Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Corinthians 3:22

"whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;" — 1 Corinthians 3:22 (ASV)

The conclusion is that no Christian should be “boasting” (GK 3016) or glorying in human wisdom and attainments—not even in those of Paul or Apollos. Why not? Because all things—yes, all the blessings of God in the whole universe—belong to the redeemed church. So the ministry of Paul, Apollos, Cephas (Peter), and any other Christian worker belongs to God’s people. Also the world itself, the processes of living and dying, the present and the future—all must be viewed in relationship to God’s purposes and plans for his redeemed people. So Paul can say, “All things are yours.” Everything is for the believers’ benefit and belongs to them.