1 Corinthians Chapter 3

Above image from https://www.insight.org/resources/bible/the-pauline-epistles/first-corinthians

Source of above chart is from www.soniclight.com/constable/notes/htm/NT/1%20Corinthians/1Corinthians.htm

(1) Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ.

• Scofield’s note in the Scofield Bible: "Paul divides men into three classes: psuchikos, ‘of the senses’ (James 3:15; Jude 19), or ‘natural,’ i.e. the Adamic man, unrenewed through the new birth (John 3:3, 5); pneumatikos, ‘spiritual,’ i.e. the renewed man as Spirit-filled and walking in the Spirit in full communion with God (Ephesians 5:18-20); and sarkikos, ‘carnal,’ ‘fleshly,’ i.e. the renewed man who, walking ‘after the flesh,’ remains a babe in Christ (1 Corinthians 3:1-4). The natural man may be learned, gentle, eloquent, fascinating, but the spiritual content of Scripture is absolutely hidden from him; and the fleshly, or carnal, Christian is able to comprehend only its simplest truths, ‘milk’ (1 Corinthians 3:2)." Where do you fit in?
• Brothers and Sisters:
• This chapter is addressed to saved Christians, brothers (and sisters) in Christ. Though they are indwelt by the Holy Spirit (unlike the natural man of 1 Corinthians 2:14), they are not behaving like spiritual people, but like carnal - that is, fleshly - people, like immature Christians (babes in Christ).
• Spiritual (Strong's Greek #4152 - pneumatikos):
  • What is a spiritual Christian? Very simply put, spiritual Christians are believers who are controlled more by the Spirit of God than they are by their flesh.
• Belonged to this world (Carnal in the KJV - Strong's Greek #4559- sarkikos - fleshly, carnal, earthly):
• The word carnal here, sarkikos, is applied here to Christians, indwelt by the Spirit, but mastered by the flesh, who still exhibit the works of the flesh discussed in Galatians 5:19-21- "sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these."
• Alan Redpath: "The carnal Christian is a child of God, born again and on his way to heaven, but he is traveling third class."
• 1 Corinthians 2:14-15: But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others.

(2) I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready,

• Milk:
  • "Milk" refers to the "basics" of Christian teaching as is mentioned in Hebrews 6. The Corinthian believers were not mature enough to receive more advanced teaching, but they should have been further along in their Christian life.
  • Hebrews 5:13-14: You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.
  • Hebrews 6:1-3: So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. You don’t need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding.
• Solid food:
• The “solid food” is not advanced and complicated doctrine; it is godliness of living. Many people think they are mature since they know the Bible - Satan could quote the Bible to Jesus. God is more interested in our attitudes and actions. While knowledge is certainly valuable, obedience is far more important.

(3) for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world?

• Controlled by your sinful nature:
  • This is the very definition of a carnal Christian.
• Jealous:
• James 3:14-16: But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.
• Quarrel:
• Titus 3:9-11: Do not get involved in foolish discussions about spiritual pedigrees or in quarrels and fights about obedience to Jewish laws. These things are useless and a waste of time. If people are causing divisions among you, give a first and second warning. After that, have nothing more to do with them. For people like that have turned away from the truth, and their own sins condemn them.
• Living like people of the world:
• If your lifestyle, language, habits, morals, goals, etc. are basically the same as everyone else and others would be surprised to learn you are a born-again Christian, you definitely fit the description of carnality and may not even actually be saved!

(4) When one of you says, “I am a follower of Paul,” and another says, “I follow Apollos,” aren’t you acting just like people of the world?

• Clarke: "It was notorious [noteworthy] that both Paul and Apollos held the same creed ... Their preferring one to another on such an account proved that they were carnal - led by their senses and mere outward appearances, without being under the guidance either of reason or grace."

(5) After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us.

