1 Corinthians 3 · Verse 4

1 Corinthians 3:4

For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
1 Corinthians 3:4, King James Version

1 Corinthians 3:4 in other translations

BSBFor when one of you says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere men?
WEBFor when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” aren’t you fleshly?
ASVFor when one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not men?
YLTfor when one may say, ‘I, indeed, am of Paul;' and another, ‘I--of Apollos;' are ye not fleshly?
DARBYFor when one says, I am of Paul, and another, I of Apollos, are ye not men?
BBEFor when one says, I am of Paul; and another says, I am of Apollos; are you not talking like natural men?
WebsterFor while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

What does 1 Corinthians 3:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
4. (1Co 1:12). are ye not carnal--The oldest manuscripts read, "Are ye not men?" that is, "walking as men" unregenerate (1Co 3:3).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 4. For while one saith, etc. 1Cor 1:12.

(c) "I am of Paul" 1Cor 1:12

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 For 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. Their preferring one to another on such an account proved that they were carnal - led by their senses and mere outward appearances, without being under the guidance either of reason or grace. There are thousands of such people in the Christian Church to the present day. See the notes on 1Cor 1:10, etc.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians 3:1-4

Chapter Outline The Corinthians reproved for their contentions. (1-4) The true servants of Christ can do nothing without him. (5-9) He is the only foundation, and every one should take heed what he builds thereon. (10-15) The churches of Christ ought to be kept pure, and to be humble. (16-17) And they should not glory in men, because ministers and all things else are theirs through Christ. (18-23) Verses 1-4 The…

Read the full comment on 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 →

1 Corinthians 3:4 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ὅτανhotanWhenG3752
γὰρgarforG1063
λέγῃlegēmay sayG3004
τις·tisone;G5100
ἐγὼegōI myselfG1473
μένmenindeedG3303
εἰμιeimiamG1510
Παύλου,Paulouof Paul,G3972
ἕτεροςheterosanotherG2087
δὲdehoweverG1161
ἐγὼegōI myselfG1473
Ἀπολλῶ,Apollōof Apollos,G625
οὐκouksurelyG3756
ἄνθρωποίanthrōpoihumanG444
ἐστε;¶esteare you?G1510

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Corinthians 3:4

  • 1 Corinthians 1:12

    Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.

  • 1 Corinthians 3:3

    For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

  • 1 Corinthians 4:6

    And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1:12; 4:6

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Corinthians 3:3

    For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

  • 1 Corinthians 3:4

    For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

  • 1 Corinthians 3:5

    Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

Read all of 1 Corinthians 3

1 Corinthians 3:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque diciendo el uno: Yo cierto soy de Pablo; y el otro: Yo de Apolos; ¿no sois carnales?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Car quand l’un dit: Moi, je suis de Paul; et l’autre: moi, je suis d’Apollos, n’êtes-vous pas des hommes?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn wenn einer sagt: Ich bin des Paulus; der andere aber: Ich des Apollos; seid ihr nicht menschlich?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Cum enim quis dicat: Ego quidem sum Pauli; alius autem: Ego Apollo: nonne homines estis? Quid igitur est Apollo? quid vero Paulus?