I COULD NOT TALK TO YOU. Compare 1 Corinthians 2:6; 1 Corinthians 2:14_. MacKnight_ says: "From what is said in this chapter it appears, that the false teacher had represented St. Paul either as ignorant or as unfaithful, because he had not fully instructed the Corinthians before his departure. The... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAD TO FEED YOU MILK. "I had to give you the elementary teachings of Christ, not the more difficult doctrines we teach to the spiritually mature." AND EVEN NOW. They still are spiritually immature. The proof of this is the lives they live.... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE YOU STILL LIVE. Their lives are no different from the unconverted. DOESN'T THIS PROVE? They are jealous and quarrel like men of the world. Compare Galatians 5:19-21.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN ONE OF YOU SAYS. The competition between them that grew out of their "party spirit" was proof of their worldly motives.... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER ALL? Neither Paul nor Apollos were "the Lord" in matters of religion. They were simply God's servants, working together to proclaim the Good News. The "party spirit" of the Corinthians contrasts sharply with the _unity_ of Paul and Apollos. [_MacKnight_ thinks the false teacher was taught and... [ Continue Reading ]
I PLANTED THE SEED. "I planted you in God's field, Apollos (and others) watered you, by teaching you, but it was God who made you grow." [This shows there are two basic kinds of preachers: _planting_ preachers and _watering_ preachers.]... [ Continue Reading ]
REALLY DO NOT MATTER. The power and message come from God. The ones who proclaim it are only "common clay pots" (2 Corinthians 4:7). IT IS GOD WHO MATTERS. He is the only important one, because he acted in history to make it all possible, and he makes the plant grow.... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE. That is, in rank or importance. The work of each is equally important, and both are God's servants. Neither one deserves any special honor. GOD WILL REWARD EACH ONE. Paul contrasts individual and community relationships. He forbids the man to either defy the community or to m... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WE ARE PARTNERS. They are not _rivals,_ as the Corinthians seemed to think. They are God's workers, carrying out God's mission. GOD'S FIELD. Compare Matthew 13:3-30. GOD'S BUILDING. God's temple is built of living stones (1 Peter 2:5; Ephesians 2:19-22).... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT GOD GAVE ME. God himself made Paul an apostle. I DID THE WORK. As an apostle, Paul laid _the foundation_ everywhere he went. He did this by proclaiming the Good News of God's act in Christ to set men free. ANOTHER MAN. Apollos and the other teachers _built_ on _the foundation_ which Paul laid.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR GOD HAS ALREADY PLACED JESUS CHRIST. By God's decree, Jesus Christ is _the foundation,_ the CORNERSTONE (Ephesians 2:20) upon which the whole spiritual temple is constructed.... [ Continue Reading ]
SOME WILL USE. Christ's church is not built of doctrines, but people. _MacKnight_ says the building materials represent disciples of Christ. _Gold, silver, precious stones_ symbolize sincere believers. _Wood, grass, straw_ symbolize those who have been taught false things.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE QUALITY. The real proof of each man's work will be clearly demonstrated by the fire of persecution. THE DAY OF CHRIST. _MacKnight_ sees this as the severe persecution which would shortly come. Compare Luke 21:22. FOR THAT DAY'S FIRE. _MacKnight_ says: "That the _fire_ of which the apostle sp... [ Continue Reading ]
SURVIVES THE FIRE. [Some, misunderstanding and thinking the Day of Christ to mean the Judgment, have taught that both the righteous and wicked will be burned in the fires of hell (purgatory); the wicked burnt up, and the righteous made pure.] If the disciples he has taught are faithful when persecut... [ Continue Reading ]
IS BURNT UP. If the disciples he has taught are unfaithful when persecuted, he will lose his reward (see 1 Corinthians 3:14). BUT HE HIMSELF WILL BE SAVED. This seems to imply the false teacher was sincere in his efforts, even though he was not properly preparing the disciples which he taught. ESCAP... [ Continue Reading ]
YOU ARE GOD'S TEMPLE. You = the church of God in Corinth. GOD'S SPIRIT LIVES IN YOU. See Ephesians 2:22.... [ Continue Reading ]
SO IF ANYONE DESTROYS. Here Paul speaks of those who purposely distort the truth of God (Galatians 1:6-9), but also of those who destroy the messianic community by their "party spirit" (see 1 Corinthians 3:3-4). Compare 1 Timothy 6:3-5.... [ Continue Reading ]
NO ONE SHOULD FOOL HIMSELF. The false teacher at Corinth thought himself to be _wise_ because he was able to get people to come to Christ through not telling them all the teachings of Christ, and misrepresenting some things. But as poor as this false teacher's work might be, he did build on _the fou... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WHAT THIS WORLD. See 1 Corinthians 1:20 and note. AS THE SCRIPTURE SAYS. Paul paraphrases Job 5:13 Septuagint. God lets men outsmart themselves! Compare 1 Corinthians 2:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ANOTHER SCRIPTURE SAYS. Paul paraphrases Psalms 94:11 Septuagint. "Man schemes, and God laughs.... [ Continue Reading ]
ABOUT WHAT MEN CAN DO. Since Paul, Apollos, and Peter are all God's servants, no one should boast about being followers of one specific teacher. But especially, they had no reason to boast about the false teacher who brought "wicked men" into the church (1 Corinthians 3:18 and note). ACTUALLY EVERYT... [ Continue Reading ]
PAUL, APOLLOS, AND PETER. See 1 Corinthians 3:5. THIS WORLD is the servant of God's people (1 Corinthians 6:12). LIFE AND DEATH. Our time on earth, and even death, becomes our servant in Christ. THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE stretches it out over all possible times. ALL OF THESE. Paul jubilantly repeat... [ Continue Reading ]
AND YOU BELONG TO CHRIST. This is the climax! In Christ they have union with God!!! How foolish, then, the jealousy and quarrels of rival parties. This also is a statement of irony. "Lords of Creation, you are His slaves. All Creation does belong to you, but you are slaves of the true owner, the God... [ Continue Reading ]