• Who is:
  • They have their eyes on the people through whom they heard the gospel, rather than on the message that minister brought. The ministers should not be the object of worship. They are just a voice bringing the gospel message. Paul, Peter and John certainly won no popularity contests - as contrasted to so many TV evangelists and mega-church pastors. Also, look at the popularity and near-worship of the pope!
• God's servants (doulos - slave):
• They were the mere instruments or servants by whom God conveyed the Good News of Christ to the Corinthians. Because they were engaged in the same work, it was improper for them to form parties that should be called by their names.

(6) I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow.

• Planted the seed:
  • Paul started the church in Corinth having led in the first converts and worked to set up the first house churches (no big buildings with steeples back then).  After Paul left, Apollos worked to help the church grow.  No matter which person led which aspect of the church, God should get all the credit.  God is the one who "makes it grow" as the Holy Spirit works in the lives of individuals to accept the Gospel message.

(7-8) It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work.

• Both will be rewarded:
• Each Christian will be judged and rewarded in heaven based on what they did with their salvation.

(9) For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building.

• We are both:
  • Paul and Apollos.
• God's workers:
• Greek sunergos - Strong's Greek #4904. (co-workers with God!)
• Calvin: ". . . they were called co-workers not because they bring anything of themselves, but because God uses their work after he has rendered them capable of it and has furnished them with the necessary gifts."
• Field:
• We are like a field in a farm - some have planted a seed in our lives leading us to examine Christ's claims, others have led us to a faith in Christ and others are continuing to work in our lives to help us grow in faith in Jesus. At the same time, God calls us to be "workers" too and help other people grow in their faith.

(10) Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful.

• Foundation:
  • A building is only as solid as its foundation. The foundation of our life is Jesus Christ (if we are a Christian). Everything we are and do must fit into the pattern provided by Him. Are you building your life on the only real and lasting foundation, or are you building on a faulty foundation, such as pleasure, wealth, security, success or fame?
  • Matthew 7:24-27: “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”
  • 1 Corinthians 2:2: For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified.
• Expert builder:
• Strong's Greek #753 - architekton.

(11) For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have - Jesus Christ.

• Foundation ... Jesus Christ:
  • Salvation is the foundation that is already put down. Therefore, no one can work for salvation.
  • Psalm 118:22: The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.
  • Isaiah 28:16: Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken.
  • Acts 4:11-12: For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’ There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”
  • Ephesians 2:20: Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.

(12) Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials - gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw.

• Anyone:
  • This passage applies not only to leaders in the church but also to every believer.
    
• Builds:
  • The point is God is watching how we Christians live for Jesus. The works that we do as Christians is being compared to "gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay or straw". The point is God wants us to live a life that makes a difference for Him all that we do. Remember Paul is talking to believers. The subject is strictly about believers in Jesus. Since the very moment you were saved, you have been building a life that can either be a thing of glory to the Lord, or it can be a thing of disgrace before the Lord. When we stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ, we will answer for how we have built our lives.
• Gold, silver, jewels:
  • 2 Timothy 2:15, 20-21: Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.
• Wood, hay, or straw:
• Wood, hay, straw are inferior materials implying shallow activity with no eternal value. These symbolize a shallow form of Christianity which would fail under persecution.
• Read the "Parable of the Three Servants" in Matthew 25:14-30.
  

(13) But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value.

