1 Corinthians 3:23
1 Corinthians 3:23 in Multiple Translations
and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.
And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.
and ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.
And you are Christ's; and Christ is God's.
and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.
And ye Christes, and Christ Gods.
and ye [are] Christ's, and Christ [is] God's.
and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.
And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.
And you are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.
You should boast about Christ, not about your leaders, because you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.
You see, you belong to Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ belongs to God. And God is the most important one.
Berean Amplified Bible — 1 Corinthians 3:23
BAB
Word Study
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1 Corinthians 3:23 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
GRK
υμεις
δε
χριστου
χριστος
δε
θεου
υμεις
su
G4771
you
Pron-2NP
δε
de
G1161
then
Conj
χριστου
Christos
G5547
Christ
Noun-GSM
χριστος
Christos
G5547
Christ
Noun-NSM
δε
de
G1161
then
Conj
θεου
theos
G2316
God
Noun-GSM
Greek Word Study
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Greek Word Reference — 1 Corinthians 3:23
υμεις
su
G4771
"you"
Pron-2NP
This Greek word means 'you' and is used to address someone directly, like in John 1:30 and Matthew 26:64. It's a way to emphasize or contrast the person being spoken to. The KJV Bible translates it as 'thou'.
Definition: σύ, pron. of 2nd of person(s), thou, you, genitive, σοῦ, dative, σοί, accusative, σέ, pl., ὑμεῖς, -ῶν, -ῖν, -ᾶς (enclitic in oblique cases sing., except after prep. (BL, §48, 3), though πρὸς σέ occurs in Mat.25:39). Nom. for emphasis or contrast: Jhn.1:30, 4:10, 5:33, 39, 44, Act.4:7, Eph.5:32; so also perhaps σὺ εἶπας, Mat.26:64, al. (M, Pr., 86); before voc., Mat.2:6, Luk.1:76, Jhn.17:5, al.; sometimes without emphasis (M, Pr., 85f.), as also in cl., but esp. as rendering of Heb. phrase, e.g. υἱός μου εἶ σύ (בְּנִי־אַתָּה, Psa.2:7), Act.13:33. The genitive (σοῦ, ὑμῶν) is sometimes placed bef. the noun: Luk.7:48, 12:30, al.; so also the enclitic σοῦ, Mat.9:6; on τί ἐμοὶ κ. σοί, see: ἐγώ. (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 2041 NT verses. KJV: thou See also: 1 Corinthians 1:3; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 1 Peter 1:2.
δε
de
G1161
"then"
Conj
This is a conjunction that means and, but, or then, used to connect ideas like in Matthew 1:2 and 2 Corinthians 6:15.
Definition: δέ (before vowels δ᾽; on the general neglect of the elision in NT, see WH, App., 146; Tdf., Pr., 96), post-positive conjunctive particle; __1. copulative, but, in the next place, and, now (Abbott, JG, 104): Mat.1:2ff., 2Co.6:15, 16, 2Pe.1:5-7; in repetition for emphasis, Rom.3:21, 22, 9:30, 1Co.2:6, Gal.2:2, Php.2:8; in transition to something new, Mat.1:18, 2:19, Luk.13:1, Jhn.7:14, Act.6:1, Rom.8:28, 1Co.7:1 8:1, al.; in explanatory parenthesis or addition, Jhn.3:19, Rom.5:8, 1Co.1:12, Eph.2:4, 5:32, al.; ὡς δέ, Jhn.2:9; καὶ . . . δέ, but also, Mat.10:18, Luk.1:76, Jhn.6:51, Rom.11:23, al.; καὶ ἐὰν δέ, yea even if, Jhn.8:16. __2. Adversative, but, on the other hand, prop., answering to a foregoing μέν (which see), and distinguishing a word or clause from one preceding (in NT most frequently without μέν; Bl., §77, 12): ἐὰν δέ, Mat.6:14, 23, al.; ἐγὼ (σὺ, etc.) δέ, Mat.5:22, 6:6, Mrk.8:29, al.; ὁ δέ, αὐτὸς δέ, Mrk.1:45, Luk.4:40, al.; after a negation, Mat.6:19, 20, Rom.3:4, 1Th.5:21, al. (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 2552 NT verses. KJV: also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English) See also: 1 Corinthians 1:10; 1 Corinthians 12:9; 1 Peter 1:7.
