Bible Commentaries
1 Corinthians 3

Verse 1

1Co 3:1

1 Corinthians 3:1

And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiri­tual, but as unto carnal,—Paul had told them that they were dependent on the inspired apostles for the knowledge of the truth by which they might become spiritual beings. He could not speak unto them as though they were taught by the Spirit, but as though they were fleshly, or led by the impulse of the flesh.

as unto babes in Christ.—Not grown, were undeveloped under the instruction of the Spirit. As the spiritual element in them is developed under the instruction of the Spirit the flesh loses its rule, but they had learned slowly, had not grown in spirituality as they should have done, so he chides them that they are yet carnal when they ought to be spiritual. He uses the term here in a modified sense. [The term is sometimes used in a good sense. (1 Peter 2:2). Here, how­ever, it is taken in a bad sense, as referring to the understand­ing. For we must be children in malice, but not in under­standing. (1 Corinthians 14:20; Ephesians 4:14).]

Verses 1-4

1Co 3:1-4

THE SPIRITUALLY IMMATURE

1 Corinthians 3:1-4

1 Corinthians 3:1 And I, brethren, - Paul the apostle addressing the weak, immature carnal Christians of Corinth as brethren in Christ. They were wrong on some points but they were still brethren. could not speak. unto you as unto spiritual, - Reverting back to the subject matter of 1 Corinthians 1:10-17, not to 1:18-2:16. Thus spiritual does not mean the miraculously endowed, as in 1 Corinthians 2:15, but spiritually minded, spiritually mature, or Spirit directed by the revelation delivered through spiritual (miraculously endowed) men. To be spiritual in this sense is to be mature enough to receive and practice the full revelation - it is to do the will of God, the opposite of carnality. While he obviously has reference to a condition of the past (1 Corinthians 3:2), the same or similar condition still prevailed (1 Corinthians 3:3). but as unto carnal, - The spiritually immature, those ruled by the flesh rather than by the Spirit (through revelation). Not the same as the natural man of 1 Corinthians 2:14. Neither the words nor the meaning is the same. There the meaning is one without revelation; here it means made of flesh or fleshy, that is, immature, the opposite of spiritual even as unto babes in Christ. - Mere infants in Christ (NIV). This seems to be set in opposition to the carnal. Thus the carnal are the immature. Revelation had been delivered unto them by Spirit-filled men, but rather than follow it they were following men (1:10-17), the weak and fallible philosophies which had their origin in the flesh. They thus fell short of what God had made it possible for them to be (1 Corinthians 14:20; Hebrews 5:12-14; 1 Peter 2:1-2; Ephesians 4:14-16).

1 Corinthians 3:2 I have fed you with milk, - A metaphor for the elementary aspects of the gospel or the first principles of the oracles of God (Hebrews 5:12). The sincere milk of the word (1 Peter 2:2). It is a condition characterizing one who is unskilled in the word of righteousness (Hebrews 5:13). and not with meat: ­ The more advanced truths pertaining to the gospeL This is the state charac­ terized by one who has his spiritual senses trained by practice to discern right from wrong (Hebrews 5:14). for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, For you were not yet ready for it (NIV). Everyone who enters the kingdom by the new birth is an infant in the faith (1 Peter 2:2). This was a natural condition at the time of their conversion, at which time Paul could not give them solid food. neither yet now are ye able. - They had remained in the infant stage, immature, carnaL They should have grown (2 Peter 3:18) so as to leave the milk diet and progress to the meat. While there is nothing in all the world sweeter and more delightful than an infant in his infancy, few things are sadder than for an adult in age and body to have the mind, emotions, and disposition of a child. So it is with a Christian (Hebrews 5:12-14; Hebrews 6:1). But to make it even sadder for the Christian, the physical person who remains a child cannot help his retardation, but a Christian re­ mains a child by neglect or refusal to grow. His immaturity is willful.

1 Corinthians 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: - They still had the nature of flesh, that is, fleshly or governed by the flesh. Their conduct was such as characterized men ruled by the dictates of flesh rather than by the Spirit. The division among them, as discussed in 1:10-17, identified them more with the world than with the Lord. For -- The practice of things which proved their fleshly nature things which belong to the world, not to spirituality. envying, ­ Jealousy (ASV). Zeal carried to the illegitimate extremes, probably here to the point of causing strife. and strife, - Quarreling (NIV), conflict, or contentious disputes. Both envy and strife belong to the works of the flesh, not the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:19-23). and divisions, And forming different parties (Beck). The factions re­ sulting from envy and strife (1 Corinthians 1:10-17). Omitted by the ASV and most other versions because of weak manuscript support. are ye not carnal, Fleshly as in the early part of the v. and walk as men? - And do ye not walk after the manner of men (ASV) or like men (NASB), men governed by the flesh rather than by the Spirit through revelation? This gives us a divine definition of what Paul means by carnal (fleshly) in this verse.

1 Corinthians 3:4 For while one saith, - What follows proves Paul’s charge in 1 Corinthians 3:3. I am of Paul; - A disciple or follower of Paul (1 Corinthians 1:12-17). and another, Of another party. I am of Apollos; A follower of Apollos. While neither Paul nor Apollos (1 Corinthians 4:6) were the actual men the Corinthians were following (and that with jealous strife, 1 Corinthians 3:3), they are used to illustrate the folly of following men and thus di­ viding the body of Christ. Such emulation and strife characterize fleshly led people, not those following divine revelation. are ye not carnal? - Are ye not men (ASV), are you not mere men (NIV)? That is, are you not men governed by the flesh when your emulation of men leads to strife, to the party spirit, and ultimately to division? See 1 Corinthians 3:3.

Verse 2

1Co 3:2

1 Corinthians 3:2

I fed you with milk,—Babes are fed with milk, food suited to the digestive powers of their weak and helpless condition.

not with meat; —After they grow stronger they are fed with stronger, more strengthening food, suited to their infantile state, and not with stronger spiritual food suited to a greater spiritual growth.

for ye were not yet able to bear it:—Sufficient time had elapsed for them to have reached a more vigorous and health­ful growth, but they had not improved and grown in the spiri­tual life as they should, so were babes unfit to receive the stronger spiritual food. He had treated them with tenderness, had not been chargeable to them as he might have been when laboring among them, and had not fully impressed on them the obligation to deny themselves all fleshly lusts and appe­tites, and sacrifice all things for the sake of Christ.

nay, not even now are ye able:—Men fail to improve them­selves so that when they ought to be skilled in the word, eat meat and grow strong, able to bear heavy burdens and help others, they are yet weak babes, needing themselves to be nursed on milk and carried by others. This was the condition of these Corinthians; and many yet always remain babes to be nursed, fed, and carried by others.

