARIANISM IS CARNAL
4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
MINISTERS ARE NOTHING SINCE GOD GIVES THE INCREASE
5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
EVERY CHRISTIAN IS A LABORER WITH GOD
8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
EVERY CHRISTIAN MUST BE INVOLVED IN GOSPEL WORK
10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
OUR WORKS WILL BE JUDGED
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
EVERY CHRISTIAN IS A TEMPLE OF GOD
16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
WORLDLY WISDOM IS FOOLISHNESS BEFORE GOD
18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
NO CHRISTIAN SHOULD GLORY IN MEN SINCE WHAT IS CHRIST'S IS OURS
21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;
23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.
The Corinthians were competing with each other in many ways, including whom they considered their leaders. Paul is telling Christians that the ministers of God are nothing when it comes to the salvation of souls. God uses each one as He sees fit, but it is God who gives the increase. Therefore we are not to idolize men or glory in men. And we are all to be involved in Gospel ministry.
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