1 Corinthians 3

1 The Apostle gives yet another reasons why he preached the Gospel among them in all simplicity, namely, because of their childhood in knowledge, and carnal ness in their divisions, 5 Declares further, in what esteem teachers must be, and how the praise of their work must be ascribed, not to them who plant and water, but to God who giveth the increase. 10. That their office is build on the Christ foundation; not hay, straw, stubble, but gold, silver and precious stones, 13 and that each ones work shall bebe proved by fire; and they then shall receive reward according as it is found. 16.That the Temple of God must not be avoided by divisions, 18 seeing the wisdom of men is foolishness before God, 21 that therefore not man must glory in men, seeing we are Christ’s.

1. AND I brethren could not speak unto you as into spiritual [That is, as such who are extraordinarily enlightened by the Spirit of God; and have made great progress in knowledge, see Galatians 6:1.] but as to carnal, [that is, as to such in whom the flesh or humane inclinations do yet too much manifest themselves, as useth to come to pass in children, who follow their inclinations more then reason] as unto young children in Christ, [that is, who are yet very tender and ignorant in the doctrine of Christ: and hereby he expound the word carnal, that it might not taken for persons who are wholly strangers from the spirit of Christ, as it is often used in the holy Scripture, See Romans 8:8.]

2. I have fed you with milk [That is, with the first principles and foundations of Christian doctrine, which are set forth with example and naked words. Gr. Given you milk to drink] and not with (firm) meat: [that is, the higher declarations of Christian doctrine, which are set forth with higher words, and profounder reasons, see more at large Hebrews 5:12. etc.] For ye are not able for it (then) yea neither are ye now able for it.

3. For ye are yet carnal. For seeing there is envy and strife and division among you, are ye not yet carnal? And do (ye not) walk according to man? [that is, as natural men used to do, which is unseemingly for you.]

4. For while one saith I am of Paul, and another I (am) of Apollo, are ye not carnal? [that is, yet driven by carnal or childish inclinations in distinguishing your teachers.]

5. Who therefore is Paul, and who is Apollo, other then Ministers by whom [That is, by whose ministry and teaching Romans 10:17] ye believed, and (that) even as the Lord gave to every one? [namely, of his ministers, to whom he diversely distributes his gifts. See 1 Cor. 12.4. etc.]

6. I have planted, [That is, the first foundation of the Church by my preaching, as is declared hereafter ver 10.] Apollo hath watered: [that is, that which I had begun, he by his teaching hath furthered & strengthened] but God gave the increase. [that is, made the word which was outwardly preached by us, effectually in the hearts of the hearers, for their conversion. See John 6:44,65. Acts 11:21. and 16.14. etc.]

7. Therefore neither is he that planteth anything, [Namely, to be esteemed, or to glory: which is not to be understood, as if Paul would have ministers to be despised (for 1 Cor. 4.1. he will say the contrary) but because no man must so gaze upon the gifts of the ministers, whosoever they be, as to give them the honour, which belongs to the supreme author of this work: seeing it is God who appoint them, which gives them fitting gifts, and by their labour is powerfull in the hearts of men, 1 Cor. 3.5. and 12.6. Galatians 3:5.] nor he that moisteneth them: but God which giveth the increase.

8. And he that planteth, and he that moisteneth are one: [That is, labour in one and the same thing, and for one and the same end, namely to spread abroad one and the same doctrine of the Gospel, and to edify the Church of Christ, although with divers’ gifts. For he speaks here yet, of the office of faithful teachers, such as he and Apollos were] but ever one shall receive his own reward, according to his labour. [namely, according as he shall well have acquitted himself, and been diligent in this his office. Matthew 25:20. etc.]

9. For we [Namely, who are ministers of Gods word] are Gods fellow-labours: [namely, who under God, labour together on the building of the Church, as instrument which it hath pleased God to make use of for this purpose, although the principal work cometh from him, and the fitness of those instruments themselves commeth also from him, 2 Cor. 3.5,6.] Gods husbandry, [that is, ye as members of the Church of God, are they on whom this labour is bestowed, as it were on a piece of husbandry] Gods building, [another similitude taken from a great edifice, whereof the master hath the ordering, and whereon he employs his servants, which similitude he afterwards more largely explains and applies] are ye.

10. According to the grace of God which is given unto you, [Namely, by which I am called to be an Apostle of Christ, and with which he hath hitherto assisted and accompanied me in my ministry. Whereby he ascribes all that he is and doth, not to himself but to God] I have a wise master-builder [that is, as becomes a right prudent, and faithful master-builder] laid the foundation, [namely, together with other Apostles, in the first setting up of the Church of Christ throughout the whole world: and as the first which set up your Church, Romans 15:20. Ephesians 2:20. Revel. 21.14.] and another buildeth thereon; [this he speaketh of the Ordinary ministers, which after the Apostles, were called and settled in the Churches that were founded, and went forward on the Apostles work, Romans 15:20.] but let every one take heed, how he buildeth thereupon. [some understand of the persons, who by the teachers are built on the foundation, as the word work is so taken, 1 Cor. 9.1. But seeing the Apostle here saith, let every one take heed how he buildeth thereupon, this is commonly and more fitly understood, that the Apostle would here admonish the teachers, that they take heed what doctrine they purpose upon the foundation that the Apostle have laid, for the strengthening and enlarging of the Churches already founded.]