• Judgment day:
  • Judgment day refers to the Day of the Lord Jesus Christ when each Christian worker will appear before Christ for evaluation of his life. Paul’s constant motivation was to be pleasing to the Lord in that day (2 Corinthians 5:9-10) and receive his commendation (1 Corinthians 4:5).
  • In Paul's day, in every city, there was a place called the Bema, or judgment seat. It was from this raised platform, usually in the center of town, that announcements were made, judgments rendered, commendations handed out and rewards (crowns) were given out to the winners of the Greek games.
  • Romans 14:10-12: So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For the Scriptures say, “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will declare allegiance to God.’” Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God.
  • 1 Corinthians 4:5: So don’t make judgments about anyone ahead of time - before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due.
  • 2 Corinthians 5:9-11: So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him. For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.
  • Philippians 1:6,10; 2:16: And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. ... For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. ... Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.
  • 2 Timothy 1:12, 18; 4:8: That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return. ... May the Lord show him special kindness on the day of Christ’s return. And you know very well how helpful he was in Ephesus. ... And now the prize awaits me - the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.
  • 2 Peter 3:10: But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.
  • 1 John 2:28: And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame.
  • Revelation 22:12: “Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds.
• Fire:
• It is not the saints but their works which are to be subjected to fire. Paul is not portraying a sort of purgatory scenario and one's salvation is not the issue. The whole concept of purgatory is foreign to the word of God, but the advocates of it are still deriving immense revenues through the preaching of it. The idea of purgatory has nothing to do with this passage, and nothing to do with any other passage in the Bible. Roman Catholics use this passage to teach purgatory, the idea that when we die, we go to a place where we are purified by fire before we go to heaven. Purgatory is strictly a human invention, and denies the finished work of Jesus for the believer. Macknight: "The Romish clergy, seeing that this doctrine properly managed, might be made an inexhaustible source of wealth to their order, have represented this fire of purgatory as lighted up from the very beginning of the world, and have kept it burning ever since, and have assumed to themselves the power of detaining souls in that fire, and of releasing them from it; whereby they have drawn great sums of money from the ignorant and superstitious."
• What kind of work:
• The fire will reveal what “kind” of life we led and what “kind” our works are - not what size our works are. The Lord is going to reward us based on how well we did with the talents and opportunities he gave us. Some people will stand before the Lord with huge houses that will be reduced to rubble after God rejects the building materials they used (works of the flesh). Others who never gained acclaim here on earth because they never did any big, important works will be greatly rewarded because they faithfully fulfilled what the Lord called them to do.
• Judgment ... fire:
• Malachi 3:2-3; 4:1: “But who will be able to endure it when he comes? Who will be able to stand and face him when he appears? For he will be like a blazing fire that refines metal, or like a strong soap that bleaches clothes. He will sit like a refiner of silver, burning away the dross. He will purify the Levites, refining them like gold and silver, so that they may once again offer acceptable sacrifices to the Lord. ... The Lord of Heaven’s Armies says, “The day of judgment is coming, burning like a furnace. On that day the arrogant and the wicked will be burned up like straw. They will be consumed - roots, branches, and all.
• Matthew 3:12: He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.”
• Hebrews 12:28-29: Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. For our God is a devouring fire.
• 1 Peter 1:7: These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold - though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

(14) IF the work survives, that builder will receive a reward.

• IF:
  • We were created with a purpose, and each one of us has a God-given plan for our lives. Are your actions in agreement with God’s plan for your life?
• Reward:
• God will reward us for our deeds (Matthew 16:27; Romans 2:6; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Ephesians 6:8; Revelation 2:23), our words (Matthew 12:36-37; James 3:1-12) and our motives (1 Corinthians 4:4-5; 10:31; Colossians 3:23-24). As our perfect Judge, He will take all of these areas into consideration and render a just verdict. Therefore, the time to prepare for tomorrow is today.
• Paul is speaking primarily of teachers, though, of course, his words apply by analogy to all believers.
• I thank God that I am saved forever. I thank Him that nothing can ever change that! However, I want to have something to show for my life when I arrive there. I do not want to see everything burn up. I want some crowns to place at Jesus’ feet. How about you?
• The Bible tells us about five crowns available as rewards to the faithful saint of God:
  1. The Incorruptible Crown - Awarded for faithfulness to the Lord - 1 Corinthians 9:25.
  2. The Crown Of Life - For the person who endures and overcomes temptation - James 1:12.
  3. The Crown Of Rejoicing - This is the soul winners crown - 1 Thessalonians 2:19.
  4. The Crown Of Righteousness - This will be given to those who anticipate and live in the light of the return of Jesus - 2 Timothy 4:8.
  5. The Crown Of Glory – This will be given to the faithful ministers who give themselves to lead and feed the flock of God - 1 Peter 5:4.
• 1 Corinthians 9:24-25: Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.
• Ephesians 6:7-8: Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free.

