1 Corinthians 3:21

Contextual Overview

²¹So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours,²¹ So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours, ²¹So, no more big-talking and name-dropping. You don't need any human to gain all things because they already belong to you. ²¹ So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you,²¹So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you, ²¹ So let no one take pride in men. For all things are yours; ²¹ So that let no one boast in men; for all things are yours. ²¹ So no one should boast in human leaders, for everything is yours— ²¹ Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, ²¹ Therefore let none glory in men; for all things are yours:

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

glory: 1 Corinthians 3:4-7, 1 Corinthians 1:12-17, 1 Corinthians 4:6, Jeremiah 9:23, Jeremiah 9:24

For: Romans 4:13, Romans 8:28, Romans 8:32, 2 Corinthians 4:5, 2 Corinthians 4:15, Revelation 21:7

Reciprocal: Genesis 25:5 - General Genesis 33:11 - enough Genesis 49:25 - with blessings Numbers 5:10 - hallowed things Numbers 11:29 - Enviest Numbers 18:20 - I am thy part Numbers 23:10 - the death Psalms 16:6 - I have Proverbs 3:16 - and Song of Solomon 2:16 - beloved Isaiah 20:5 - their glory Daniel 2:30 - but Hosea 2:21 - saith Zechariah 8:12 - the remnant Matthew 13:46 - one Mark 2:27 - General Luke 6:20 - for John 17:10 - all Romans 8:9 - he is 1 Corinthians 5:6 - glorying 2 Corinthians 1:6 - whether 2 Corinthians 1:14 - that 2 Corinthians 6:10 - and 2 Corinthians 8:9 - that ye Galatians 4:7 - heir Galatians 6:4 - and not Galatians 6:13 - that they may Galatians 6:14 - that I Colossians 3:11 - but 2 Timothy 1:9 - which James 2:5 - rich 2 Peter 1:3 - all Revelation 21:6 - freely

Cross-References

Genesis 3:2
The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,

Genesis 3:2
The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,

Genesis 3:2
And the woman said to the serpent, "From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat;

Genesis 3:2
The woman said to the serpent, "From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat;

Genesis 3:2
And the woman sayde vnto the serpent: We eate of ye fruite of the trees of the garden.

Genesis 3:2
The woman answered the snake, "No, we can eat fruit from the trees in the garden.

Genesis 3:2
And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden;

Genesis 3:2
To whom the womman answerde, We eten of the fruyt of trees that ben in paradis;

Genesis 3:2
And the woman said vnto the serpent, Wee may eate of the fruite of the trees of the garden:

Genesis 3:2
And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:

Gill's Notes on the Bible

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.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Therefore ... - Paul here proceeds to apply the principles which he had stated above. Since all were ministers or servants of God; since God was the source of all good influences; since, whatever might be the pretensions to wisdom among people, it was all foolishness in the sight of God, the inference was clear, that no man should glory in man. They were all alike poor, frail, ignorant, erring, dependent beings. And hence, also, as all wisdom came from God, and as Christians partook Alike of the benefits of the instruction of the most eminent apostles, they ought to regard this as belonging to them in common, and not to form parties with these names at the head.

Let no man glory in men; - See 1 Corinthians 1:29; compare Jeremiah 9:23-24. It was common among the Jews to range themselves under different leaders - as Hillel and Shammai; and for the Greeks, also, to boast themselves to be the followers of Pythagoras, Zeno, Plato, etc. The same thing began to be manifest in the Christian church; and Paul here rebukes and opposes it.

For all things are yours - This is a reason why they should not range themselves in parties or factions under different leaders. Paul specifies what he means by “all things” in the following verses. The sense is, that since they had an interest in all that could go to promote their welfare; as they were common partakers of the benefits of the talents and labors of the apostles; and as they belonged to Christ, and all to God, it was improper to be split up into factions, as if they derived any special benefit; from one set of persons, or one set of objects. In Paul, in Apollos, in life, death, etc. they had a common interest, and no one should boast that he had any special proprietorship in any of these things.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 21. Let no man glory in men — Let none suppose that he has any cause of exultation in any thing but God. All are yours; he that has God for his portion has every thing that can make him happy and glorious: all are his.