χριστου
Christos
G5547
"Christ"
Noun-GSM
Christ means anointed, referring to Jesus as the Messiah, as seen in Luke 2:11 and John 1:41.
Definition: χριστός (Χρ-), -ή, -όν (χρίω), [in LXX for מָשִׁיחַ and cogn. forms ;] __1. 1. as adj., __(a) of things, anointing, to be used as ointment (Æsch., Eur., al.; τ. ἔλαιον τὸ χ., Lev.21:10); __(b) of persons, anointed (ὁ ἰερεὺς ὁ χ., Lev.4:5; οἱ χ. ἰευρεῖς, 2Ma.1:10): ὁ χ. τοῦ κυρίου or Θεοῦ (1Ki.2:10, Psa.2:2, al.), of the Messiah (Aram., מְשִׁיחָא; cf. Dalman, Words, 289 ff.), Luk.2:11, 26 Jhn.1:41, Act.2:36 4:26, al. __2. As subst., ὁ Χριστός, the Messiah, the Christ: Mat.2:4, Mrk.8:29, Luk.2:11, Jhn.1:20, Act.2:31, Rom.7:4, al.; Ἰησοῦς, Mrk.1:1, Jhn.1:17, Act.2:38, al.; Χ. Ἰησοῦς, Mat.1:18, WH, mg. Act.5:42, Rom.6:3, al.; Χ. κύριος, Luk.2:11; Ἰησοῦς Χ. ὁ κύριος, Act.15:26, Rom.1:7, al. (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 525 NT verses. KJV: Christ See also: 1 Corinthians 1:1; 1 Timothy 1:1; 1 Peter 1:1.
χριστος
Christos
G5547
"Christ"
Noun-NSM
Christ means anointed, referring to Jesus as the Messiah, as seen in Luke 2:11 and John 1:41.
Definition: χριστός (Χρ-), -ή, -όν (χρίω), [in LXX for מָשִׁיחַ and cogn. forms ;] __1. 1. as adj., __(a) of things, anointing, to be used as ointment (Æsch., Eur., al.; τ. ἔλαιον τὸ χ., Lev.21:10); __(b) of persons, anointed (ὁ ἰερεὺς ὁ χ., Lev.4:5; οἱ χ. ἰευρεῖς, 2Ma.1:10): ὁ χ. τοῦ κυρίου or Θεοῦ (1Ki.2:10, Psa.2:2, al.), of the Messiah (Aram., מְשִׁיחָא; cf. Dalman, Words, 289 ff.), Luk.2:11, 26 Jhn.1:41, Act.2:36 4:26, al. __2. As subst., ὁ Χριστός, the Messiah, the Christ: Mat.2:4, Mrk.8:29, Luk.2:11, Jhn.1:20, Act.2:31, Rom.7:4, al.; Ἰησοῦς, Mrk.1:1, Jhn.1:17, Act.2:38, al.; Χ. Ἰησοῦς, Mat.1:18, WH, mg. Act.5:42, Rom.6:3, al.; Χ. κύριος, Luk.2:11; Ἰησοῦς Χ. ὁ κύριος, Act.15:26, Rom.1:7, al. (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 525 NT verses. KJV: Christ See also: 1 Corinthians 1:1; 1 Timothy 1:1; 1 Peter 1:1.
δε
de
G1161
"then"
Conj
This is a conjunction that means and, but, or then, used to connect ideas like in Matthew 1:2 and 2 Corinthians 6:15.