[Christ is at the same time milk to babes and strong meat to those who are of full age (Hebrews 5:13-14), the same truth of the gospel is administered to both, but so as to suit their capacity. Hence it is the part of the wise teacher to accommo­date himself to the capacity of those whom he has undertaken to instruct, so that in dealing with the weak and ignorant, he begins with such principles as they are able to understand, and does not go higher than they are able to follow. (Mark 4:33; John 16:12). At the same time these principles will contain everything necessary to be known, no less than the further advanced lessons that are communicated to those that are stronger. Some, however, present Christ at such a dis­tance, and cover over with so many disguises, that they con­stantly keep their hearers in destructive ignorance.]

Verse 3

1Co 3:3

1 Corinthians 3:3

for ye are yet carnal:—They had not grown from under the rule of fleshly passions. [This word has a wide scope. It is not confined to sexual, or even sensual sins, but covers those tempers and dispositions that express themselves in strife and dissensions.]

for whereas there is among you jealousy and strife, are ye not carnal, and do ye not walk after the manner of men?— This refers to the parties noticed in 1:11, 12. These all grow out of the predominance of the works of the flesh. Paul gives the natural fruits of the flesh: “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: fornication, uncleanness, lascivi­ousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties, envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like.” (Galatians 5:19-21). Where these exist, the flesh rules. Had they been spiritual, they would have looked to Christ and not been partisans of men.

Verse 4

1Co 3:4

1 Corinthians 3:4

For when one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos;—Their divisions and strifes had arisen concerning the teachers that had labored among them, especially over Paul and Apollos. Neither of these countenanced this parti­sanship in his favor. An idea has gone abroad that there was great rivalry between Paul and Apollos that gave rise to the parties in the church at Corinth; but there is no ground what­ever for this conclusion, for Paul always speaks of Apollos with the highest esteem and affection. At the time of the writing of this epistle, he was with Paul, or in easy reach of him, and knew of his writing, for Paul says: “But as touching Apollos the brother, I besought him much to come unto you with the brethren: and it was not at all his will to come now; but he will come when he shall have opportunity.” (1 Corinthians 16:12). Paul was writing to condemn the divisions that had grown up concerning him and Apollos and desired Apollos to go help correct the evils.

are ye not men?—He places before them the truth that divi­sions and parties, even for inspired men, are sinful, and grow out of the lusts and passions of the flesh.

Verse 5

1Co 3:5

1 Corinthians 3:5

What then is Apollos? and what is Paul?—What posi­tion does Apollos and Paul occupy that they should divide over them? [From the answer given it is implied that the par­tisanship of their followers does not accord with the spirit of the leaders they have chosen, and is condemned as carnality.]

Ministers through whom ye believed;—Here is an emphatic statement that Apollos and Paul were nothing else than mere ministers, servants of God. [They are thereby designated as instruments in God’s hands for the production of faith, and such they were in their function as preachers and teachers of the truth.]

and each as the Lord gave to him.—Each ministered as the Lord gave him ability and knowledge, so God, not his servant, is the leader to follow.

Verses 5-9

1Co 3:5-9

THE PROPER FUNCTION OF PAUL AND APOLLOS

1 Corinthians 3:5-9

1 Corinthians 3:5-9 These verses give an additional reason why it is fleshly rather than spiritual to follow men. It is not the function of a preacher to form parties around himself or to encourage others to follow him in any way. He is to preach Christ and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2). When the gospel is believed and obeyed, men will follow Christ (John 1:29-46). As it is with all ministers of the gospel, Paul and Apollos had different functions within the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-26). Paul planted; Apollos watered; God gave the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6). They both had their own particular function and each function was vital to the body, but neither was the body nor was either indispensable to it. Though each had his own function, they were one within the body (1 Corinthians 3:8). Each was doing what God made him to do. They were therefore not superior to o~~er members of the body. Each member, whether in apostolic times or today, has its own function which is as vital to the body as that of any other member. They were all laborers together (1 Corinthians 3:9). Thus there was no justification for forming parties around Paul or Apollos or any other member.

1 Corinthians 3:5-9 ~Who then is Paul. and who is Apollos. but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted. Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing. neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.

1 Corinthians 3:5 Who - What (ASV). then is Paul, and who is Apollos, - The answer: they are servants who have administered the word. And while they can be loved and respected as instruments through whom the message of faith was delivered, they are not to be followed as masters or made heads of parties, as in 1 Corinthians 3:4 and 1 Corinthians 1:12-17. Christ is the only head of the church (Ephesians 1:22-23) and it is the highest sort of presumption for man to lay claim to that position. but ministers - That is, servants (in contrast to masters). by whom ye believed, - through whom you came to believe (NIV). They, like all other members of the body, were only fill­ ing the function to which God had called them. even as the Lord gave to every man? - As the Lord assigned to each (RSV). They were merely doing the work God had assigned to them. The same should characterize every true member of the body. Paul is not here minimizing the work of preaching; rather he is showing that it is a function of certain members of the body. It takes every member to make up the body, and the function of one member is no more important than that of another. Every member should be doing what God set him in the body to do (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:12-31). Thus no member is to honor another member above measure (that is, to follow him or become his disciple), regardless of the function of that member. Whether one plants or waters is of little significance. This shows very forcefully that preachers are servants of the word, not sources of power and authority. Every member of the body is engaged equally in the work of the body, namely, to glorify God by preaching the soul-saving gospel. It is therefore a departure from God’s order of things for one member to follow, belong to, or call himself after another member, even if that member happens to be a great leader, such as Luther or Calvin. In Christianity the great are distinguished only by their service (Matthew 20:25-26). To form a party around a servant of the Lord is to dishonor both the servant and his Lord.

1 Corinthians 3:6 I have planted (See 8:5-15) I planted (ASV). He sowed the seed (the word of God) That is, he was the first to preach the gospel to them (Acts 18:1-18). Paul considered his primary mission to preach where Christ had not been named (Romans 15:19-20). Apollos watered; - After Paul had planted, after they had received the word into their hearts, Apollos irrigated and cultivated it that is, he instructed the new converts in the way of righteousness, thus leading them on toward maturity (Acts 18:24 to Acts 19:1). Again Paul’s purpose here is to show that each has a different function in the body of Christ, and that each function is equally essential. Who can say that planting is more important than watering? Both functions are necessary, and both men are filling their God-given function. What is true here of Paul and Apollos is true of every Christian - each has a function to fill in God’s divine order of things. but God gave the increase. - But God was causing the growth (NASV). If God had not given the seed, the soil, and the sun­ shine, both the planting and the watering would have been in vain. The seed would neither germinate nor grow without life from God. So it is in the preaching of the gospel (Is. 55:10-11). It is the function of men to preach the word and cultivate the new converts in righteousness, but without the power and grace of God (by which the gospel is given) there can be no salvation. All the glory thus belongs to God who gives, not to men who plant and water.