(15) But IF the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.

• Great loss:
  • We have the potential of losing our rewards, our crowns - standing there stark naked.
  • 2 John 8: Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward.
  • Revelation 3:11: I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown.
• The builder will be saved:
• Complete security of salvation! Paul’s entire discourse here is solely about judgment of Christians' actions and lives. He made that clear in verse 11 where he said that the foundation is Christ. He was describing Christians who lost their rewards because they acted from the flesh.
• Romans 8:39: No power in the sky above or in the earth below - indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

(16) Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?

• Temple:
  • Solomon built an elaborate temple in Jerusalem, and God said He would cause His name to dwell there so that people could pray to Him in that place (2 Chronicles 7:12-16). But now, God does not dwell in a building made by man’s hands. He now lives in the hearts of those who make Jesus their Lord (Romans 10:9). This is why there is no need for fancy buildings for the New Testament church to meet in. In fact, during Paul's time, believers met in homes! The building is no longer the temple of God.
  • The Christian's body is the temple of God, which has its consequences:
  • The sins of adultery and fornication are grievous to God because they unite the Christian with someone other than his or her spouse - and make for an abomination. God takes this very seriously. In our enlightened era, it’s not adultery; it’s “an affair.” It’s not fornication, it’s “sexual experience.” Sex before marriage makes sure the couple is compatible. God does not agree.
  • Since our body is the temple of God, aren't such things as smoking, illegal drugs, obesity, cursing and unhealthy lifestyles be sinful?
    
  • 1 Corinthians 6:16,19-20: And don’t you realize that if a man joins himself to a prostitute, he becomes one body with her? For the Scriptures say, “The two are united into one.” ... Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.
  • 2 Corinthians 6:16: And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
  • Ephesians 2:21-22: We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.
  • 1 Peter 2:5-6: And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. As the Scriptures say, “I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem, chosen for great honor, and anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”
• Spirit of God lives in you:
• Galatians 2:20: My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
• 1 Corinthians 6:19: Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself,

(17) God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

• Destroy:
  • The Greek word that was translated “destroy” here is “phteiro.” It was only used in seven scriptures in the New Testament, and six of those times, it was translated “corrupt” or “corrupted” (1 Corinthians 15:33; 2 Corinthians 7:2, 11:3; Ephesians 4:22; Jude 10 and Revelation 19:2) in the KJV. This same Greek word that was translated “destroy” should be translated “defile” here. This is, no doubt, an allusion to the method of conduct in the physical temple at Jerusalem. There were very strict laws governing things that would defile the temple (Leviticus 15:31, 20:3; Numbers 19:20; Ezekiel 5:11, and 23:38-39). A classic scriptural example of this is when Paul was accused of letting a Gentile enter the temple (Acts 21:27-31). The Jews sought to kill Paul for this defiling of God’s temple. Paul was saying that in the same way the Jews would not allow the physical temple in Jerusalem to be defiled, so should they have recognized that God will not allow His spiritual temple in people’s hearts to be defiled. This is not speaking of God totally destroying someone who defiles the temple of God. This is a very stern warning to those who would defile the body of Christ through their wrong teaching and wrong behavior.

(18) Stop deceiving yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world’s standards, you need to become a fool to be truly wise.

• This section refers back to 1:18-2:16 where Paul contrasts the wisdom of the world with the foolishness of God. In the following six verses, Paul carefully contrasts the wisdom of this world (3:18-20) with the wisdom of God (3:21-23).
• "I'd Rather Have Jesus" is a song written by Rhea F. Miller with the tune written by George Beverly Shea:
  • "I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold.
      I'd rather have him than have riches untold.
      I'd rather have Jesus than houses or lands.
      I'd rather be led by his nail pierced hands
      Than to be a king of a vast domain
      And be held in sin's dread sway.
      I'd rather have Jesus than anything this world affords today."
• Stop deceiving yourselves:
  • C.K. Barrett writes, "Self-deception is the common fate of those who mistakenly fancy themselves wise; deluded in this, they are deluded in many other matters...They estimate wisdom by the wrong standards. Such men need to take new standards and reverse their judgments."
  • A person wise in his own eyes or in the eyes of the world is unteachable.
  • Proverbs 3:7: Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
  • Proverbs 26:12: There is more hope for fools than for people who think they are wise.
• Wise:
• The world sets a different standard for greatness.
• Fool:
• The Biblical definition of a fool is someone who does not care for the things of God and only lives for themselves.

