CHAPTER III. SYNOPSIS OF THE CHAPTER He endeavours to put an end to the divisions among the Corinthians, by reminding them of their mutual subjection and union in Christ and God. I. He points out that Paul and Apollos are but ministers of Christ (vers. 1 9). II. He reminds them that Christ is th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Whereas there is among you envying and strife... are ye not carnal?_ (1.) The word carnal is here applied to one who not only has his natural use of sense and reason, but also to one who follows the motions and dictates of the flesh, that is, of his animal nature. And, therefore, as S. Thomas right... [ Continue Reading ]
_Even as the Lord gave to every man._ God gave to each one of His ministers powers of such kind and such extent as befitted his ministry. Therefore they should glory in God alone, not in Paul or Apollos, His ministers. These latter were not the lords or the authors of their faith, but merely the ins... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase._ I was the first to sow the seeds of the faith at Corinth, and then Apollos coming after me helped it forward (Act 18:26). But it was God who gave the inner life and strength of grace for growth and maturity in Christian faith and virtue:... [ Continue Reading ]
_So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth, but God giveth the increase._ The husbandman who plants and waters does hardly anything when compared with God; for he works from without only, and whatever he does he receives it from God, and works as His instrument. But God... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one._ They are one, say S. Thomas, Anselm, and others, in office and one in their ministry, _i.e._, they are both alike ministers. Therefore one is not to be despised or extolled in comparison of another, _e.g_., Paul in comparison of Apollos. Moreover,... [ Continue Reading ]
_For we are labourers together with God._ S. Dionysius (_Cælest_. _Hierarch._ c. 3) says, " _A great, an angelic, nay, a Divine dignity is it to become a fellow-worker with God in the conversion of souls, and to show openly to all the Divine power working in us_." _Ye are God's husbandry._ Not Paul... [ Continue Reading ]
_According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation._ Not mine is this building, not mine the works; for although I, as the first architect, laid the foundations, by my preaching, of the Church at Corinth, yet whatever I did, and brought to perf... [ Continue Reading ]
_For other foundation can no man lay._ I have laid the foundation of your Church: let Apollos and others see what superstructure they raise upon, but not endeavour to lay a new foundation. For no other foundation can be laid, for it is Jesus Christ Himself. The foundation, then, of the Church, and o... [ Continue Reading ]
_But he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire._ Isidorius Clarius wrongly applies this to the "foundation." Grammatically it is possible, but logically not, for it does not agree with the context. For the Apostle is showing that those teachers who erect an empty and showy structure on the faith... [ Continue Reading ]
_Know ye not that ye are the temple of God?_ This is a return to the image of ver. 9: "Ye are God's building," and therefore not a heathen temple, but the temple of God, in which by faith, grace, charity, and His gifts He dwells. So Anselm and others. For a fuller exposition if this, see the notes t... [ Continue Reading ]
_If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy._ If any one, through the fatal pride that is born of human wisdom, through novel, erroneous, and pestilential teaching, or through schisms such as are found among you, O Corinthians, says Anselm; or if any one in any other way corrupt the... [ Continue Reading ]
_For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God_. God has rejected the wisdom of the world as worthless, (1.) because it has nothing in it that is wholesome and Divine, and does nothing towards salvation; (2.) He would not use it in the preaching of the Apostles, but employed instead unlettere... [ Continue Reading ]