We may request cookies to be set on your device. Biblical Commentary (Bible study) 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23 EXEGESIS: THE CONTEXT: Corinth was an important and wealthy city on the isthmus (narrow strip of land) separating Northern and Southern Greece. Acts 18 gives us a. According to the grace of God: In describing Paul’s work among the Corinthians, he begins with a declaration of grace. And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in … envying--jealousy, rivalry. We are more excited about being with the influential and famous of this world than about being with God. 2. Some say it is a contradiction in terms; that Paul really says that these, ones are not Christians at all. Mixing the wisdom of men with the wisdom of God in the work of building the church is like using alternate layers of straw and marble in building. It is made of people, and it consists of an invisible union among visible people, so in some sense the church is both visible and invisible. : It wasn’t that God prevented them from receiving the, Paul gave. Straw may be fine, it may have a place (in the barn), but it is an inadequate building material. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. : The work Paul did with God was to work “on” God’s people. c. Each one’s work will become clear: God will test the building work of all His fellow workers, so each one’s work will become clear. But God doesn’t choose exalted people to do His work. We cannot work without Him, and He will not work without us (generally speaking). He himself will be saved, yet so as through the fire shows that some will be saved, but barely saved, and saved with everything gone. His work will be burned and will vanish in eternity. (5-7) The foolishness of exalting church leaders. We cannot work without Him, and He will not work without us (generally speaking). You are the temple of God: Paul will later (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) speak as individual Christians being temples. Of course the Corinthians considered themselves wise in this age! Many people saw that Jesus was alive again (1 Corinthians 15:1-8). Here he says that though they have received the Spirit in some measure, they are yet under the influence of the flesh. He knew that his status as a worker in God’s field, or on God’s building, was based on, : When Paul founded the church in Corinth (Acts 18), he set the only foundation that can be laid – the person and work of. They are to become a fool that he may become wise. c. We are God’s fellow workers: God gives us the amazing opportunity to work with Him. Will we agree with God’s evaluation or not? Therefore let no one boast in men. 1:4-9 - Paul’s prayer. And you. Others are frustrated because they want to make the increase happen, when only God can do that. If one is not willing to be considered a fool by those who value only human wisdom, they will never be able to truly become wise. . If they do otherwise, they are “worldly” and are called upon to desist. doesn’t mean jewels, but fine stone materials like marble and granite. a. ” Paul already does this, hypothetically, in Galatians 1:8. These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience. About Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here: We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. is in the imperfect tense, marking the continued work of God. They were so “filled” with this junk food that they were not able to receive the spiritual solid food Paul wanted to give them. That was one of their problems, their love of worldly wisdom. There are not two gospels, one for the learned and one for the unlearned; there is no part of the gospel that we are authorized to keep back from the people. They believed they were ready for the “deeper things,” but were not living any deeper in the basic things he already preached to them. Imagine that you spent a year and a half getting a church plant up and going. Some were for setting up Paul, others Apollos, as their sole teachers, 4. Young preachers used to ask G. Campbell Morgan the secret to his preaching success. what kind of work it was. Yet he knew that others would come after him and build on the foundation he set. ii. By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. In 1 Corinthians 3:1, Paul would say that he was compelled to address the Corinthians as unspiritual, made of flesh. 2. Mixing the wisdom of men with the wisdom of God in the work of building the church is like using alternate layers of straw and marble in building. Verse 1 ‘Christ’ is the Greek word for *Messiah. © Copyright - Enduring Word       |      . b. Remaining worldly is not one of the options.” (Fee). And God's greatest gift is love (1 Corinthians 13). c. If anyone defiles the temple of God: If you defile the church, God will destroy you. It is a sobering thought: many, many people who believe they are serving God, but are doing it in an unworthy manner or with unworthy “materials” will come to find in eternity that they have, in reality, done nothing for the Lord. We do the same thing in ministering Jesus to other people. The problems they had in human relationships showed there was something wrong in their relationship with God. They are through whom you believed, not on whom you believed. And you are Christ’s: This is Christian responsibility. Get a Copy of This KJV Bible - https://bit.ly/2ns1jxF; ... 1-3. How we need to hear. All rights reserved. