1 Corinthians 3:21

21 I don't want to hear any of you bragging about yourself or anyone else. Everything is already yours as a gift -

1 Corinthians 3:21 Meaning and Commentary

1 Corinthians 3:21

Therefore let no man glory in men
The apostle means ministers, who are but men, even the best of them, and therefore not to be gloried in; and has chiefly respect to the false teachers, whose wisdom, learning, and eloquence, the Corinthians were greatly taken with, and boasted of; it was so ensnaring to them, that they even idolized them for it, called them their masters, pinned their faith on their sleeve, gave up themselves to them, and were greatly under their authority, influence, and direction, which is here condemned; and which was so far from being right, that they ought not to behave in such manner to the best of ministers, nor to glory in anyone above another; no, not in Paul, nor Apollos, nor Cephas;

for all things are yours;
all the ministers, and all they are endowed with; these were all for their use and service, for their benefit and advantage; wherefore it was very wrong to set up one above, or against another, or for any party to engross anyone minister, when he belonged to them all; and great weakness to reject others, when they had a common right and property in them.

1 Corinthians 3:21 In-Context

19 Be God's fool - that's the path to true wisdom. What the world calls smart, God calls stupid. It's written in Scripture, He exposes the chicanery of the chic.
20 The Master sees through the smoke screens of the know-it-alls.
21 I don't want to hear any of you bragging about yourself or anyone else. Everything is already yours as a gift -
22 Paul, Apollos, Peter, the world, life, death, the present, the future - all of it is yours,
23 and you are privileged to be in union with Christ, who is in union with God.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.