1 Corinthians 3:7 So then - Introduces a conclusion that follows from v. 6. neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; - Neither the planter nor the waterer deserves credit (BV). In v. 5 he had raised the question, "What is Paul and what is Apollos?" He answered: they are ministers or servants who de­ serve no special honor. While they are vital links in God’s chain, the ones who plant and water are only serving the function God gave them. In relation to God’s work of providing the scheme of human redemption, giving the seed and its power to grow, they are comparatively nothing. Men can proclaim the divine message of salvation, the life-giving truth, but they are powerless in relation to its origin, source, power, and contents - they had absolutely nothing to do with designing, producing, or giving power to the gospel (Ephesians 2:8; Galatians 1:6-11). It is God’s power to save (Romans 1:16), not man’s. Thus men who proclaim the marvelous message of truth deserve no praise above other members of the body and should certainly not be followed as party leaders. but God that giveth the increase. - But only God, who makes things grow (NIV). God is all in all (1 Corinthians 15:28; Ephesians 4:6). All should therefore follow, praise, and glorify Him (1:31) rather than another laborer in the vineyard. Party makers dethrone God and give to mere men the honor that is due Him. This makes the party spirit, the exalting of men above that which is written (1 Corinthians 4:6), a despicable thing in the eyes of both God and all faithful Christians who understand its ramifications.

1 Corinthians 3:8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: - Not di­vided; they are a unit, working together for the same cause. They are ministers (1 Corinthians 3:5) serving different functions (1 Corinthians 3:6) but are members of the one body (1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 4:4-6). While each has his own function, when each serves the purpose for which he was set in the body, the body functions as a unit. Thus each member is of equal value, even though no two members have the same work to do. It is therefore a distortion of the body to follow one of the members or to make him the head of a party, thus separating him and his followers from the divine head. All who serve the function given to them by God are one that is, they all together make up the one body. and every man - Whether Paul, Apollos, or anyone else who is a member of the body. shall receive his own reward - Though they are one, each will be paid his wages independently he will be rewarded for his own labor (function) and not for that of another. The planter will receive the planter’s pay; the waterer will receive the reward of watering. The reward is based upon their labor, not their function. according to his own labour. - In keeping with the service rendered or his faithfulness in doing the work God has assigned to him. Each man is rewarded in pro­ portion to his work, not by the value of his function, or his superior or inferior position in the body, or the successful increase produced by his labor (God alone is responsible for the increase, 1 Corinthians 3:6). The results of his labor may be lost and yet the laborer rewarded (see vv. 12-15). All cannot serve equally in the same function, but all can serve equally acceptably in their God assigned function and thus be equally rewarded.

1 Corinthians 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: - For we are God’s fellow­ workers (NASV). We are not divided into parties (1 Corinthians 3:8). Rather we are, as different members of the same body, co-workers in God’s service (d. 2 Corinthians 6:1). The progres­ sion in the clause should be noted: (1) We are laborers - Tillers of God’s soil, workers in His vineyard, soldiers in His army, employees in His service, citizens in His kingdom. (2) We are laborers together - a unit (1 Corinthians 3:8) functioning as a body in His divine service. And in a body, while each member serves its own function, no member functions apart from the body as a whole. When a member functions prop­ erly, the whole body functions through it. (3) Weare laborers together with God ­ God is over all. While every member fills the function God assigns to him, he fills it for God, not for himself. ye are God’s husbandry, - You are God’s field (NASV), God’s vineyard. The metaphor here looks back to the discussion in vv. 6·9, where Paul plants in God’s field and Apolios waters in God’s field but God alone gives the in­ crease. ye are God’s building. - The building of God, His house, His temple, His church (1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 2:21; 1 Timothy 3:15; 1 Peter 2:5). The metaphor here anticipates what follows in vv. 10-11, where the structure is built on the foundation of Jesus Christ. The aim here, and in the whole of 1 Corinthians 3:6-11, is to get the Corinthians to lift their eyes from the laborers to God. The field and the building belong to Him, not to the la­ borers. It is degrading to the exalted position of God for them to follow or call them­ selves after Paul and Apol1os, who are merely workers in God’s field, builders in His house. Honor should not be given to the workers (who are comparatively nothing) but to God, the designer and owner (who is everything).

Verse 6

1Co 3:6

1 Corinthians 3:6

I planted,—Paul first preached the word of God. which is the seed of the kingdom (Luke 8:11), among them, and planted the church there.

Apollos watered; —Apollos taught afterward, encouraging the disciples, so watered. Others came in likely under his teaching. A seed is sometimes planted, but germinates or grows and bears fruit only as it is watered and cultivated.

but God gave the increase.-—While each had done the part for which he was fitted by God, and to which God had called him, God gave the increase. [Paul’s generous reference to Apollos here, as following up the work which he himself had begun, is a rebuke of the Corinthian party spirit, which set them up as rivals.]

Verse 7

1Co 3:7

1 Corinthians 3:7

So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth;—The work that each did as servants of God was necessary to the growth of the plant, but all the power that produced the fruit come from God.

but God that giveth the increase.—God does what is accom­plished through the provisions he makes and the agents he uses, both in the natural and spiritual world. He gave the in­crease through the works of these, his servants, as he gives in­crease of fruit in the material world.

Verse 8

1Co 3:8

1 Corinthians 3:8

Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one:— They are one in position and relation. They are servants through whom God works. They are equal—not one to be exalted above another. Neither is entitled to any credit.

but each shall receive his own reward according to his own labor.—They only do what God directs them to do, and each shall be rewarded according to his faithfulness in doing the will of God.

Verse 9

1Co 3:9

1 Corinthians 3:9

For we are God’s fellow-workers:—The apostles and faithful teachers are God’s fellow workers, working together with him, doing and teaching what he directs.

ye are God’s husbandry,—The church is God’s husbandry, is the field planted with the seed God gave, and is cultivated and nourished by God’s servants. [This metaphor is frequently used in the Scripture which shows that it plainly rests upon a far-reaching harmony of things natural and spiritual. (See Isaiah 5:1-7; Matthew 13:3-30; Luke 13:6-9; John 15:1-6). All agriculture is man working together with God. For every pious farmer feels that his harvest is a result and reward pro­portionate to his own toil and skill, and yet altogether God’s gift to him. Just so, the servant of the Lord places the word of God in its appropriate soil, the human heart, and from the word, in virtue of its life-giving power, there springs up a fruitful plant of an obedient believer and a devoted Christian life.]