Definition: δέ (before vowels δ᾽; on the general neglect of the elision in NT, see WH, App., 146; Tdf., Pr., 96), post-positive conjunctive particle; __1. copulative, but, in the next place, and, now (Abbott, JG, 104): Mat.1:2ff., 2Co.6:15, 16, 2Pe.1:5-7; in repetition for emphasis, Rom.3:21, 22, 9:30, 1Co.2:6, Gal.2:2, Php.2:8; in transition to something new, Mat.1:18, 2:19, Luk.13:1, Jhn.7:14, Act.6:1, Rom.8:28, 1Co.7:1 8:1, al.; in explanatory parenthesis or addition, Jhn.3:19, Rom.5:8, 1Co.1:12, Eph.2:4, 5:32, al.; ὡς δέ, Jhn.2:9; καὶ . . . δέ, but also, Mat.10:18, Luk.1:76, Jhn.6:51, Rom.11:23, al.; καὶ ἐὰν δέ, yea even if, Jhn.8:16. __2. Adversative, but, on the other hand, prop., answering to a foregoing μέν (which see), and distinguishing a word or clause from one preceding (in NT most frequently without μέν; Bl., §77, 12): ἐὰν δέ, Mat.6:14, 23, al.; ἐγὼ (σὺ, etc.) δέ, Mat.5:22, 6:6, Mrk.8:29, al.; ὁ δέ, αὐτὸς δέ, Mrk.1:45, Luk.4:40, al.; after a negation, Mat.6:19, 20, Rom.3:4, 1Th.5:21, al. (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 2552 NT verses. KJV: also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English) See also: 1 Corinthians 1:10; 1 Corinthians 12:9; 1 Peter 1:7.
θεου
theos
G2316
"God"
Noun-GSM
This word simply means God, referring to the one true deity. It is used throughout the New Testament, including in Matthew 27:46 and Acts 14:11, to describe the supreme being and creator of the universe.
Definition: θεός, -οῦ, ὁ, ἡ (Act.19:37 only; see M, Pr., 60, 244), late voc., θεέ (Mat.27:46; cf. Deu.3:24, al.), [in LXX chiefly for אֱלֹהִים, also for אֵל and other cognate forms, יהוה, etc. ;] a god or deity, God. __1. In polytheistic sense, a god or deity: Act.28:6, 1Co.8:4, 2Th.2:4, al.; pl., Ac. 14:11 19:26, Gal.4:8, al. __2. Of the one true God; __(a) anarthrous: Mat.6:24, Luk.20:38, al.; esp. with prep. (Kühner 3, iii, 605), ἀπὸ θ., Jhn.3:2; ἐκ, Act.5:39, 2Co.5:1, Php.3:9; ὑπό, Rom.13:1; παρὰ θεοῦ, Jhn.1:6; παρὰ θεῷ, 2Th.1:6, 1Pe.2:4; κατὰ θεόν, Rom.8:27, 2Co.7:9, 10; also when in genitive dependent on an anarth. noun (Bl., §46, 6), Mat.27:43, Luk.3:2, Rom.1:17, 1Th.2:13; as pred., Lk 20:38, Jhn.1:1, and when the nature and character rather than the person of God is meant, Act.5:29, Gal.2:6, al. (M, Th., 14); __(b) more freq., with art.: Mat.1:23, Mrk.2:7, al. mult.; with prep., ἀπὸ τ. θ., Luk.1:26; ἐκ, Jhn.8:42, al.; παρὰ τοῦ θ., Jhn.8:40; π. τῷ θ., Rom.9:14; ἐν, Col.3:3; ἐπὶ τῷ θ., Luk.1:47; ἐπὶ τὸν θ., Act.15:19; εἰς τ. θ., Act.24:15; πρὸς τ. θ., Jhn.1:2; with genitive of person(s), Mat.22:32, Mrk.12:26, 27, Luk.20:37, Jhn.20:17, al.; ὁ θ. μου, Rom.1:8, Php 1:3, al.; ὁ θ. καὶ πατήρ κ. τ. λ., Rom.15:6, Eph.1:3, Phi 4:20, al.; with genitive of thing(s), Rom.15:5, 13, 33, 2Co.1:3, 1Th.5:23; τὰ τ. θεοῦ, Mat.16:23, Mrk.12:17, 1Co.2:11; τὰ πρὸς τὸν θ., Rom.15:17, Heb.2:17 5:1; τ. θεῷ, as a superl. (LXX, Jos.3:3), Act.7:20, 2Co.10:4; Hebraistically, of judges (Psa.81(82):6), Jhn.10:34" (LXX), 35. (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 1170 NT verses. KJV: X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward) See also: 1 Corinthians 1:1; 1 John 4:2; 1 Peter 1:2.