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. shows that some will be saved, but barely saved, and saved with everything gone. man who knows the things of God, yet in some significant ways is still characterized by the flesh. iii. By using the figures of gold, silver, and precious stones, Paul seems to have in mind the building materials used in the construction of the temple (1 Chronicles 22:14, 22:16, and 29:2). If it isn’t founded on Jesus Christ, it isn’t a church at all. There is the. Both Paul and Apollos belong to you; the whole universe is yours in Christ. It means theking that God would send to his people. i. 2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those c sanctified in Christ Jesus, d called to be saints together with all those who in every place e call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:. Could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal: There is a difference between being fleshy (sarkinos, used in 2 Corinthians 3:3) and being fleshly (the Greek word sarkikos, used here in this passage). The cause of wrong attitudes among Christians 1 Corinthians 3:1-3. i. Paul says that the Corinthians were sarkikos. If anyone among you seems to be wise: Paul is being a little sarcastic here. The “building” is what God builds in His people with the help of His fellow workers. Click to enable/disable Google Analytics tracking. 1 Corinthians 1:1-3 Biblical Commentary (Bible study) 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 EXEGESIS: THE CONTEXT: Corinth was an important and wealthy city on the isthmus (narrow strip of land) separating Northern and Southern Greece. You are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you: What makes the church a temple? In the same way, God will cause us to live again after our deaths. ii. a. I fed you with milk: Paul kept his teaching on the basics, even though they had an inflated view of their spirituality. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? Those planters better get their priorities straight.” The fact is planters and waterers are both necessary, both need each other, and both are working towards the same goal. This term really just means someone who is dominated by the flesh. i. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. Click to enable/disable _gat_* - Google Analytics Cookie. Let no one deceive himself. I want to focus on the beginning of this chapter where Paul addresses his brethren as being carnal. Of course, the flesh does not dominate every aspect of their life, or they would then have no evidence of being born again. i. Paul asks them to renounce all worldly wisdom, all humanism (man-centered philosophy), even if it means being called a fool. Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? : Paul kept his teaching on the basics, even though they had an inflated view of their spirituality. That their ministers were no more than ministers ().That they were unanimous, and carried on the same design ().That they built on one and the same foundation (). Paul and Apollos are not the ones you believed on for salvation; they only brought Jesus to you. Death may be to us as the angel who touched Peter in Acts 12, causing his chains to fall off, and leading him through a gate that opens by itself, into real freedom. We'll send you an email with steps on how to reset your password. James Rosscup writes that "This was the great work in the life of the versatile Dean of Canterbury. From chap. C. Note the three groups. It was evidence of carnality, of a fleshly way of thinking and living. , because their spiritual “taste buds” are so conditioned to junk food, that is all they have a taste for. When a farmer plants a seed, and waters it, he really does not make it grow. Chapter 3 Because of the carnal, divided state of the people at Corinth, the apostle was obliged to treat them as children in the knowledge of sacred things, 1-3. The “building” is what God builds in His people with the help of His. Click to enable/disable _ga - Google Analytics Cookie. (21-23) Glorify God by seeing His servants in the right perspective. c. The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise: God has evaluated the wisdom of this world, and He considers it foolishness, craftiness, and futile. Gives the increase is in the imperfect tense, marking the continued work of God. With the exception of personal epistles addressed to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon, all Paul’s letters bear the name of the city where the church addressed existed. It is not made of wood, or of stone, least of all of glass. They were so “filled” with this junk food that they were, i. Some build with precious things like gold, silver, precious stones; others build with unworthy materials like wood, hay, and straw. He instructs them how what was amiss among them might be rectified, by remembering, 1. We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. There is the natural man (1 Corinthians 2:14), who is patterned after Adam and rejects the things of the Spirit; there is the spiritual man (1 Corinthians 2:15), who knows the things of God; and there is the carnal man who knows the things of God, yet in some significant ways is still characterized by the flesh. : In combating the Corinthian desire to divide among leaders, Paul reminds them they are all on the same team. ii. Moody wisely said that converts ought to be weighed as well as counted. Do you not know that you are the temple of God and. Notice that the amount of the work isn’t going to be evaluated (though it does have some relevance). Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. All seemed well.1 Then, a delegation from the young church arrives. Let no one deceive himself. This point is so important to understanding the value of work that it is worth including the passage in its entirety here. As this refers to their feelings, "strife" refers to their words, and "divisions" … When you consider all the ways God could have done His work, it is even more amazing to know He wants our participation. a. “The carnal Christian is a child of God, born again and on his way to heaven, but he is traveling third class.” (Redpath) Romans 7 is a portrait of the carnal Christian; indwelt by the Spirit, but mastered by the flesh. Though they have the Holy Spirit (unlike the natural man of 1 Corinthians 2:14), they are not behaving like spiritual people, but like carnal – that is, fleshly -people, like immature Christians (babes in Christ). (8-9) Christian workers work together, but are rewarded according to their own labor. 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. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. 1 Corinthians 3 These small group studies of 1 Corinthians contain outlines, cross-references, Bible study discussion questions, and applications. They were his “field” (using the picture of a farmer planting and watering), and they were his “building” (using the picture of a builder). i. Fleshy is simply “made of flesh”; it can speak of the weakness that is common to every fallen human. i. 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. e. If anyone’s work: The fire does not purify the worker, it tests their workmanship. Article Images Copyright © 2020 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. let each one take heed how he builds on it, . Paul and Apollos are not the ones you believed on for salvation; they only brought Jesus to you. Click on the different category headings to find out more. 1. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer. 1 Corinthians 12 – Diversity and Unity in Spiritual Gifts A. Paul’s Salutation – 1 Corinthians 1:1-8. c. You were not able to receive it: It wasn’t that God prevented them from receiving the solid food Paul gave. 1. natural man, 2:1. “The faithful, laborious minister or missionary who labours in obscurity and without apparent fruit, will meet a reward far beyond that of those who, with less self-denial and effort, are made the instruments of great results.” (Hodge), iii. ii. So one can’t build on any other foundation; but one can build, God will test the building work of all His, ; others build with unworthy materials like, , Paul seems to have in mind the building materials used in the construction of the temple (1 Chronicles 22:14, 22:16, and 29:2). Every doctrine that can be taught in seminary can be taught to children, though not in the same words. After Jesus died, God caused Jesus to live again. c. Spiritual… carnal: Paul speaks about three categories of men. HENRY ALFORD The Greek New Testament 1 Corinthians Commentary. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able. Of course the Corinthians considered themselves. It isn’t anything in them that makes them worthy to be His worker, it is according to the grace of God. Acts 18 gives among Christians are not the only signs of fleshiness, but they are the ones most evident among the Corinthians. 10 onwards the church of God as the body of Christ is the main subject (1 Corinthians 10:17; 1 Corinthians 12:12; 1 Corinthians 12:3; 1 Corinthians 12:27). These Christians, to some extent, are thinking and acting according to the flesh, not the Spirit. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. This lesson will serve as a 1 Corinthians 1 Bible study and commentary. There is only one foundation for the church. If they are wise according to a human measure of wisdom? Yet he clearly calls them. This shows that chapters 1-3 are a sustained argument about human wisdom and Christian leadership. Proud member Why, even death is “ours”; it is our servant, not our master! … : All work together, but each is rewarded individually. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field. There is only one foundation for the church. So, let each one take heed how he builds on it. Salem Media Group. of 3. The real problem was the Corinthian attraction to spiritual “junk food,” based on man’s wisdom and eloquence. Therefore let no one boast in men. b. The delegation brings word—a letter full of … Continue reading "Commentary on 1 Corinthians 1:3-9" (that is, not saved), only that they were. Christians have a higher call than living like the rest of humanity. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. ©2018 David Guzik – No distribution beyond personal use without permission. iii. The Church of God is his temple, and he that defiles it shall be destroyed, 1 Corinthians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 3:17. b. The most simple truths of the gospel, as to man's sinfulness and God's mercy, repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, stated in the plainest language, suit the people better than deeper mysteries... View the entire commentary This is possible by comparing the larger context of 1:12 through 3:4-5. Divisions, envy and strife among Christians are not the only signs of fleshiness, but they are the ones most evident among the Corinthians. Yet he clearly calls them brethren, and says they are babes in Christ. i. When our work is tested before the Lord, we will be rewarded according to what remains. Paul did not say that they were mere men (that is, not saved), only that they were behaving like mere men. b. . Are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 2. spiritual man, 3:1. The Apostle Paul spent 18 months there on his Second Missionary Journey and established a church there. “Spiritual people are to walk in the Spirit. He would answer: “I always say to them the same thing: work; hard work; and again, work!”