1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
Many of the believers in Corinth were not mature enough in the faith to rightly divide the logos of the Gospel, nor to discern between right and wrong, truth and error, Apostle and heretic. They were babes in Christ, not able to spiritually stand on their own in a world of wickedness, nor judge righteous judgment (John 7:24). By now they should have grown strong in love and understanding and well-occupied with defending the faith and spreading the Gospel of the Kingdom. Instead they themselves were in need of continued nurture and instruction in the rudiments of the true faith (Heb 5:12).
The word carnal (sarkikos) means “worldly, fleshly, the physical as opposed to the spiritual.” Paul, in his epistles, frequently puts in contrast the flesh (sarx) and the spirit (pnuema). See Rom 8:1-5; 1Cor 5:5; Gal 4:29; Php 3:3, etc. To live after the flesh, or to be carnal, is to live after the manner of the World and to follow after its desires. It is enmity with God (Rom 8:7).
The Apostle’s frank analysis of the Corinthian church reveals a key underlying issue which marks this epistle. Paul is writing to babes in Christ, not mature, experienced Christians. Hence the errors and disputes among them. The church at Corinth was not a model of Christian truth and practice, it was in need of repeated instruction in the basic doctrines and practices of the Faith. This fact must guide our reading and use of the Corinthian epistles, but some denominations have not done so. The “speaking in tongues” crowd, for example, extract passages from this letter as the basis for their erroneous “glossolalia,” when in fact the Apostle was criticizing the church’s practice, not encouraging it.
In no way does this diminish the value of the epistle. There are many Corinthian churches today that are experiencing the same general lack of spirituality. Many, without even knowing it (Rev 3:17-19), are caught up in the pursuit of physical, sensual, self-gratifying things (see note 1Cor 8:10). We are blessed to read the Apostle’s simple, basic teachings on love (1Cor 13), spiritual gifts (1Cor 12), marriage, authority, baptism, communion, etc.
3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
It has been said that there is no such thing as a carnal Christian, but here Paul acknowledges him. Nevertheless, a carnal Christian cannot remain so indefinitely. He must grow in the faith or else he will steadily weaken and become a castaway (John 15:1-6). A carnal Christian attempts to mix the wisdom that is in Christ with the wisdom of the world. His actions are more aligned with Society’s values and knowledge than with the values that Christ teaches in His Word. Five of the seven churches in the Revelation were in danger of having their candlestick removed, for God detested their mediocrity and worldliness.
The Corinthians were jostling and bickering among themselves, each one eager to show himself superior to his fellow church members. In this instance, their mind of pride was to choose a particular Christian man as their spiritual “hero” – Paul, Peter or Apollos (1Cor 1:11-13). These were simply men; good, exceptional men that is true, but only labourers in God’s building (v9). They lived and taught the same faith and practice, they were equal heirs of salvation together with all the faithful in Christ (v21-24). This carnal attitude mirrors the selfish mind of the Apostles before the coming of the Holy Spirit (Luke 9:46-48; Mark 9:33-34; Luke 22:24).
The tendency to elevate a certain man to be some great spiritual leader, or special mouthpiece of God, continues to plague many Christians today. It is so convenient to place one’s confidence in a visible, charismatic leader, for then personal thought, judgment and responsibility is not necessary. To honor and respect those in leadership positions in the church is a good, sincere duty (see Heb 13:17; 1Tim 5:17), but they cannot be objects for prideful boasts, nor upheld as unfailing prophets of God to be obeyed and believed on all accounts. The Kingdom of Christ is not like human institutions with bosses and rulers. Jesus taught His followers to not call each other Rabbi, or Master, or Father, for ye are brethren. While the Gentiles exercise authority and lordship, in the churches of Christ ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve (see Mat 23:7-12; Luke 22:25-27).
5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
Paul and Apollos were good, earnest leaders in the Corinthian church, but they were only ministers working together in the great work of the Lord. Paul’s main calling was to preach the Gospel (1Cor 1:17), while Apollos was especially effective in spiritually edifying the believers (see Acts 18:24-28). Neither was “greater” than the other and neither should be held up above the other as a spiritual father – that would be taking Christ’s place. Apollos was apparently with Paul in Ephesus at the writing of this letter (1Cor 16:12).
Ye are God’s husbandry (or farm). Continuing the metaphor of planting and watering, Paul describes the church as a farmer’s field with workers toiling to benefit the crop. Jesus also used planting and harvest as analogies of the Kingdom (see John 4:35; 12:24; Mat 13:3-9). Paul and Apollos are one in the sense that they were laboring together, yet each would receive his own reward according to his labor (v8).
