Bible Commentaries
1 Corinthians 3

Verse 1

could not = was not able to.

speak . App-121 .

unto = to.

spiritual . Greek. pneumatikos. See 1 Corinthians 12:1 .

carnal . Greek. sarkikos, as in Romans 7:14 , but the texts read sarkines. See 2 Corinthians 3:3 .

in . App-104 .

Christ . App-98 .

Verse 2

have fed you with = gave you . . . to drink (Greek. potizo) .

hitherto, &c . = ye were not as yet able to bear it. Instead of supplying the ellipsis with "to bear it", we might read "not as yet strong enough".

neither . Greek. oute or oude.

Verse 3

carnal. Greek. sarkikos. See 1 Corinthians 3:1 .Romans 7:14 .

among . App-104 .

envying . Greek. zelos. See Acts 5:17 .

strife . Greek. eris. See 1 Corinthians 1:11 .

divisions . dichoatasia. See Romans 16:17 . But the texts omit "and divisions".

as = according to. App-104 .

men = a man. App-123 .

Verse 4

while = whenever.

another . App-124 .

carnal . Greek. sarkikos, as in 1 Corinthians 3:3 ; but the texts read "men" ( anthropoi ).

Verse 5

ministers = servants. App-190 .

by = through. App-104 . 1 Corinthians 3:1 .

believed . App-150 .

the Lord . App-98 .

gave . See Ephesians 4:11 .

every man = each (one).

Verse 6

have planted = planted. See Acts 18:1-18 .

watered . Greek. potizo , as in 1 Corinthians 3:2 . See Acts 18:27 Acts 19:1 .

God . App-98 .

gave the increase = was causing it to grow. Imperf. because God's work was continuing, Paul's or any other's only temporary.

Verse 7

neither . . . neither . Greek. oute . . . oute.

any thing . Greek. neut. of tis . App-123 . Compare 2 Corinthians 3:5 .Galatians 1:2 , Galatians 1:6 ; Galatians 6:3 .

Verse 8

one = one thing. Both belong to the same company of servants, of whom God is the Master.

his own . Emph. Greek. idios.

according to . App-104 .

Verse 9

we . i.e. Paul and Sosthenes. See 1 Corinthians 1:1 .

labourers together with God = God's fellow-workers. The word "God" is in the genitive of possession ( App-17 ), as in the two other clauses of the verse. It is the Figure of speech Anaphora ( App-6 ), and the verse should read: "God's fellow-workers we are: God's husbandry, God's building, ye are. "Ministers are co-workers with one another, not with God, as though He were one of them. Were it so, "God" would be in the dative case.

labourers together with . Greek. sunergos. Occurs thirteen times. Three times as here, used generally; in all other cases used of individuals, Timothy, Titus, Luke, &c.

husbandry = tilled field. Greek. georgion. Only here. Compare Numbers 24:6 . Psalms 80:15 .

building . Greek. oikodome. Used in Matthew 24:1 .Mark 13:1 , Mar 13:2 ; 2 Corinthians 5:1 .Ephesians 2:21 , of an edifice. Elsewhere twelve times of the act of building, and translated "edifying", in a metaphorical sense.

Verse 10

grace . App-184 .

masterbuilder . Greek. architekton. Only here.

have . The texts omit.

foundation . Compare App-146 .

another . App-124 .

buildeth thereon . Greek. epoikodomeo. See Acts 20:32 .

take heed = see. App-133 .

Verse 11

no man = no one. Greek. oudeis.

than = beside. App-104 .

Jesus Christ . App-98 .

Verse 12

Now . = But.

if . App-118 .

any man = any one. Greek. tis . App-123 .

upon . App-104 .

hay . Greek. chortos. Translated twelve times "grass", twice "blade", Matthew 13:26 . Mark 4:28 . Only here rendered "hay". Note the Figure of speech Asyndeton ( App-6 ).

stubble . Greek. kalame. Only here. All these six things are perishable (1 Peter 1:7 ).

Verse 13

be made = become.

manifest . App-106 .

the day . i.e. the day of the Lord. See Acts 2:20 .

declare . Greek. deloo. See 1 Corinthians 1:11 .

revealed . App-106 .

by = in. App-104 .

try = test, or prove. Greek. dokimazo.

Verse 14

abide. Greek. meno . See p. 1511.

Verse 15

burned = burned up. Greek. katakaio. Compare Matthew 3:12 . Luk 3:17 . 2 Peter 3:10 .

suffer loss . Greek. zemioo. Elsewhere, Matthew 16:26 . Mark 8:36 . Luke 9:25 . 2 Corinthians 7:9 . Philippians 1:3 , Philippians 1:8 . He will Jose his reward. Compare 2 John 1:8 .

Verse 16

Know ye not . This expression occurs twelve times in Paul's epistles. Elsewhere, 1 Corinthians 5:6 ; 1 Corinthians 6:2 , 1 Corinthians 6:3 , 1 Corinthians 6:9 , 1 Corinthians 6:15 , 1Co 6:16 , 1 Corinthians 6:19 ; 1 Corinthians 9:13 , 1 Corinthians 9:24 .Romans 6:16 ; Romans 11:2 . One other occurance is in James 4:4 . It conveys a delicate reproach.

Know . App-133 .

Temple . Greek. naos. See Matthew 23:16 . There is no art. because naos is the predicate.

Spirit . The Holy Spirit. App-101 .

in = among. App-104 . The Spirit dwells in the shrine formed by the collective body of believers. Compare Ephesians 2:22 .

Verse 17

defile . Greek. phth eiro. Same word as "destroy" below. Occurs also in 1 Corinthians 15:33 . 2Co 7:2 ; 2 Corinthians 11:3 .Ephesians 4:22 .Jude 1:10 . Revelation 19:2 (corrupt). The word "mar" will suit both clauses. The man who mars God's Temple by introducing divisions, and the wisdom that is not from above (James 3:15 ), will himself be marred (1 Corinthians 3:15 ).

him = this one. Greek. houtos. Emphatic.

holy . Greek. hagios .

which = and such, i.e. holy, or separated. Omit " temple " in the last clause.

Verse 18

no man = no one. Greek. medeis.

deceive . Greek. exapatao. See Romans 7:11 .

world . App-129 .

fool . Greek. moros, as in 1 Corinthians 1:25 , 1 Corinthians 1:27 .

that = in order that. Greek. hina.

be = become.

Verse 19

world . Greek. kosmos. App-129 .

foolishness . Greek. moria. See 1 Corinthians 1:18 .

with . App-104 .

is = has been.

taketh . Greek. drassomai. Only here. Found in the Septuagint, but not in Job 5:13 , from which this is quoted.

craftiness . Greek. punourgia. See Luke 20:23 . This is the only time Job is quoted in the NT.

Verse 20

The LORD . No art. App-98 .

knoweth . App-132 .

thoughts = reasonings.

vain . Greek. mataios. See Acts 14:15 . Quoted from Psalms 94:11 .

Verse 21

Therefore = So then.

glory = boast, as in 1 Corinthians 1:29 .

Verse 22

life . Greek. zoe. App-170 .

present . Greek. enistemi. See Romans 8:38 .

to come = about to be. Greek. mello .