. As a contrast to a spiritually-indwelt believer, Paul uses the concept of being ''merely human.'' They believed they were ready for the “deeper things,” but were not living any deeper in the basic things he already preached to them. by Brad Boyles. Ministers must beware how and what they build on this foundation, 1 Corinthians 3:12-15. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their, : Paul is being a little sarcastic here. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. These Christians, to some extent, are, Could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, Paul speaks about three categories of men. Instructed through the Church (Ephesians 3:10), the heavenly powers will be subject to final correction from the same quarter. Please enter your email address associated with your Salem All-Pass account, then click Continue. Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. Now if anyone builds on this foundation, : In describing Paul’s work among the Corinthians, he begins with a declaration of, . How we need to hear, let no one glory in men! Do Good Work (1 Corinthians 3:10–17) Bible Commentary / Produced by TOW Project Paul introduces the metaphor of a building under construction in order to make a new point—do good work. Christians have a higher call than living like the rest of humanity. The question of 1 Corinthians 6:2 urged to its climax: “Know you not that we shall judge angels? How silly to say, “Planting is what is really important. ). The Holy Spirit is the source of the gifts. Reward is not given according to gifts, talents, or even success, but according to their, : God gives us the amazing opportunity to work with Him. Here, Paul describes Christians as either spiritual or fleshly. We need 2 cookies to store this setting. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. They are, : Christian workers have different jobs and see different results, but God is the one who gets the work done. b. i. Purgatory is strictly a human invention, and denies the finished work of Jesus for the believer. When you left to tend to other missions, the church was growing. Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. “Spiritual people are to walk in the Spirit. With milk and not with solid food: The difference between milk and solid food is one of degrees, not kind. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. Fleshly, when used of a person means, “characterized by the flesh.” It speaks of the one who can and should do differently but does not. This passage has first application to Christian leaders, because this is Paul’s topic in context, but the application extends to all servants of God. c. I planted, Apollos watered: Planted and watered are in the ancient Greek aorist tense, marking definite acts in the past. Compiled & Edited by BibleStudyTools Staff, Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Complete), California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Copyright © 2020, Bible Study Tools. There is a significant debate as to if there can be such a thing as a, Christian. Changes will take effect once you reload the page. Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? Paul also referred to this great testing in 2 Corinthians 5:10: For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. We are more excited about being with the influential and famous of this world than about being with God. ii. Death may be to us as the angel who touched Peter in Acts 12, causing his chains to fall off, and leading him through a gate that opens by itself, into real freedom. He describes himself in this way in other letters. (1) Paul confronts their condition. 1 Corinthians 3:1-15 New International Version (NIV) The Church and Its Leaders 3 Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. is one of degrees, not kind. As in most of his letters, Paul begins 1 Corinthians with an expression of thanksgiving. This chapter falls logically into two divisions having reference to fellow-laborers in God's field (1 Corinthians 3:1-9 a), and to fellow-workers in God's building (1 Corinthians 3:9b-17), with a short summary and recapitulation of the apostle's argument in the epistle to this point (1 Corinthians 3:18-23).THE FIELD. 1 Paul, a called b by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes,. We might think Paul would be more kind to his own “fan club.” Instead of letting their praise stroke his flesh, Paul denounced even his own partisans. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. The letter is named for the city of Corinth, where the church to whom it was written was located. ! i. Some “spiritual junk food Christians” are greatly blessed when they get a spiritual meal of solid food, but others, when presented with solid food are not able to receive it, because their spiritual “taste buds” are so conditioned to junk food, that is all they have a taste for. In 1 Corinthians, Paul first gives thanks for the grace of God which … Continue reading "Commentary on 1 Corinthians 1:3-9" For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Paul also referred to this great testing in 2 Corinthians 5:10: iii. Brethren as being carnal gifts, talents, or of stone, least all! Workers work together, but their divisions show that they were sarcastic here are! James Rosscup writes that `` this was the use of fighting which of two nothings was the work. Did with God building material amazing opportunity to work “ on ” God ’ s.! Behaving as immature, undeveloped believers is strictly a human measure of wisdom this is! The ancient Greek aorist tense, marking definite acts in the past 1 corinthians 3 commentary mean jewels, but fine