(19) For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, “He traps the wise in the snare of their own cleverness.”

• Wisdom of this world:
  • Human wisdom cannot produce salvation from sin. Human wisdom cannot solve the secular, political, economic and social problems facing the world.
  • Worldly wisdom has been judged by God to be spiritually foolish. The Greek word is moria, which is the root of our word "moron."
  • James 3:13-18: If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.
  • Examples of worldly wisdom:
  • Get ahead at any cost.
  • Watch out for number one.
  • The end justifies the means.
  • Do to others before they have a chance to do it to you.
  • Nice guys finish last.
  • Everybody else does it.
  • It's not illegal, just shady.
  • If it makes you feel good, do it!
  • Honesty never pays.
  • He who has the gold makes the rules.
  • All's fair in love - an' war - an' politics.
  • Love is a game in which both players always cheat.
  • Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow you die.
  • He who dies with the most toys wins!
  • Might makes Right.
  • Revenge is sweet.
  • Sex sells.
  • Ignorance is bliss.
  • "Religion is the opium of the people" - Karl Marx.
  • "The lack of money is the root of all evil." - Mark Twain
  • Psalm 94:11: The Lord knows people’s thoughts; he knows they are worthless!
• Traps the wise:
• Job 5:13: He traps the wise in their own cleverness so their cunning schemes are thwarted.

(20) And again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise; he knows they are worthless.”

• Quoted from Psalm 94:11: The Lord knows people’s thoughts; he knows they are worthless!

(21) So don’t boast about following a particular human leader. For everything belongs to you -

• Everything belongs to you:
• Romans 8:32: Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?

(22) whether Paul or Apollos or Peter, or the world, or life and death, or the present and the future. Everything belongs to you,

(23) and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.

• By adhering to Christ and resisting human wisdom and division Christians can have all blessings available to believers through Christ in God!

   
Above images from The Seven Pillars Of Wisdom

Overall Application (from www.walkwiththeword.org/):

1. As God’s field, we are to receive the Word of God implanted in us and bear spiritual fruit.
2. As God’s temple, we are to be built with spiritually lasting materials for the glory of God.
3. Each of us, regardless of office or gift, are making contributions, be they gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay or straw.
4. But the ultimate quality of our work, which speaks to our level of spiritual maturity, is found in the quality of our personal relationships.

This thought of spiritual versus natural continues in chapter 4. Remember that chapter breaks are man-made:

• 1 Corinthians 4:1-7: So look at Apollos and me as mere servants of Christ who have been put in charge of explaining God’s mysteries. Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful. As for me, it matters very little how I might be evaluated by you or by any human authority. I don’t even trust my own judgment on this point. My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide. So don’t make judgments about anyone ahead of time - before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due. Dear brothers and sisters, I have used Apollos and myself to illustrate what I’ve been saying. If you pay attention to what I have quoted from the Scriptures, you won’t be proud of one of your leaders at the expense of another. For what gives you the right to make such a judgment? What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?

NOTES:

• Except otherwise noted, the scripture version used is the New Living Translation, Tyndale House Publishers,Inc., Wheaton, Illinois.
• Disclaimer: Source material for this study has been gleaned from many different sources. If you want further study, I have attempted to acknowledge these sources at http://1corinthiansblog.blogspot.com/2016/01/1-corinthians-references.html
• Index to all our 1 Corinthian studies are at 1corinthiansblog.blogspot.com/2016/02/index-to-1-corinthians.html
• Index to all our studies are at oakview-bible-fellowship.blogspot.com/