God’s building.—The church is the temple of God, builded of living stones. (1 Peter 2:5). Jesus Christ is the chief cor­nerstone. God is fitting the stones and placing them into the building through his workmen. God builds the house, and through the Spirit dwells in it. As we give honor, not to the workmen who execute, but to him who planned and provided for the building, so the honor for this spiritual house belongs to God.

Verse 10

1Co 3:10

1 Corinthians 3:10

According to the grace of God which was given unto me, as a wise master-builder I laid a foundation;—According to the gifts and spiritual blessings bestowed on Paul as a wise master builder under God, he laid the foundation of the church at Corinth by preaching that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. He first preached that truth in Corinth.

and another buildeth thereon. But let each man take heed how he buildeth thereon.—He warns every one to take heed, be careful how he builds. There is danger by false teaching, or false methods, of building unworthy material upon the foundation which Paul had laid.

Verses 10-11

1Co 3:10-11

THE BUILDING AND ITS FOUNDATION

1 Corinthians 3:10-11

1 Corinthians 3:10-11 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master-builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, - In His love God gave me a work to do (Beck). The grace extended to him in his call to the apostleship (1 Corinthians 1:1), in the opportunities to preach the gospel where Christ had not been named (Romans 15:20), and the vast natural and acquired abilities he possessed (15:10). Paul always recognized and praised God as the ultimate source of all things pertaining to human redemption. as a wise master-builder, As a skilled and experienced architect (Exodus 35:10), he had preached the gospel and thereby followed heaven’s blueprint (Hebrews 8:5) in laying Christ as the foundation (1 Corinthians 3:11). I have laid the foundation, By preaching the gospel he had laid the foundation to God’s building, the church. Christ is the foundation upon which the whole structure of Christianity is built. As any architect knows, no structure is stronger than its foundation. No foundation, however, is more secure than Christ, the divine Son of God whose shed blood on the cross atones for the sins of the world (1 John 2:2). While the metaphor is changed, the point here is essentially the same as in 1 Corinthians 3:6 where he planted. and another buildeth thereon. - Another builds on his initial work of preaching the gospel. The same point as in Apollos watered in 1 Corinthians 3:6 but broadened here to include any Christian who works to build on the foundation laid by Paul. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. - Let each builder be careful that he builds in keeping with the foundation - that the building corresponds in quality with the foundation. No one can build on Christ by preaching another gospel (Galatians 1:6-9).

1 Corinthians 3:11 For other foundation - Another Christ or another gospel. There are many stones in the building (1 Peter 2:5), but there is and can be but one foundation (Acts 4:11; Ephesians 2:20; 2 Timothy 2:19; 1 Peter 2:6). Paul had laid the foundation in Corinth by preaching the gospel (1 Corinthians 3:10), but in reality the foundation he had laid had already been laid by God (Isaiah 28:16). can no man lay No man can lay and still be right, and still teach the truth. than that is laid. -Than the one that is already laid (Beck), namely, the one laid by God through Paul’s proclamation of the gospel. No other Christ, no other gospel, no other doctrine, no other plan can rightly be brought in alongside the Christ he preached (Acts 4:12). which is Jesus Christ. The true, tried, and precious stone (Isaiah 28:16), the rock upon which the church is built (Matthew 16:16-18). The central fact of Christianity is summed up in this: Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God (Matthew 16:16; John 6:68-69; Romans 1:4; Romans 10:9-10), God incarnated in human flesh (Matthew 1:23; John 1:14). Remove this fact from Christianity and the church will crumble into dust. Other institutions may exist apart from this fact, that is they may be built upon something other than Christ, but not the church of God. It is a the­ ology of folly to say, as Catholicism does, that the church is built on Peter. Not so! Christ is the foundation laid by God and preached by Paul, and no other is permissible. or possible if the building is the house of God. God’s foundation can neither be altered nor replaced.

Verse 11

1Co 3:11

1 Corinthians 3:11

For other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.—There is but one foundation on which a church of Christ can be laid. Paul had laid that foun­dation when he preached in Corinth that Jesus is the Christ. When Peter confessed his faith in Jesus, saying: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God,” Jesus said unto him: “Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:16-18). There is controversy as to what constitutes the rock on which Christ would build his church; but Paul says that Christ is the only foundation that can be laid.

Verse 12

1Co 3:12

1 Corinthians 3:12

But if any man buildeth on the foundation—The church is compared to a building into which may be builded both good and bad material.

gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, stubble;—The mem­bers built into the church are compared to these two classes of material.

Verses 12-15

1Co 3:12-15

TESTED BY FIRE

1 Corinthians 3:12-15

1 Corinthians 3:12-15 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;--Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

1 Corinthians 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation The foundation of Christ (see notes on 1 Corinthians 3:10-11). Gold,. silver, precious stones, - Metaphors for building materials (converts) which would stand the test of fire (1 Corinthians 3:13). That is, they represent work that is durable (1 Corinthians 3:14), true converts who would continue to mature and stand firm in time of trial (1 Peter 2:5). wood, hay, stubble; - Metaphors for individuals (or churches) who fall away from the faith because they are not of the substance to stand true when testing time comes. They represent works (converts) who are lost (1 Corinthians 3:15) to the foundation. It must be kept in mind that a preacher or teacher (indeed, any Christian) is responsible for the message he preaches but he is not responsible for the reception or rejection of it. He who builds on the foundation of Christ must preach the truth, but when truth is preached it falls into different kinds of hearts (Matthew 13:1-8; Matthew 18-23). Some fall away and are lost. Thus the teacher loses his labor if his converts tum out to be wood, hay, or stubble. He is to build on the foundation by preaching the same truth Paul preached. If some of the results (the converts out of which the building is constructed) tum out to be perishable, the work he puts into building is lost, but this neither affects his salvation nor his message (1 Corinthians 3:15).

1 Corinthians 3:13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: The true quality of his work (his converts, the living stones out of which he has built on the foundation of Christ, see v. 12) will be determined. for the day shall declare it, - The day of adversity will expose its true nature. Most translations and many commentators see this as the day of judgment (and unquestionably everything will come to light on that day), but the context strongly favors the testings which come in this life - a testing of the fire of time and temptation. because it shall be revealed by fire; - Because the fire will reveal it and test it (Beck). It is difficult to determine the antecedent of "it," whether it is day or testing. I have concluded with Beck that it is testing. This fits the context better when it is concluded that the day is the day of adversity or af­ fliction. and the fire Metaphor for testing, trial, affliction, or persecution. shall

try every man’s work of what sort it is. Will test the quality of each man’s work (NASV). The fire will consume (destroy) the perishable (the wood, hay, stubble of v. 12) but will only refine or purge the durable (gold, silver, precious stones) (Malachi 4:1; 1 Peter 4:12).