10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
The following verses compare the church in Corinth to a temple, God’s building (v9). Similar imagery can be found in Eph 2:20-22; 1Pet 2:3-5; Rev 21:9-27. Paul had laid the good foundation, preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that the Son of God had come in the flesh to offer Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the eternal redemption of all Mankind. Now others were building on this one and only foundation of truth (Acts 4:12) and their labors would frame the structure and craft the details of the building itself. It is a serious question: does the church I am helping to build resemble the pure, beautiful and righteous Temple of God’s building? Let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
The Apostle is not saying that it is impossible to lay a different spiritual foundation other than Christ, but that Christ is the one true foundation. Many sects like the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Messianics and Mormons have laid a flawed foundation! They do not believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God come in the flesh (2John 1:7). They are building upon another Jesus, whom we have not preached (2Cor 11:4). In the case of the Corinthian church however, the problem was not in the foundation, but in the constructions thereupon.
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
The doctrines and practices of the church in Corinth were of unequal value because some were building with wood, hay and stubble – materials that will not pass the test of fire (i.e. non-resurrection of the dead, ch15). Doctrines and works of gold, silver and precious stones will be proven by the fire-test and win a reward. Although wood is more useful than stubble, it too will quickly burn up. Seek to be a useful vessel of gold unto honor and not a wooden vessel unto dishonor in the house of the Lord (2Tim 2:20).
The success of every construction project depends on two crucial concerns: the materials and the labor. Poor quality in either of these areas will surely affect the result. No amount of skilled labor can overcome working with low-quality materials; nor can stellar building materials overcome the work of lazy, unskilled laborers. So it is with God’s building. We must study to maintain sound doctrine, but also to work with all diligence and commitment! One of my favorite verses stresses this duality. It is found in the Apostle Paul’s final word of encouragement to his predecessor, Timothy: Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth (2Tim 2:15). The first part stresses the importance of being a diligent, tireless workman for God; the last part urges fervent, honest perseverance in the true doctrine of God.
It has been said that through the centuries of time, the true churches of Christ have suffered more at the hands of professing Christians than they have from unbelievers. Power-hungry leaders, greed-filled preachers and pompous Popes have laid waste to the flock of Christ. But even more insidious for individual churches are those well-intentioned teachers and laymen who subvert the Gospel by their un-Christian attitudes and actions. Contentions, bickering and strife in a church does serious harm to its witness and testimony. Many times they arise from good intentions unwisely effected. Examples of this are found throughout the book of Corinthians. Chapter five describes those who undermined the church’s attempt to discipline a brother by supporting him in his error; chapter 11 reveals some who would not follow the practices of the Church, etc.
13 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. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Prominent ministers such as Apollos and Paul are not the only ones whose work will be tested on the Day of Judgment. Every man’s work will be tried by fire. If his efforts were beneficial to the Kingdom of God he will be rewarded (1Cor 9:1), but if they were unhelpful his work will be burned in the fire of the last day. The Apostle endeavors to stir up the minds of the spiritual babes in Corinth. “Don’t you see that the Judgment will reveal the quality of your work in God’s building? Are you working with gold-standard doctrines or with hay and stubble? How will the spiritual house of God in Corinth turn out? Precious and beautiful, or embarrassing and plain? Your heavenly reward is based on the quality of your work in God’s temple, so do not take your responsibility lightly. The one true, noble foundation has been laid, now its up to you to continue the building in all diligence and rectitude.”
A tree’s value is revealed by the tastiness of its fruit, not by how it looks. So also, the true grace of a house is not its outward beauty, but its usefulness to shelter, feed and protect those who enter its doors. Rewards in heaven are based on quality and lasting value rather than on quantity and outward appearance. While many passages teach that a man’s personal work, good or bad, will be evaluated by God to fix his eternal destiny (2Cor 5:10; Rev 20:13; Mt 16:27; Col 3:25; Mat 25:31-46), here we learn that a man’s work in the Kingdom gains heavenly rewards beyond his salvation. The quality and value of a man’s work on earth are very important!
Saved; yet so as by fire. The house has burnt to the ground, its builder barely escaping the conflagration with nothing but his own life. The building did not stand the test, yet some worthy ones were found within her (Rev 3:4). The person who has labored poorly in the Kingdom will suffer loss in the day that heavenly rewards are judiciously given. He himself will not be lost, but if his work be burned up, how can he receive a special reward? This is true for every person in the Kingdom, regardless of his position. Even he that is faithful in little will receive his reward (Luke 19:17).
In this passage, a man’s work is the result of his earthly labor, not the good fruit of the Spirit in his daily life. Many times the full effects of a man’s labor (for good or bad) will not be seen in his own lifetime. John Bunyan’s writings have inspired and blessed whole generations of Christians long after his death. He himself spent much of his life in prison. On the negative side are unbiblical, compromising decisions in a church that severely damage its testimony for years to come.
The insincere, lazy ones who name Christ will be burned up with the unbelievers (John 15:6; Mat 7:23). God will destroy the Christian who defiles His temple instead of building it up (v17). Remember the slothful, unprofitable servant who hid his talent in the ground and who was sent into outer darkness (Mat 25:30). Contrary to Protestantism’s doctrine, the NT warns every Christian that admittance to the pearly gates of heaven is contingent upon personal good works. True Faith will be accredited by accompanying works. The devils also believe, but their works are evil (James 2:19).
