CHAPTER
III
CARNAL
DIVISIONS
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Summary—The Proofs that the Corinthians were Yet Carnal. Not
Able to Endure Strong Meat. The Work of Paul and Apollos. The Increase of God.
The Church God’s Building. The One Foundation. Perishable Materials Built on
This. The Sin of Defiling God’s Temple. The Glorious Estate of the Christians.
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1–4. And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto
spiritual. See verse 6 of the preceding
chapter; also verse 14. The brethren at Corinth had not reached the state of
“spiritual men.” They were carnal, undeveloped like babes. 2.
I have fed you with milk. When he was at Corinth he treated them as babes,
teaching them the simple, rudimentary principles. Milk. Simple teaching.
Meat. Stronger and deeper doctrines. In the school of Christ, like all
others, the teaching must be adapted to the advancement of the learner. 3.
Ye are yet carnal. Hence, still not spiritual enough to receive the higher
teaching, the “hidden wisdom,” the meat. The proof that they were yet carnal
was the existence of divisions in the church. Walk as men. Exhibit the
jealous and discordant spirit characteristic of men of the world. 4. When
one saith, I am of Paul, etc. The fact that they are divided by following
different human leaders, instead of all following Christ, demonstrated that
they were yet carnal.
5–9. Who then is Paul and Apollos? Their carnal-mindedness shows itself in choosing and
following these human leaders. One said he was a Paulite, etc. Hence he asks,
Who is Paul, or Apollos? Only ministers, servants, subordinates, agents
through whom they believed on Christ. As the Lord gave to every man.
Gave to Paul and Apollos power to lead you to faith. 6. I have planted, etc.
It was Paul’s work given him to plant the seed of the kingdom; it was
the work of Apollos to afterwards water or cultivate the Christian plants which
had come forth, but God gave the growth; gave the seed its vitality and the plant
its life. 7. So then neither is he that planteth, etc. The parts of Paul
and Apollos were as nothing; the power was all of God, who gave growth to the
seed and plant. 8. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one.
They have kindred work, as servants, and each will be rewarded as a servant, according
to his own labor. 9. For we are laborers together with God. The
Revision gives the true meaning: “For we are God’s fellow-workers.” They, he
and Apollos, were fellow-laborers belonging to God (of God, not with God). They
were fellow-laborers with each other, of God. The Corinthian church was God’s field
in which they labored. The Greek word means “tilled land.” Husbandry is
obscure. Ye are God’s building. The figure is now changed. Paul and
Apollos are God’s builders, and the church is the building they build. The
leading idea is that they are only God’s employees. How can Paul have a party,
then, and Apollos another, when they are only employees of God?
10–15. According to the grace given to me. Given when? When he was called to be an apostle. I have
laid the foundation. The figure of the building is retained. Paul is a
discreet master-builder. He had laid the foundation at Corinth, when he
was preaching Christ, and working through faith in him (2:4, 5). Notice it is
not a foundation, but the foundation, because God’s spiritual
temple (v. 16) can have only one. Another buildeth thereon. After Paul
left Corinth, Apollos and other teachers continued to build upon the foundation
that Paul had laid. Let every man take heed how, etc. Since there is
only one foundation of the temple, viz: Jesus Christ, there should be most
careful and conscientious building upon it (verse 12). 11. Other
foundation can no man lay, etc. There is only one foundation of the church
(Matt. 16:16). This foundation-stone was laid by God (Isaiah 28:16). Paul’s
work under God was to point to this foundation, to induce them to believe, and
thus to build them upon it. His preaching laid it in their hearts. To preach
Christ is to preach the fundamental or foundation truth of the church. 12.
If any man buildeth upon this foundation. There is only one foundation for
all builders to build upon. The church or temple will be of the character of
the material built upon it. If this material be precious and imperishable, if
apostolic doctrines and men moulded into the image of Christ be this material,
it is well. If erroneous doctrines and unstable men, wood, hay, stubble, this
will all be revealed in due time. 13. Every man’s work shall be made
manifest. The kind of work that every builder does will be manifested. The
day shall declare it. Probably the day of Christ’s coming. As fire destroys
wood, hay, stubble, but leaves gold, silver, precious stones, so the work of
some builders, when tested, will vanish. They do not do solid work. 14. If
any man’s work shall abide. Shall stand the test of trial. Such a builder
will be rewarded. There shall be stars in his crown. 15. If any man’s work
shall be burned. Shall perish as worthless. Such an one will forfeit his
reward. So as by fire. He is saved, because he intended well, but is
barely saved, like one who escapes from a burning house where all his property
is consumed.
16, 17. If any man defile the temple of God. In verse 9 the apostle had said, “Ye are God’s
building.” Now he returns to that figure, and denounces the judgment of God
upon all who would defile his house by their carnal divisions. In that temple
the Spirit dwelt, as the Shekinah had dwelt in the temple of God at Jerusalem;
it was therefore a holy temple, and an awful sin to defile it. Under the old
dispensation, death was the penalty of polluting the temple.
18–23. Let no man deceive himself. A caution against the philosophical tendencies of the
Apolloite party. If any man thinketh that he is wise. If he is wise in
his own estimation and that of the world, let him choose what the world calls
“foolishness,” in order that he may became “wise unto salvation.” 19.
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. See chapter 1:20. For
it is written. Job 5:13. 20. And again, the Lord knoweth, etc.
Psalm 94:11. 21. Wherefore, let no man glory in men. In preachers like
Paul, and Apollos, and Cephas. Above all, let them not form parties around
human leaders. For all things are yours. All, the preachers as well as
all beside, are ordained to prepare you for eternal glory. 22. Whether Paul,
etc. See verse 5. Or the world. The world is not to be the master,
but the servant of God’s children. Or life. Life is given to do God’s
work and to insure life eternal. Or death. To the saint “death is
gain.” Or things present. These, whatsoever they are, “shall work
together for good to them that love God.” Or things to come. The things
to come to the Christian are the presence of Christ, and the joys of the New
Jerusalem. All are yours. What a climax! 23. And ye are Christ’s.
He had procured for us all things, but has bought us with a price. Christ is
God’s. God’s Son, and belonging to the Father. All things are ours, but we
are not our own! We own all else, but we do not own ourselves! Hence our duty
to be consecrated to the service of Christ.
Excerpt from:
The People's New Testament
by Barton
Warren Johnson
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