1 Corinthians 3:14 If any man’s work abide - If it survives the test of fire (v. 13). which he hath built thereupon, - Built upon the foundation of Christ (vv. 11-12). he shall receive a reward. The joyful wages of an abiding work (2 In. 1-4), the delight of knowing that one’s labor has not been in vain (Philippians 2:16).

1 Corinthians 3:15 If any man’s work shall be burned,--If it does not stand the test of fire (1 Corinthians 3:13); if his converts (the building stones of the house of God) do not remain faithful unto the end. he shall suffer loss: He will be the loser (BV). He will lose his work. If a teacher’s work endures (v. 14), he receives wages; if it does not endure, he is fined - that is, something is taken from him. In the former case he gains; in the latter, he loses. That is, his labor in converting will be lost (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Galatians 4:11; 1 Thessalonians 3:5). but he himself shall be saved; A worker’s salvation does not depend upon the faithfulness of those he reaches with the truth, but upon his own personal relationship with Christ and his faithfulness in proclaiming the divine message (1 Corinthians 2:2). yet so as by fire. Yet so as through fire (ASV). Or perhaps better, "Though it will be like going through fire" (Beck). Not only must a teacher’s work be tried by fire, the teacher himself must also be tested. If he stands true (in the face of his losses), if he is faithful unto death (Revelation 2:10), he proves himself to be gold, silver, precious stones, saved by safely passing through the fire (d. Judges 1:23), although by his loss he suffers difficulties. To apply 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 to Catholicism’s fires of purgatory is flatly false. In the first place, the fire here is figurative - it is a metaphor for passing through difficulty. Second, the Bible knows absolutely nothing of such a purgatory nor the vast theological network from which it is deduced. Finally and more to the point, nothing is here said of purging one from sins, but rather the testing (danger) one must face when he passes through the fire that is the difficult or narrow escape the teacher may experience when he loses his work. Every Christian (both the teacher and the taught) is tested, and both Scripture and experience teach us that some endure and some do not. Those who endure are made stronger by the ordeal (James 1:3); others are destroyed by it.

Verse 13

1Co 3:13

1 Corinthians 3:13

each man’s work shall be made manifest:—Every man’s work will be tried with fire, and so its character will be re­vealed or made known. If tried by fire, the wood, hay, and stubble will be burned up.

for the day shall declare it, because it is revealed in fire;— There is some doubt as to what day is meant. It is a day of testing to the unfaithful that is coming whether in this world or in the world to come. Some think it is the day of persecu­tion that will come upon the church as a fiery trial that will destroy and purge out the unworthy. Others interpret it as referring to the day of judgment.

and the fire itself shall prove each man’s work of what sort it is.—The point of comparison is: fire will purge and purify the gold, silver, and precious stones. It will burn up and con­sume wood, hay, and stubble. So the day of trial will purge and purify the good, and they will shine the brighter; but it will bring to ruin the unworthy. This is true of the classes, whether it refers to a time of persecution and trial here or to the future judgment.

Verse 14

1Co 3:14

1 Corinthians 3:14

If any man’s work shall abide which he built thereon, he shall receive a reward.—If the work done in building up the church of Christ abides, he who does it will receive a reward. [Paul is here speaking of the material built into the church upon the one foundation, which may be good or bad. When a laborer builds wood, hay, and stubble upon the foundation, all such will turn back to the world, yield to its temptations, and thus be overcome by fiery trials; and in such cases the laborer loses his reward. On the other hand, those of his converts who prove themselves to be as gold, silver, and costly stones in the service of God will be admitted “into the eternal king­dom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:11), and this will be a reward to him.]

Verse 15

1Co 3:15

1 Corinthians 3:15

If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as through fire.—When this test by fire is made has been a question of some doubt. It seems to be that if one brings in ill-prepared material, it will be destroyed. Paul says of his converts: “Ye are our epistle, written in our hearts, known and read of all men”; (2 Corinthians 3:2), and “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of glorying? Are not even ye, before our Lord Jesus at his coming? For ye are our glory and our joy.” (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20). If these con­verts were to be the ground of his reward, the loss of them would cause him to suffer a corresponding loss, yet he would be saved, but the fire that destroyed his bad work would test him. This teaching of Paul was clearly intended to warn the church he had planted and taught and among whom he had determined to know nothing but “Jesus Christ, and him cruci­fied,” against teachers who would come into their midst and teach the commandments of men, that would corrupt and de­file the temple of God.

Verse 16

1Co 3:16

1 Corinthians 3:16

Know ye not that ye are a temple of God,—Solomon erected a temple in Jerusalem, that was recognized as “the house of Jehovah,” “the house of God,” and “Jehovah’s house.” In it was Jehovah’s name recorded; in it was the mercy seat; in it must the offering of prayer or praise be presented. The temple itself, with its corner and foundation stones and comely stones of its walls, was typical of the spiri­tual temple, the church, “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner stone” (Ephesians 2:20), of which every Christian is a living stone “builded together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.” [The lessons of care and sanctity and reverence taught con­cerning the temple of God in Jerusalem are examples to teach how reverential and careful we must be in reference to the spiritual temple and how we should make it after the pattern given. It must not be neglected; it must not be defiled; it must not be made secondary to anything in the world.]

and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?—God’s Spirit in the beginning had dwelt upon the earth with man. Man sinned, the earth was defiled, and his Spirit ceased to dwell with man. Altars were built and consecrated where he met the worshipers. Then the tabernacle, then the temple in Jeru­salem, now the spiritual temple or the church of God. In this spiritual temple he makes his permanent dwelling place among men. (See 6:19; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Hebrews 3:6; 1 Peter 2:5).

Verses 16-17

1Co 3:16-17

THE TEMPLE OF GOD

1 Corinthians 3:16-17

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

1 Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not Do you not know (NASV). Rhetorical in nature, suggesting something they should know and demanding either one of two answers: "Yes, we do know," or "It is to our shame that we do not know." It is a com mon device of Paul in this epistle (1 Corinthians 5:6; 1 Corinthians 6:2-3; 1 Corinthians 6:9; 1 Corinthians 6:15-16; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 1 Corinthians 9:13; 1 Corinthians 9:24). that ye are the temple of God, - Paul now changes the metaphor from a building (1 Corinthians 3:9) to the temple, but it is still the church, the dwelling place of God, the place where God is worshipped, praised, and served. The figure is drawn from the Jewish temple (not the whole structure with its precincts but the sanctuary), which stood on Mt. Moriah in Jerusalem, first built by Solomon (1 Kings 5-6), rebuilt by Zerubbabel (Ezra 1-6), restored by Herod the Great (John 2:20), and finally and totally destroyed in the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 (Matthew 24:2). The temple of God is no longer a physical building but a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:5), in which each Christian is a living stone. It is called a temple because each one is built into it in order to honor and praise God (Ephesians 1:6; 1 Peter 2:9) and because God dwells in it through the HS (Ephesians 2:20-22). and that the Spirit of God - The HS. dwelleth in you? - As God formerly dwelt in the temple, the HS now dwells in the church. Paul is addressing Christians collectively; hence, he is saying that the Spirit dwells in the church. Christians have the Spirit dwelling in them individually (1 Corinthians 6:19; Romans 8:9; Acts 2:38). Collectively they make up the church (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). The conclusion seems inevitably, then, that the Spirit dwells in the temple, the church, the body, through Christians. This states a fact: the Spirit dwells in God’s temple. The method of His indwelling must be determined from other sources. Some believe that this means a direct indwelling - that is, a literal, actual, personal indwelling apart from or in addition to the word of God. This view leads to all kinds of difficulties and misapplications, not the least of which is to disregard the Bible as the sole source of authority in religious matters, causing many to follow what they term "the leading of the Spirit" rather than divine revelation as expressed in the Scriptures. I believe that the method of indwelling is indirect: that is, He dwells in Christians, and therefore in the church, through the truth, the inspired word of the Living God. The truth, the revealed will of God, is the means by which He dwells in God’s people.

