Three classes of mankind are here set before us: the natural man (1 Cor. 2:1414But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14)), i.e., man animated merely by his created soul, without the teaching and power of the Holy Spirit; the spiritual man (1 Cor. 2:1515But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. (1 Corinthians 2:15)), that is, the believer who walks in the Spirit (Gal. 5:1616This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16)), and feels and judges in Him; and the carnal or fleshly (1 Cor. 3:11And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. (1 Corinthians 3:1)). The Corinthian believers were of the last class, as the Apostle here proceeds to make plain to them.
He could not unfold at Corinth the deeper truths which have so large a place in the Epistle to the Ephesians.
“And I, brethren, have not been able to speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshly, as to babes in Christ. I have given you milk to drink, not meat, for hitherto ye have not been able, nor indeed are ye yet able, for ye are yet carnal” (1 Cor. 3:11And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. (1 Corinthians 3:1)-2 JnD).
We may well conclude that the Apostle’s plain words were humbling indeed to the self-satisfied saints at Corinth; they were far from thinking of themselves as “fleshly,” as “babes in Christ,” given only “milk” to drink.
Let us apply what we have read to ourselves, young Christians: Is our state before God such that the Holy Spirit is hindered in seeking to communicate to us the precious truths concerning Christ in which other believers delight? The believers at Corinth were attracted by things of flesh: man’s wisdom, eloquence, ability; not realizing that these have no place before God. Another has truly said,
“Flesh delights in what is of man, as the Spirit gives to enjoy what is of God.”
May God give grace to the Christian reader to seek conformity to Christ, and to refuse whatever makes something of man as such.
If in the opening verses of our chapter an unpleasant truth is plainly stated in language chosen by the Holy Spirit, in the third and fourth verses a particularly evident proof of that charge is given: “For whereas there are among you emulation and strife, are ye not carnal, and walk according to man? For when one says, I am of Paul, and another, I of Apollos, are ye not men?” (1 Cor. 3:3-43For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 4For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? (1 Corinthians 3:3‑4) JND)
Their eyes were off Christ, and on man; emulation and strife, which are works of the flesh (Gal. 5:2020Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, (Galatians 5:20)) followed.
Thus a second time, early in the Epistle, the Holy Spirit takes occasion to rebuke the party spirit which issued finally in sectarianism.
Making a center out of any servant of Christ, however devoted he may have been, is contrary to the Word of God which points to Christ alone as the gathering center for His people, as in the well known passage, Matthew 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20). We can truly thank God for raising up servants to faithfully proclaim His truth (would that there were many more of them!), but we must never exalt the servant. May all such remember that what they possess that God can use, was given them, as this fifth verse itself tells—“as the Lord has given to each.”
1 Cor. 3:66I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. (1 Corinthians 3:6): At Corinth, Paul had “planted;” the first work there was instrumentally in his hands, laboring where none had gone before, as he wrote to the saints at Rome (Rom. 15:2020Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation: (Romans 15:20)). Apollos, of whom we first learn in Acts 18:2424And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. (Acts 18:24), followed Paul in ministering Christ at Corinth, and “helped them much which had believed through grace,” as we are told in Acts 18:2727And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace: (Acts 18:27). But, whether we look at the “planter” or the “waterer,” it is God that gives the increase.
Of what use would all the farming be that is carried on in the world—all the plowing and sowing, the planting, the fertilizing and irrigating and cultivating, if God did not cause what is planted to grow?
Just so is it in the preaching of the gospel, and the printing and distributing of tracts; in seeking the spiritual growth of God’s saints, too.
“So that neither the planter is anything, nor the waterer, but God the giver of the increase.”
The planter and the waterer are one; both are engaged in doing servant work; and they are, or should be, exercising the gift the Lord has given to each for His service. He alone is capable of forming the right estimate of the work of each, and each shall receive his own reward according to his own labor.
“For we,” says the Apostle, speaking of himself and Apollos, and all others who labor in His service, “are God’s fellow-workmen; ye are God’s husbandry, God’s building.”
The Apostle has to this point used the figure of planting and watering—of husbandry. Now the subject becomes one of building; and there is a marked increase of solemnity, evidencing the Spirit’s knowledge of what, through the failure of man in responsibility, would be introduced during the history of the professing church.
As a wise “master-builder” (architect), according to the grace of God given to him, Paul had laid the foundation, but the building thereon is done by others. Let each see how he builds upon it! For other foundation can no man lay beside that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
“Now if anyone build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones”—things of value, and that will endure – “wood, grass, straw”—perishable things, readily consumed in flames—“the work of each shall be made manifest, for the day shall declare it, because it is revealed in fire, and the fire shall try the work of each, what it is. If the work of anyone which he has built upon the foundation shall abide, he shall receive a reward. If the work of anyone shall be consumed, he shall suffer loss, but he shall be saved; but so as through the fire” (1 Cor. 3:12-1512Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13Every 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. 14If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (1 Corinthians 3:12‑15) JND).
This is very solemn indeed, in view of the many professed servants of Christ there have been all the way down from the beginning of the Church, and those that are so today; also it is plain, when their work is compared with the teachings of Scripture, that many have been diligent in building what will not survive the trial of God’s judgment in the coming “day.” Only believers are in view in these verses, but the 15th verse suggests the possibility that much, if not all, of the work of some, professedly done in the name of Christ, will be seen to be worthless in that day. Is it necessary to say that Christians in general are not in view in these verses, but only those who are building, as serving Christ—teaching, preaching, etc., and it is their work that will be tested; the salvation of their souls is not questioned.
1 Cor. 3:1616Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16). The presence of the Holy Spirit according to the promise of John 14:16-1716And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (John 14:16‑17) is what constitutes believers the temple of God; they are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit according to Ephesians 2:2222In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:22). This truth, it is feared, is slighted by many, to their own loss. Badly prone we Christians are, to be content with the barest outline of what God’s Word reveals, instead of searching the Scriptures which are able to make us wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Not a single truth of God is ignored by, or lost to the sight of, believers without corresponding loss in the soul.
1 Cor. 3:1717If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. (1 Corinthians 3:17). What God values, and Christians are apt to be careless about, Satan, our great enemy, seeks to corrupt or destroy. Here the instruments employed are men or women who bear the Lord’s name, but are false professors; such will be dealt with according to the enormity of their deeds.
“If any man defile (or corrupt) the temple of God, him shall God destroy, for the temple of God is holy, which ye are, (or, and such are ye).”
The word for what is translated here both “corrupt” and “destroy” is one and the same in the original Greek. He who teaches evil doctrine, corrupts or destroys; such shall God destroy. Solemn, but who shall say not merited, judgment? Did some think it so? Let no man deceive himself. It is better to give up worldly wisdom, to become foolish in the eyes of the world, that one may be wise.
The last three verses sum up the matter: Let no one boast in men, for all things, are ours through God’s grace, since we are His children. All are ours—the God-given ministers of His Word, and all circumstances, as the Apostle briefly recounts, both present and future; and we are Christ’s, as He is God’s—so to be eternally.
How little place these considerations sometimes have in the lives of God’s children! Let us seek with purpose of heart to give His Word far more place in our lives; so shall we find true happiness, and God will be glorified.