Revealed by fire. On the last day, the true nature of each man’s earthly work will be revealed, of what sort it is. The fire has reference to the mode of the final judgment (2Pet 3:10-12), when God will so shake the earth that only those things which cannot be shaken can remain. God is a consuming fire and He will judge the hearts and motives of every man on that great Judgment Day (Heb 12:25-29). Trial by fire is also an earthly experience (1Pet 1:7; Is 48:10), but the final fires that burn up this earth will divide the true from fake, the truly good from the externally good (see 2Thes 1:8).
16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
The pronoun is plural in the original language: “Don’t you know that your church (in Corinth) is a temple of God? The man who destroys God’s temple will himself be destroyed, for His temple is holy.” In this Scriptural imagery, the church as a body of believers is the holy temple of God. Christ has promised to dwell in the heart of every believer (John 14:23), so in another sense each Christian is a temple (1Cor 6:19). Here, however, the temple of God is the church body (see 2Cor 6:16; Eph 2:20-21; 1Pet 2:5; Mat 16:18). The Greek word for temple is naos, which refers to the temple sanctuary itself, allowed only to priests. Behind the veil in the naos was the Holy of Holies, where the Shekinah glory of God dwelt between the two cherubim over the ark of the Covenant.
While the temple of worship under the Old Covenant was a physical edifice on the sacred mount in Jerusalem, the temple where God and Man meet under the New Covenant is within the hearts and minds of His people. It is a temple not made with hands, neither can it be restricted to one place; rather, where two or three are gathered together in My name there am I in the midst of them (Mat 18:20). In heaven, the Lamb will be the temple (Rev 21:22).
Which temple ye are. Again the pronoun is plural. In the present context, the Apostle makes clear that members in the church must take their labor very seriously. We are labourers for Christ! If a man’s work in the Temple of God is of poor quality, it will be burned up; if his work defiles the Temple, he himself shall be destroyed. Let no man deceive himself (v18). It would be difficult to conceive of a more sobering warning than this – especially for ministers in the church.
18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. 20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
Here are some strong words! “Don’t be deceived, you who wish to be wise; you must become a fool (in the world’s eyes) in order to become truly wise.” Hear o Christian youth. The wisdom of the “intellectual” world runs contrary to the wisdom from above! The world’s wisdom values influence, selfishness, force, self-confidence, materialism, titles, etc. The wisdom from above values meekness, esteeming others first, denying self, returning good for evil (James 3:17). More insidious are the feelings of superiority and pride that tempt the educated person. It happens too often. A young person goes off to college and comes back full of himself and confident in his new-found wisdom. Some of the wisest men I have ever met never finished high-school. My schooling exceeds theirs, but I acknowledge their wiser wisdom. Never give an educated man the ultimate word just because he has higher titles. Facts must be interpreted and many times the highly educated man is too conflicted in agenda and world-view to honestly perform that exercise. The wisdom of the deepest thinking intellectual is foolishness in comparison to God’s wisdom.
The craftiness (skill and cunning) of scientists, philosophers, social architects and politicians added together amounts to nothing when placed on the balance and compared to the wisdom of God (Is 40:12-15). He knows their ideas and plans, and He can manipulate them as He wishes. He traps them in their own wisdom (Job 5:13), makes their efforts to fail, and disproves their wise theorems by their own laws. In the physical world, nothing better illustrates this than Science’s assertion that the universe created itself out of nothing. Meanwhile, in the spiritual realm Jesus so thoroughly confounded the wise of His day that they did not dare to ask Him another question (Mat 22:46).
In Corinth, an unhealthy pursuit of wisdom was apparently a serious problem. Perhaps one of the division-makers was a self-appointed “wiseman” of eloquent speech and seemingly wise discernments. Such can be a problem in any church, so Paul’s advice continues true: Let him become a fool, that he may be wise. Be humble, recognize your weakness, limited understanding, delegated authority, etc. No church leader is exempt from these requirements! True wisdom comes from the Spirit of God.
21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; 22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; 23 And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.
To sum up this topic Paul essentially says, “Let no man boast in another. You don’t have to know Paul or Apollos to inherit eternal life. You don’t need the wisdom of this world either, for all are yours apart from these. Don’t rely on man’s wisdom, you have what is necessary in yourselves through Christ. Why do you seek to exalt a man? You already have all things because you belong to Him. Why do you seek wisdom in the things of this world? That’s foolishness to God. Look to Christ and don’t be afraid to become a fool according to the world to be truly wise.”
All things are yours. This is not meant to be taken literally (“You own everything in the world, and everything is yours”), but as anticipating the spiritual reality. A child who is heir to his father’s estate owns it all, even though he hasn’t yet received it (see Gal 4:1-7, ). This corrects the Corinthians’ error of elevating certain leaders to inappropriate levels and boasting about them. The Christian’s sustenance and power is not attained by knowing a particular man, but by belonging to Christ. All things are yours without man, so do not glory in men.