1 Corinthians 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, - If any man destroys the temple of God (NASV). The division (1 Corinthians 1:10-17), the jealousy and strife (vv. 1-3), among them would destroy the church at Corinth (or anywhere else) and those causing the division would be proven to be wood, hay, stubble (1 Corinthians 3:12). him shall God destroy; Wrecked or cut off as an integral part of the temple (1 Corinthians 9:27; Galatians 5:4; 2 Peter 2:20-22). The thought here is similar, if not identical, with the works which are burned in 1 Corinthians 3:15. The destroyers of the temple would be destroyed. for the temple of God is holy, - For God’s temple is sacred (NIV), that is, consecrated, devoted, or set apart to the service and praise of God. If one ceases to serve his purpose in the temple, or if he tries to divide the temple into many temples (parties), he has destroyed its proper function and he will in the process destroy himself as well as the temple. which temple ye are. - And such are ye (ASV). The original simply reads, "Which are you." "Temple" is a supplied word to aid our understanding, but the antecedent of which may be either holy or temple. The meaning, however, is not materially changed either way. In order for the temple to be holy, each living stone in it must also be holy. Thus holy people make up the holy temple.

Verse 17

1Co 3:17

1 Corinthians 3:17

If any man destroyeth the temple of God,—The church is destroyed as God’s temple by so defiling it that God will not dwell in it. The earth was defiled by man introducing prac­tices into it not ordained of God, following the evil one in­stead of God, by substituting the will of man for the will of God. The same course will destroy the church as a temple of God. In the tabernacle, and the temple in Jerusalem, every person who served, and every vessel and instrument of service were sanctified by the typical blood of bulls and goats. To bring persons or things not sealed by this blood into the tem­ple so defiled it that God would not dwell in it. Every person built into the spiritual temple of God must be sanctified by the blood of Christ. Every ordinance and appointment of service is consecrated by that blood. To bring a person or service into the church not sealed by the blood defiles it. The per­sons who enter according to the terms laid down in the New Testament, and the ordinances and the provisions there made for serving God, are sealed by the blood of Christ. None oth­ers are. To bring into the church those not admitted by the law of Christ is to defile the temple of God, so that God re­fuses to dwell in it. The temple of God is holy, consecrated to God’s service. All its appointments and ordinances have been sealed by the blood of Christ.

him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, and such are ye.—As Nadab and Abihu brought strange fire into the earthly tabernacle and were destroyed by that fire, so also shall whosoever brings into the church of God, or performs any service not ordained, and so consecrated by God, be de­stroyed by that unconsecrated, unordained service.

Verse 18

1Co 3:18

1 Corinthians 3:18

Let no man deceive himself.—He warns against the dan­ger of the wisdom of this world. It is intimately connected with this defilement of the temple. To introduce things rest­ing on human wisdom defiles the temple of God. To use those ordained by the wisdom of God, sealed by the blood of Christ, is to keep the temple holy and sacred.

If any man thinketh that he is wise among you in this world, let him become a fool,—If a man seems or affects to be wise after this world and so thinks he may bring things rest­ing on this wisdom into the church of God, let him become a fool to this world.

These admonitions are most needful to men, for they often deceive themselves. God is never deceived as to man’s char­acter or as to his ability or to the motives that actuate him in anything he does. Self-deception is the most common phase of deception among men. Our neighbors as a rule understand us better than we understand ourselves. They see us more clearly than we see ourselves. Paul cautions: “Be not de­ceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth unto his own flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth unto the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap eternal life.” (Galatians 6:7-8).

This warning grows out of man’s tendency to deceive himself. Many of us while gratifying the flesh imagine we are follow­ing the Spirit. Many preachers preach for money and ease and imagine they are preaching to save souls. Often we build fine houses to gratify our pride and persuade ourselves that we are doing it to serve God. Most of life’s failures come from self-deception. We deceive ourselves as to our abilities, and undertake to do things we have no capacity to do. After years of close observation I feel sure that nine-tenths of the failures in life come from overweening confidence in self. One so self-confident never stops to investigate or properly con­sider the difficulties in the way of his carrying out a work. Solomon in his counsels of wisdom cautions: “Trust in Jeho­vah with all thy heart, and lean not upon thine own understanding.... Be not wise in thine own eyes” (Proverbs 3:5-7); and Paul says: “Be not wise in your own conceits” (Romans 12:16). Self-conceit causes men to depend upon their own wisdom and strength instead of that of God, and leads them to ruin financially and spiritually.

that he may become wise.—To learn that the wisdom of this world is foolishness is to prepare oneself to accept the wisdom of God.