11. For no man can lay another foundation then that which is laid, [Or, besides that. Namely, by me and the other Apostles] which is Jesus Christ. [Christ is called the foundation of the Church, either in respect of himself upon whom the salvation of the Church depends, because he as true God and man hath procured salvation for us, and applies the same to us by his Spirit. Matthew 16:18. 1 Pet. 2.6. or in respect of his doctrine, whereby we are directed and brought unto him as the only Saviour, and by faith in him receive righteousness, holiness and eternal life. To this doctrine the Apostle here hath respect, and declares that in the doctrine of the Gospel, we may not be directed to any one else to find salvation, but to his person and merits. See John 14:6. Acts 4:12. Ephesians 2:20.]

12. And if any man build upon this foundation [That is, on the doctrine of seeking salvation in Jesus Christ alone] gold, silver, precious stones [that is, edifying doctrines, not drawn from humane wisdom, but from the right grounds of Gods word, 2 Tim. 1 13.] wood, hay, stubble. [hereby are understood not heresies, or false doctrines which overthrow the foundation, whereby the Church of Christ is seduced or rent, for such the word of God condemns as works of the flesh which deprive man of salvation. Acts 20:30. Galatians 5:20. 1 Tim. 4.ver.1,2,3. but some doctrines, error, or institutions of lesser moment, brought forth by humane reason, which do not overthrow the foundation; or some curious and unnecessary disputes which do not edify, and flourishing manners of speaking without the word of God, which the Apostle every where reproves in these four first chapters.]

13. Every ones [Namely, teachers, For them and their work only the Apostle here speaks] work [that is, doctrine which he holds, forth] shall be manifest: for the day [that is, time, or the light of truth. Romans 13:12,13. Ephesians 5:13.] shall declare it: [namely, whether it be wood, hay, straw and stubble, or whether it be gold, silver, or precious stones] seeing it is discovered by fire: [by this fire here, cannot be understood the fire of Purgatory, whereby after this life men should be purged or purified from sins; forasmuch as this fire whereof Paul here speaketh, not only the works which perisheth or is burned, but also that which remaineth and is rewarded shall be proved: but is to be understood either of the fire of the Holy Ghost, which by the light of Gods word in time discovers in the Church the firm labour and faithful doctrines of the teachers, which discerneth the unnecessary and curious doctrine, and causeth it to vanish, no otherwise then gold by fire is purified from its impurities, Psalms 12:7. Jeremiah 22:29. Or the fire of persecution, trouble, and temptation, whereby the true doctrine is as it were proved, because it then gives us firm consolation, which the other cannot do, James 1:2. 1 Pet.1.ver.6,7.] and of what sort every ones work is, the fire will try.

14. If the mans works abide [That is, his doctrine be judged firm and solid by Gods word, I Thes. 5.21.] which he hath build thereupon, he shall receive a reward. [namely, at the last day, of grace, and especially for this his work, Daniel 12:3. 1 Cor. 15.ver. 41.42.]

15. If any mans work shall be burnt, [That is, if any ones doctrine after trial made by Gods word, shall vanish and be esteemed vain] he shall suffer loss: [namely, of this his labour] but he himself shall be saved [namely, because in his he hath still held fast the foundation] yet so is by fire. [that is, difficulty, as one saves himself out of fire, leaving all that he hath therein Jud. Ver.23.]

16. Know ye not that ye [Namely, who believe in Christ, 1 Pet. 2.5. See Ephesians 2:21.] are the Temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

17. If any one violate the Temple of God [That is, if any one divide or rend the Church Of God by doctrines of humane wisdom, or by special adhering to this or that teacher] him shall God bring to shame, [Gr. Corrupt, i.e. bring him to shame and confusion] for the Temple of God is holy, which ye are.

18. Let no man deceive himself: [Or seduce] if among you thinketh that he is wise in this world, [that is, endued with humane wisdom] let him become a fool, [namely, according to the judgment of the worldly wise, while he accounts the knowledge of Christs cross and humiliation, for his highest wisdom, which the world accounts folly. See 1 Cor. 1.v21,22,23,24.] that he may be wise. [namely, in God, and in the matters of his salvation.]

19. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He catcheth the wise in their own craftiness. [That is, he confounds their worldly and subtile consolations against God and against the upright, so that they perish themselves thereby.]

20. And again, the Lord knoweth the reasoning of the wise [That is, worldly wise as before. The text Psalms 94:11. hath men, namely, who rely on their wisdom] that they are in vain. [that is, in vain set their wisdom on work against Gods wisdom.]

21. Therefore let no man glory men: [That is, let him not admire nor trust in any humane wisdom] For all is yours. [that is, prepared and ordained by God to serve for your salvation: even the chiefest among the teachers are not for themselves, but for the Church. And therefore they must order all things not for their own honour, but for the honour of Christ, and for your salvation.]

22. Be it Paul, be it Apollos, be it Cephas, be it the world, be it life, be it death, be it present, be it future things: they are all yours.

23. But ye are Christ, [Namely, body or brides as being your head] and Christ is Gods. [namely, the Fathers well beloved Son, and Ambassador, to bring us to the eternal inheritance with him. See 1 Cor. 11.3. and chapter 15.v.27,28.]