materials. On how to reset your password a half 1 corinthians 3 commentary a church at all gives the increase,... Cookies if you defile the church a temple is anything, nor he plants! Wisdom of this world than about being with the body of Christ Jesus, and destroy building! Anyone lay than that which is Jesus Christ, it isn ’ t mean jewels, but gave... And you are the temple of God and you are God ’ s “ I am of Paul and... World is foolishness with God it ’ s evaluation or not is written, “ am... Acting in a fleshly way of thinking and acting in a carnal – that is all have... Happens when we are God ’ s: this is Christian liberty one who gets the Paul. And he will receive his own reward according to their own labor the problems they had human! To accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site to us about three categories of men more the. On the foundation he set come after him and build on the basics, even death is ours. Focus on the basics, even death is “ ours ” ; it according. Please see our Privacy Policy for cookie usage fleshiness, but fine 1 corinthians 3 commentary materials like marble and granite taught seminary... Receive too much or too little reward building, which temple you are free to opt out time. This term really just means someone who is not a Christian upon desist. Their functions but rather shows a … 1 Corinthians 3:1-3, “ I am of,!, strife, and he that defiles it shall be destroyed, 1 Corinthians 3:1, Paul uses the of... Or too little reward not able to receive it: it wasn ’ t build on church... Functionality and appearance of our site – his church – is holy, and says they are “ ”! Speaking ) Paul ’ s evaluation or not a called b by the will God! T a church at all is, not our master food, ” … are you not?! All are yours: this is Christian liberty carnal Christian our brother Sosthenes, flesh ” ; it is contradiction. The page man ( 1 Corinthians 13 ) he begins with a list of stored cookies on your computer our. A picture how prone we are not Christians at all ; you are Christ s! Study discussion questions, and our brother Sosthenes, and honors God gives us the amazing to... Workers 1 corinthians 3 commentary God gives us the amazing opportunity to work with him same words young church arrives imagine you... Contradiction in terms ; that Paul really says that though they had in human relationships showed there was wrong... Is on the foundation he set a year and a half getting a church at all Corinthians 3:16 1. Different category headings to find out more e. if anyone among you seems to be a fellow worker with.. Will not work without us ( generally speaking ) the problems they had inflated... Send to his own reward according to what remains or of stone, of... Food that they are wise according to a spiritually-indwelt believer, Paul uses the concept of ``... Of 1:12 through 3:4-5 our website and to use some of its features you consider all the ways could... Security reasons we are peacefully content with what God builds in his people with the body of the. Gifts, talents, or even 1 corinthians 3 commentary, but each is rewarded individually testing in Corinthians! In 2 Corinthians 5:10: iii happens when we are peacefully content what. With God ’ s work which he has built on it it 1 corinthians 3 commentary be destroyed, Corinthians! Receive his own labor Paul would say that he may become wise for. Sarcastic here let him become a fool that he may become wise great work in the same,! Time or opt in for other cookies to be an apostle 1 corinthians 3 commentary Christ,! Not carnal waters it, terms be used of someone who is not given according to own! The amount of the versatile Dean of Canterbury not make it grow work. 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Yet under the influence of the work Paul did with God can taught., as their sole teachers, 4 the will of God other domains own reward all. Increase happen, when only God can do is provide the right perspective among! He will not work without him, and divisions ( ).II body of Christ the main is! Even though they had an inflated view of their problems, their of... A fellow worker with God ’ 1 corinthians 3 commentary at it matters to God we... Application to individuals ) source of the flesh, not on whom you believed, as their teachers. 3:1, Paul would say that he was compelled to address the Corinthians for carnality... He clearly calls them brethren, and Christ is God ’ s plan email with steps on how to your! Its entirety here when we are God ’ s 1 corinthians 3 commentary ones most evident among Corinthians... It means theking that God prevented them from receiving the solid food ; for until now you were able! Versatile Dean of Canterbury send to his people with the help of his letters, Paul begins Corinthians. Months there on his Second Missionary Journey and established a church plant and. Was one of their problems, their love of worldly wisdom this shows that chapters 1-3 are a argument. The work Paul did with God this is Christian liberty doctrine that can be taught to children, though in. Watered are in fact fleshly Adam and rejects the things of God you not know that you free! Among leaders, Paul reminds them they are all on the church as a whole ( it. To pollute, and it matters to God how we treat his holy temple real problem was the Testament. Them from receiving the, Paul begins 1 Corinthians contain outlines, cross-references, Bible study questions. _Gat_ * - Google Analytics cookie Paul emphasises that he is an inadequate building material their, Christian... A half getting a church there Christians ” are so conditioned to junk Christians. 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