Study Notes — 1 Corinthians 3:23
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- 1 Corinthians 3:23 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on 1 Corinthians 3:23
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Corinthians 3:23
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 3:23
- Trapp's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 3:23
- Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 3:23
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 3:23
- Cambridge Bible on 1 Corinthians 3:23
- Barnes' Notes on 1 Corinthians 3:23
- Sermons on 1 Corinthians 3:23
Context — God’s Temple and God’s Wisdom
21Therefore, stop boasting in men. All things are yours,
22whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future. All of them belong to you,
23and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Galatians 3:29 | And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise. |
| 2 | 1 Corinthians 11:3 | But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. |
| 3 | John 17:9–10 | I ask on their behalf. I do not ask on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those You have given Me; for they are Yours. All I have is Yours, and all You have is Mine; and in them I have been glorified. |
| 4 | 1 Corinthians 15:23 | But each in his own turn: Christ the firstfruits; then at His coming, those who belong to Him. |
| 5 | John 17:18 | As You sent Me into the world, I have also sent them into the world. |
| 6 | 2 Corinthians 10:7 | You are looking at outward appearances. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should remind himself that we belong to Christ just as much as he does. |
| 7 | John 17:21 | that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. |
| 8 | Romans 14:8 | If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. |
| 9 | 1 Corinthians 8:6 | yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist. |
| 10 | Galatians 5:24 | Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. |
1 Corinthians 3:23 Summary
This verse reminds us that as believers, we belong to Christ, and He belongs to God. This means that our lives are not our own, but are lived for His purposes (2 Corinthians 5:15). We are connected to God through Christ, and our identity is rooted in Him (Ephesians 1:3-14). As we live out our lives, we can trust that we are part of something much bigger than ourselves, and that our belonging to Christ gives us a sense of purpose and meaning.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to belong to Christ?
To belong to Christ means that as believers, we are His possession, and He is our Lord and Savior, as seen in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, which reminds us that we were bought with a price and are now owned by God.
How does Christ belonging to God impact our understanding of the Trinity?
Christ belonging to God highlights the Father-Son relationship within the Trinity, as expressed in John 1:1-14, where Jesus is described as being with God and being God, yet also submitting to the Father's will.
What are the implications of belonging to Christ for our daily lives?
Belonging to Christ means that our lives are not our own, but are lived for His purposes, as stated in 2 Corinthians 5:15, where we are reminded that we live for Christ, who died and was raised for us.
How does this verse relate to our identity in Christ?
This verse reminds us that our identity is rooted in Christ, and through Him, we are connected to God, as seen in Ephesians 1:3-14, where our adoption as children of God is described as a result of being in Christ.
Reflection Questions
- What does it mean for me to practically live out my life as belonging to Christ, and how can I surrender my will to His each day?
- How can I deepen my understanding of Christ's relationship with God, and what impact does this have on my own relationship with the Father?
- In what ways can I reflect the truth that I belong to Christ in my interactions with others, and how can I share this good news with those around me?
- What are some areas of my life where I am still trying to hold control, and how can I release these to Christ, acknowledging that I belong to Him?
Gill's Exposition on 1 Corinthians 3:23
And ye are Christ's,.... This is the ground and foundation of all things being theirs, and shows in what way they come by them, and what gives them their claim and property: they are Christ's, he has
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Corinthians 3:23
And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's. Ye are Christ's - not Paul's or Apollos', etc. (Matthew 23:8-10; Romans 14:8). Not merely a section, but ye all are Christ's (1 Corinthians 1:12). Christ is God's (1 Corinthians 11:3).
Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 3:23
See Poole on ""
Trapp's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 3:23
23 And ye are Christ’ s; and Christ is God’ s. Ver. 23. And ye are Christ’ s] We hold all we have in capite tenure in Christ. From Christ therefore let us take our denomination. The name of Jesuits savoureth of blasphemous arrogance.
Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 3:23
(23) And Christ is God’s.—Probably these words were added, not only as being the great climax of the gradual ascent up which the Apostle’s thoughts and language have gone in the whole passage, but as avoiding any danger of the party who called themselves by the name of Christ, arrogating anything to themselves from the previous words, “Ye are Christ’s,” if the passage had concluded with them. Christ is God’s as being Mediator (as John 14:28; John 17:3.) There was no danger, in that early age of the Church, of these words being misunderstood (as some have endeavoured to misunderstand them since) as in the least implying a want of absolute identity between the Son, in regard of His Divine Nature, and the Father.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 3:23
Verse 23. And ye are Christ's] You are called by his name; you have embraced his doctrine; you depend on him for your salvation; he is your foundation stone; he has gathered you out of the world, and acknowledges you as his people and followers. υμειςδεχριστου, ye are of Christ; all the light and life which ye enjoy ye have received through and from him, and he has bought you with his blood. And Christ is God's.] χριστοςδεθεου, And Christ is of God. Christ, the Messiah, is the gift of God's eternal love and mercy to mankind; for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that they who believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Christ in his human nature is as much the property of God as any other human being. And as mediator between God and man, he must be considered, in a certain way, inferior to God, but in his own essential, eternal nature, there is no inequality-he is God over all. Ye, therefore, do not belong to men. Why then take Paul, Apollos, Kephas, or any other man for your head? All these are your servants; ye are not their property, ye are Christ's property: and as he has taken the human nature into heaven, so will he take yours; because he that sanctifieth, and they that are sanctified are all of one: ye are his brethren; and as his human nature is eternally safe at the throne of God, so shall your bodies and souls be, if ye cleave to him and be faithful unto death. 1. A FINER and more conclusive argument, to correct what was wrong among this people, could not have been used than that with which the apostle closes this chapter.
It appears to stand thus: "If you continue in these divisions, and arrange yourselves under different teachers, you will meet with nothing but disappointment, and lose much good. If ye will have Paul, Apollos, c., on your present plan, you will have them and nothing else nor can they do you any good, for they are only instruments in God's hand, at best, to communicate good, and he will not use them to help you while you act in this unchristian way. On the contrary, if you take GOD as your portion, you shall get these and every good besides. Act as you now do, and you get nothing and lose all! Act as I advise you to do, and you shall not only lose nothing of the good which you now possess, but shall have every possible advantage: the men whom you now wish to make your heads, and who, in that capacity, cannot profit you, shall become God's instruments of doing you endless good. Leave your dissensions, by which you offend God, and grieve his Christ; and then God, and Christ, and all will be yours." How agitated, convinced, and humbled must they have been when they read the masterly conclusion of this chapter! 2.
Cambridge Bible on 1 Corinthians 3:23
23. Christ is God’s] Even He is not existing apart and for Himself (cf. St John 5:19-30), but is for ever united and conjoined with His faithful ones in the God and Father of all. ‘I in them and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one.’ St John 17:23.
Barnes' Notes on 1 Corinthians 3:23
And ye are Christ’s - You belong to him; and should not, therefore, feel that you are devoted to any earthly leader, whether Paul, Apollos, or Peter.
Sermons on 1 Corinthians 3:23
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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(1 Corinthians) Overview to Chapter 4 by Brian Brodersen | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding the larger argument and thought patterns in the Bible, rather than getting caught up in individual verses. He |
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John 1:41-42 by St. John Chrysostom | John Chrysostom emphasizes the importance of companionship and unity among believers, highlighting the benefits of dwelling together in love and mutual support as opposed to isolat |
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Christian Freedom: Grow Up and Be Free by Warren Wiersbe | In this sermon on Galatians 4:1-18, the speaker emphasizes the importance of spiritual maturity in experiencing freedom in Christ. He distinguishes between age and maturity, statin |
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Grow Up and Be Free by Warren Wiersbe | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the theme of freedom and maturity in the context of the book of Galatians. The main message is that growing up spiritually leads to freedom i |
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(Heavenly Life) Seated in the Heavens by Zac Poonen | This sermon emphasizes the importance of being heavenly-minded in a world filled with changes and uncertainties. It highlights the need to focus on eternal values rather than earth |
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Spirit vs. Flesh by Stephen Kaung | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the conversation between Jesus and His disciples recorded in John chapters 14, 15, and 16. The disciples were feeling lost and sorrowful as t |
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(Covenant Series) 7. Freedom From the Yoke of Bondage by Al Whittinghill | In this sermon, the speaker shares a story about Jimmy Connors, a famous tennis player, who reads a news article about a man struggling with a mental breakdown. Connors decides to |