1 Corinthians 3:22 - Exposition

Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas . All were their servants for Jesus' sake ( 2 Corinthians 4:5 ). Instead of becoming partisans of either, they could enjoy the greatness of all. Or the world. The sudden leap from Cephas to the world shows, as Bengel says, the impetuous leap of thought. There is a passage of similar eloquence in Romans 8:38 , Romans 8:39 . The "hundredfold" is promised even in this world. Or life. Because life in Christ is the only real life, and Christ came that we might have life, and have it more abundantly (see Romans 8:38 ). Or death. To the Christian, "to live is Christ, and to die is gain" ( Philippians 1:21 ). So that death is no more than

"The lifting of a latch;

Nought but a step into the open air

Out of a tent already luminous

With light which shines through its transparent folds."

Or things present, or things to come. "He that overcometh shall inherit all things" ( Revelation 21:7 ), because Christ has received all things from the Father.