BUT AS UNTO CARNAL (αλλ' ως σαρκινοις). Latin _carneus_. "As men o' flesh," Braid Scots; "as worldlings," Moffatt. This form in -ινος like λιθινος in 2 Corinthians 3:3 means the material of flesh, "not on tablets of stone, but on fleshen tablets on hearts." So in Hebrews 7:16. But in Romans 7:14 P... [ Continue Reading ]
I FED YOU WITH MILK, NOT WITH MEAT (γαλα υμας εποτισα, ου βρωμα). Note two accusatives with the verb, εποτισα, first aorist active indicative of ποτιζω, as with other causative verbs, that of the person and of the thing. In the LXX and the papyri the verb often means to irrigate. Βρωμα does not m... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR YE ARE YET CARNAL (ετ γαρ σαρκικο εστε). Σαρκικος, unlike σαρκινος, like ικος formations, means adapted to, fitted for the flesh (σαρξ), one who lives according to the flesh (κατα σαρκα). Paul by ψυχικος describes the unregenerate man, by πνευματικος the regenerate man. Both classes are σαρκι... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WHEN ONE SAITH (οταν γαρ λεγη τις). Indefinite temporal clause with the present subjunctive of repetition (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 972). Each instance is a case in point and proof abundant of the strife.OF PAUL (Παυλου). Predicate genitive, belong to Paul, on Paul's side.OF APOLLOS (Απολ... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT THEN? (τ ουν;). He does not say τις (who), but τ (what), neuter singular interrogative pronoun.MINISTERS (διακονο). Not leaders of parties or sects, but merely servants through whom ye believed. The etymology of the word Thayer gives as δια and κονις "raising dust by hastening." In the Gosp... [ Continue Reading ]
I PLANTED (εγω εφυτευσα). First aorist active indicative of old verb φυτευω. This Paul did as Luke tells us in Acts 18:1-18.APOLLOS WATERED (Απολλως εποτισεν). Apollos irrigated the church there as is seen in Acts 18:24-19. Another aorist tense as in verse 1 Corinthians 3:2.BUT GOD GAVE THE INC... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THEN NEITHER--NEITHER--BUT (Hωστε ουτε--ουτε--αλλ'). Paul applies his logic relentlessly to the facts. He had askedWHAT (τ) is Apollos or Paul (verse 1 Corinthians 3:5). The answer is here.NEITHER IS ANYTHING (τ)THE ONE WHO PLANTS NOR THE ONE WHO WATERS . God is the whole and we are not... [ Continue Reading ]
ARE ONE (εν εισιν). The neuter singular again (εν, not εις) as with the interrogative τ and the indefinite τ. By this bold metaphor which Paul expands he shows how the planter and the waterer work together. If no one planted, the watering would be useless. If no one watered, the planting would co... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD'S FELLOW-WORKERS (θεου συνεργο). This old word (co-workers of God) has a new dignity here. God is the major partner in the enterprise of each life, but he lets us work with him. Witness the mother and God with the baby as the product.GOD'S HUSBANDRY (θεου γεωργιον). God's tilled land (γη, ε... [ Continue Reading ]
AS A WISE MASTERBUILDER (ως σοφος αρχιτεκτων). Paul does not shirk his share in the work at Corinth with all the sad outcome there. He absolves Apollos from responsibility for the divisions. He denies that he himself is to blame. In doing so he has to praise himself because the Judaizers who fomen... [ Continue Reading ]
OTHER FOUNDATION (θεμελιον αλλον). The gender of the adjective is here masculine as is shown by αλλον. If neuter, it would be αλλο. It is masculine because Paul has Christ in mind. It is not here ετερον a different kind of gospel (ετερον ευαγγελιον, Galatians 1:6; 2 Corinthians 11:4) which is not... [ Continue Reading ]
GOLD, SILVER, PRECIOUS STONES, WOOD, HAY, STUBBLE (χρυσιον, αργυριον, λιθους τιμιουσ, ξυλα, χορτον, καλαμην). The durable materials are three (gold, silver, marble or precious stones), perishable materials (pieces of wood, hay, stubble), "of a palace on the one hand, of a mud hut on the other" (Li... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DAY (η ημερα). The day of judgment as in 1 Thessalonians 5:4 (which see), Romans 13:12; Hebrews 10:25. The work (εργον) of each will be made manifest. There is no escape from this final testing.IT IS REVEALED IN FIRE (εν πυρ αποκαλυπτετα). Apparently "the day" is the subject of the verb, not... [ Continue Reading ]
IF ANY MAN'S WORK SHALL ABIDE (ε τινος το εργον μενε). Condition of the first class with future indicative, determined as fulfilled, assumed as true. When the fire has done its work, what is left? That is the fiery test that the work of each of us must meet. Suitable reward (Matthew 20:8) will co... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL BE BURNED (κατακαησετα). First-class condition again, assumed as true. Second future (late form) passive indicative of κατακαιω, to burn down, old verb. Note perfective use of preposition κατα, shall be burned down. We usually say "burned up," and that is true also, burned up in smoke.HE SH... [ Continue Reading ]
YE ARE A TEMPLE OF GOD (ναος θεου εστε). Literally, a sanctuary (ναος, not ιερον, the sacred enclosure, but the holy place and the most holy place) of God. The same picture of building as in verse 1 Corinthians 3:9 (οικοδομη), only here the sanctuary itself.DWELLETH IN YOU (εν υμιν οικε). The S... [ Continue Reading ]
DESTROYETH (φθειρε). The outward temple is merely the symbol of God's presence, the Shechinah (the Glory). God makes his home in the hearts of his people or the church in any given place like Corinth. It is a terrible thing to tear down ruthlessly a church or temple of God like an earthquake that... [ Continue Reading ]
LET NO MAN DECEIVE HIMSELF (Μηδεις εαυτον εξαπατω). A warning that implied that some of them were guilty of doing it (μη and the present imperative). Excited partisans can easily excite themselves to a pious phrenzy, hypnotize themselves with their own supposed devotion to truth.THINKETH THAT HE... [ Continue Reading ]
FOOLISHNESS WITH GOD (μωρια παρα τω θεω). Whose standard does a church (temple) of God wish, that of this world or of God? The two standards are not the same. It is a pertinent inquiry with us all whose idea rules in our church. Paul quotes Job 5:13.THAT TAKETH (ο δρασσομενος). Old verb δρασσομ... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AGAIN (κα παλιν). Another confirmatory passage from Psalms 94:11.REASONINGS (διαλογισμους). More than _cogitationes_ (Vulgate), sometimes disputations (Philippians 2:14). Paul changes "men" of LXX to wise (σοφων) in harmony with the Hebrew context.VAIN (ματαιο). Useless, foolish, from ματ... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE LET NO ONE GLORY IN MEN (ωστε μηδεις καυχασθω εν ανθρωποις). The conclusion (ωστε) from the self-conceit condemned. This particle here is merely inferential with no effect on the construction (ωσ+τε = and so) any more than ουν would have, a paratactic conjunction. There are thirty such... [ Continue Reading ]
YOURS (υμων). Predicate genitive, belong to you. All the words in this verse and 1 Corinthians 3:23 are anarthrous, though not indefinite, but definite. The English reproduces them all properly without the definite article except κοσμος (the world), and even here just world will answer. Proper na... [ Continue Reading ]