Verses 18-20

1Co 3:18-20

WISDOM OF THIS WORLD

1 Corinthians 3:18-20

1 Corinthians 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. Deceive himself into thinking that some man is wise enough to discover the will of God by some private interpreta­ tion (2 Peter 2:20) and thus be worthy to become a party leader ... and safe to follow. To follow the wisdom of man results in human religious service, all of which is vain (James 1:26). Only the self-deceived can think they can either be or follow a party leader and still remain the temple of God. If any man among you Any member of the church in contrast with those of the world. seemeth to be wise in this world, - Thinketh that he is wise among you in this world (ASV). If he thinks he is wise in the philosophical wisdom of the world (1 Corinthians 1:19-20). Christians need to be wise (v. 10) with heavenly wisdom (James 3:17). A fool to the world and its wisdom is a fool in the sense that he recognizes his inability to discover the will of God by his own unaided reason (1 Corinthians 2:9-10; Is. 55:8-9). that he may be wise. - Let him be looked upon as a fool by the world that he may appear wise before God (1 Corinthians 1:21). He will be wise because he accepts the revelation of God’s wisdom as the highest wisdom possible to attain. This is a hard blow to the intellectual pride of those who believe that the human mind, through the instrument of science, can arrive at all necessary knowledge to solve human problems. According to them, if man needs it the mind can discover it. But the unaided intellect of man is not properly equipped to arrive at the will of God apart from divine revelation. Thus the intellectuals must turn from their attitude of self-sufficiency (that is, become fools) to a total reliance upon the revealed will of God. Paul’s point should not be misunderstood or misapplied. He is not condemning wisdom and learning per se. On the contrary, the principles of the Bible encourage learning. This can be seen from the fact that everywhere pure Christianity goes illiteracy declines. Thus we may rightfully seek and attain all the education that is within our power. But when it comes to knowing the will of God we must turn to revelation. There is absolutely no knowledge of God’s will, regardless of how advanced in learning man becomes, in the absence of revelation. Paul is therefore not saying, "Give us more unlearned or ignorant men," but "Give us more men who will acknowledge that they cannot know God and His will apart from divine revelation." It is a wise man who becomes a fool in this sense.

1 Corinthians 3:19 For the wisdom of this world Wisdom which has as its source human systems of philosophical reason and designed to discover God’s will and man’s duty without the aid of divine revelation. is foolishness with God.­ An exercise of folly in God’s sight (1 Corinthians 1:25). See 1 Corinthians 1:20 and the note there. For it is written, - Job 5:13. The words quoted are the words of Eliphaz to Job. And while he misapplies them in Job’s case (it should be remembered that Eliphaz was not an inspired man), the statement is nonetheless true. Paul’s point does not approve of the misapplication but only the truthfulness of the words as ap­ plied to God’s dealings with the worldly wise. He taketh the wise - He catches the wise (Beck). Worldly wise but heavenly foolish. in their own craftiness. - With their own trickery (Beck). He shows the folly of their wisdom by fouling them up with their own systems and schemes. That is, God uses their own craftiness, their own devices, their own trickery, to overthrow or defeat them (e.g., Romans 1:22-27 where the sin against nature results in its own just punishment).

1 Corinthians 3:20 And again, Yet another passage (Psalms 94:11) confirms the fact that the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. The Lord knoweth ­ Nothing is hidden from Him (Hebrews 4:13). He knows everything man knows or can know and still all that knowledge is but foolishness in comparison with His infinite wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:25). the thoughts - The planning (Beck), deliberations (Goodspeed), and reasonings (NASV). Paralleled with the craftiness of v. 19. Of the wise. Those possessing only the wisdom of this world (v. 19). That they are vain--Useless, fruitless, foolish (v. 19), void of results. Man cannot reason his way to the knowledge of God’s scheme to redeem (Jeremiah 10:23); that knowledge comes only through revealed truth, Any effort (regardless of how learned) to circumvent revelation is a vain and foolish effort, one that is sure to entrap, defeat, and ultimately destroy the circumventer.

Verse 19

1Co 3:19

1 Corinthians 3:19

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.—He here applies the truths presented in the conclusion of the first chapter. To be wise after the world is to be a fool before God. To be wise with God is to be a fool with the world. God has ordained that every institution and organization by man shall be engulfed in the destroying vortex of ruin. The disposition to introduce things into the service of God based on human opinions or judgments has been the besetting sin of man from the beginning. It has been the fatal rock on which he has made shipwreck of his faith and on which he has for­feited the favor of God, and the same thing is true even to this day.

Men become infidels by introducing their own opinions into the service and worship of God. It is done first with a view to adding interest and efficiency to the service. This trains men to rely more and more upon their opinions and judgment, less and less upon the institutions of God until they erect their own judgment and opinions into the standard of right, and whatever in the word of God does not agree with this standard of their own, they reject. Whenever men reject the word of God, or any part of it, because it does not agree with their own conceptions of what is right, they are in essential ele­ments infidels. When a man tests the Bible and its truth, or any part of it, by his own judgment and opinions of what is right or wrong, he has rejected the word of God as the rule of faith for man. God has ordained that those who thus walk shall come to ruin. He shall fall into the pit he has digged.

For it is written, He that taketh the wise in their craftiness: —God so overrules as to destroy men with that by which they had devised to save themselves.

Verse 20

1Co 3:20

1 Corinthians 3:20

and again, The Lord knoweth the reasonings of the wise, that they are vain.—God knows all the plans of the wise that they are vain, and will lead to ruin. All the provisions of human wisdom for the advancement of the church of God re­sult in evil to the church and to the world. There never has been an age in the past when there were so many and such costly attractions to draw people to church—fine and luxuri­ously equipped houses, fine mechanical musical instruments furnishing the best music, well-paid and eloquent ministers, preaching on topics of current interest, with all the societies and helps to attract and entertain the young and the old—yet the people cease to attend. Never before have there been so many human devices and so much money expended at home and abroad to hold and convert the people, and yet the denomi­national churches are growing relatively weaker and are losing ground.

The Lord has taken the wise men of the churches in their own craftiness. They have thought that they could improve, by their wisdom, on the ways of God, and God has shown them that they bring weakness to the churches and drive men from God and the church. The church of God is defiled, and it is growing weaker day by day under the addition of these human organizations and helps. They are parasites that sap the life from the church, while for a time seeming to add to its vigor and life. Yet with all these warnings of God in the Scriptures confirmed by the examples of the destructive ef­fects of the human inventions, churches and men claiming to be wise, and to believe in the Bible, follow the same path of ruin. There have drifted into the churches many who do not believe the Scriptures. The disposition to bring human or­ganizations into the work and worship of the church comes from a feeling of worldly wisdom which is foolishness with God. It is a manifestation of unbelief and it must be thrust out of the churches before they can be blessed of God.

Verse 21

1Co 3:21

1 Corinthians 3:21

Wherefore let no one glory in men.—Do not glory in men or follow the works and inventions of men. [To glory in men is to boast of one’s relation to them, to trust in them as the ground of confidence, or as the source of honor. Thus men are said to glory in the cross because Christ, as crucified, is regarded as the ground of confidence and the source of blessedness. The Corinthians gloried in men when they said, “I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas.”]

For all things are yours;—All that the men sent from God teach is the common heritage of all who believe in God. They all minister good to all who seek to know and do the will of God. No revelation to man was for personal use, but for the good of all the children of God.

