1 Corinthians 3:20Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Therefore, if external wisdom is harmful, and your spiritual gifts are not from yourselves, in what can you boast? Concerning external wisdom he says, "Let no one deceive himself," because it was harmful to them. Here, where the matter concerns something useful, he says, "Let no one boast," and softens his discourse with the following words: "For all things are yours: whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come, all are yours; and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's" (1 Cor 3:21-23). Since he had touched them sharply, he again encourages them. Above he had said, "For we are God's fellow workers" (1 Cor 3:9), and comforted them with many other things. Here too he says, "all things are yours," to cast down the pride of the teachers. He shows that they have not placed their disciples under any obligation, but are themselves bound to thank them, because for their sake they became teachers and received grace. Since the disciples also could boast, he healed their sickness too by the words, "as the Lord gave to each one," and "God gave the increase" (1 Cor 3:5-6). Thus the former should not be proud as givers, nor the latter exalt themselves when they hear, "all things are yours." For though all things are for you, all things are from God. Notice how up to this point he continues to place his own name and Peter's name. What does "or death" mean? Teachers, even if they die, die for you, undergoing dangers for your salvation. Do you see how he again casts down the pride of the disciples and exalts the teachers? He speaks with them as with noble children who have tutors and are destined to inherit everything. It may also be said that Adam's death is for us, that we may be instructed, and Christ's death is for us, that we may be saved. "You are Christ's, and Christ is God's." We are Christ's in one way, Christ is God's in another, and the world is ours in another. We are Christ's as His creation. Christ is God's as His true Son, not as a creature and not as the world is ours. Thus the expression is one, but the meaning is different. The world is ours as created for us. Christ is God's because He has God as His cause, as Father. We are Christ's as created by Him. If, he says, the teachers are yours, why do you act in the opposite way, calling yourselves by their names and not by the name of Christ and God?

Conversely, whoever wishes to be wise in the Christian sense should not be embarrassed that he will be considered foolish from a human point of view, one alien to higher principles and aspirations. This agrees with the Apostle's counsel to be wise in what is good and simple concerning evil (Rom 16:19; cf. 1 Cor 1:19-24). According to St. John Chrysostom, the wisdom of the world fights against God. Therefore "it not only does not help in attaining the final goal of human life, but even becomes an obstacle; consequently it must be abandoned as harmful. Yet the Apostle is not content with his own proofs, but also brings a testimony: For it is written, 'He catches the wise in their craftiness' (Job 5:13). The words, 'I will destroy the wisdom,' express its complete uselessness. The words, 'He catches the wise in their craftiness,' show the power of God. When boundless Wisdom pronounces such a judgment upon them and presents them as such, what further proof of their extreme foolishness should be required? Since they used their wisdom in order to manage without God, they came to the point where they themselves did not know where to turn. Therefore by that very wisdom they were caught. They proved worse than fishermen and the unlearned, and had need of them."

They think to establish paradise on earth, yet it is never established. Meanwhile no one takes into account that this is an empty undertaking and that it should be abandoned. They go on building and building. They think that beyond the limits of visibility there is nothing more, yet precisely there is true reality. In many other respects the thoughts of the wisest are vain. But none of the wise knows this. Therefore the Prophet says, "The Lord knows," meaning that the Lord alone knows how vain they are. What then should be done? The Prophet indicates this immediately afterward, saying, "Blessed is the man whom Thou dost chasten, O Lord, and teach out of Thy law" (Ps 94:12).