Verses 21-23

1Co 3:21-23

THE GLORY IS GOD’S

1 Corinthians 3:21-23

1 Corinthians 3:21 Therefore let no man glory in men. - Let no one boast that he is a follower of men, such as Paul, Apollos, Cephas (1 Corinthians 3:4; 1 Corinthians 1:12-13). Positively, we are to glory in the Lord (1:31); negatively, we are not to glory or boast in man. To glory in man is inconsistent with glorying in God alone. We must learn and practice the divine principle of rendering to God the things which are His (Matthew 22:21). For all things - All things made by God and put under man’s dominion (Genesis 1:26), whether material, physical, social, mental, or spiritual, all things in every category when they are used for the purpose for which they were made. All things are the common possession of all men. Why then should some be exalted as party leaders? are your’s; - Yours to properly use and enjoy. A thing (anything) belongs to us when it is our servant - when we con­ trol it or when it is made to work for our good (Romans 8:28); we belong to a thing when we are its servant - when it controls our life (Romans 6:16-18; 2 Peter 2:19). The thought here is basically the same as expressed by our Lord when He said, "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5). The meek (the children of God) have inherited the earth now. It is theirs to have and to hold, to occupy and enjoy, as a place to prepare for that which is yet to come. It should be noted, however, that there is a difference in being heir to it and in the actual possession. Man was given dominion over the earth, but he has yet to fully sway the scepter; Israel had been given the promised land, but until the time of Joshua it was yet to be conquered; man has a powerful intellect, but it must be trained. The ocean with its thundering waves and mysterious depths is ours, but at present we are able to possess or appropriate only a small part of it. The land with all its potential production is ours, but it must be cultivated. Space is ours, but it is yet to be explored. As Christians we need to rise up and take possession of all that belongs to us. For example: (1) Christ is ours follow Him; (2) the Bible is ours -study it, learn it, obey it;(3) salvation is ours receive it, apply it; (4) peace is ours accept it, delight in it; (5) the Christian life is ours--live it; (6) love is ours -fill our hearts with it; (7) heaven is ours - aspire to it. All is ours! But we are Christ’s. And Christ is God’s (1 Corinthians 3:23). Thus it is by the grace of God that all have been given to us (1 Timothy 6:17). It therefore comes with poor grace to give to men the honor that belongs to God alone.

1 Corinthians 3:22-23 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, -All apostles, teachers, or leaders are equally yours - instead of you belonging to them, they belong to you. All are for your benefit. Why then single out one who belongs to you and build a party around him as if you were his servant? Why wear his name (1 Corinthians 1:12-13) instead of the highest and holiest name in heaven and earth (Philippians 2:5-11)? or the world, - The material universe; the creative works of God. Everything God made was good (Genesis 1:31) and it was made for man’s use. Thus the world and everything in it is right, and useful to man, when used for its intended purpose. The world is ours to use ... but not to abuse. or life, The span of time between birth and the grave. Life is ours because it is used for a higher purpose or to fill a greater need than characterizes the brief period we call time. It is the time to prepare ourselves and others for eternity (Philippians 1:20-24). or death, - The point at which earthly life ends, or as James ex­ pressed it, the separation of the body and spirit (James 2:26). For the child of God it is not a day of terror, a day of defeat, but the day of victory - the day for which all of life is lived. When we die in keeping with God’s great plan (Romans 14:7-8), that is, die the death of the righteous (Numbers 23:10), it is gain (Philippians 1:21). When we are on the other side we can look back from our vantage point in eternity and exclaim, "0 death, where is thy sting? 0 grave, where is thy victory?" (15:55). We will have won the battle! (1 Corinthians 15:57). Death will have served us. or things present, - All the circumstances and conditions of this life (d. Romans 8:37-39). or things to come; - The unknown future and all it may hold for us. all are your’s; - All work together for your good (Romans 8:28). Repeated from 1 Corinthians 3:21. See the note there. And ye are Christ’s; But you belong to Christ (Beck). All things are yours because you are Christ’s and you are His by right of both creation and purchase (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Acts 20:28; Colossians 1:16). How utterly unthinkable then for anyone to form a party, be in a party, or follow men as party leaders. In Christ all are one (Galatians 3:26-29; Matthew 23:8-11). and Christ is God’s. - No inferiority of nature could be meant here because Christ is God (John 1:1-3). Rather the design is to show the function of Christ as the Son in the divine scheme of things, that His office of Mediator, Savior, and Redeemer places Him between God and man (1 Corinthians 11:3; 1 Corinthians 15:28). Since all things belong to man, and man belongs to Christ, and Christ belongs to God, the conclusion is clear: ultimately all things belong to God. Therefore glory only in Him!

Verse 22

1Co 3:22

1 Corinthians 3:22

whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas,—He makes special application of this truth to himself and others. Paul, Apollos, and Cephas are all sent for the good of all the children of God, and every child of God should receive all the teachings of all the faithful teachers if they would grow into a well-rounded likeness of Jesus Christ in character.

This truth is applicable now. Uninspired teachers are more liable to be one-sided and imperfect than the inspired ones were. And often what of God’s teachings is presented by one teacher is not preached by another, and often men would be benefited by learning from different teachers, and men of di­verse temperaments, and characteristics. All should be watch­ful to learn and do the will of God.

or the world,—[This denotes the material universe and all its providential arrangements. All things that are in it that are not sinful may be made serviceable to the happiness and progress of the Christian, and to the glory of God. However evil men may usurp possession meanwhile, it is the saints that inherit the earth. (Matthew 5:4). It is maintained for their use, ordered with a view to their spiritual welfare.]

or life,—[The term of our sojourn on earth, with all that it brings, is ours. Life is a mighty gift—a great field in which to sow eternal seed. It is ours for two purposes—being and doing, the culture of the new life within us and the promotion of our neighbor’s well-being—in these two directions life is our opportunity. “For to me to live is Christ.” (Philippians 1:21). There are ways of promoting God’s glory which are peculiar to this life, and which can never come to us again.]

or death,—[That grim, horrid thing, whose face strikes ter­ror to the stoutest heart, and whose icy grasp freezes the foun­tains of life—that, too, becomes our servant, ministers to our advancement. “To die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21). It releases from pains, and toils, and conflicts, and limitations of this mor­tal state, and ushers us into the enjoyment of the eternal in­heritance.]

or things present, or things to come; all are yours;—[The present and the future in the most comprehensive sense. Our actual lot is ours, whether it be easy or hard, pleasant or dis­tressing. It is ours to serve us, if we will only let it do its work and turn it to the best account. The future is still hid from us, but it can bring us nothing which shall not be for our good. Whatever form the things to come may take, we are assured that they are ours. (Romans 8:28).]

Verse 23

1Co 3:23

1 Corinthians 3:23

and ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.—So that in be­coming Christ’s, they become God’s. “And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good, even to them that are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28). [What a climax! How the last words light up the whole situ­ation and show how unworthy, how indescribably foolish and wrong was the party strife of the Corinthians. As there is one God over all, and one Lord Jesus Christ, so there is one church, in whose unbroken life the peace of God should find itself reflected.]