1 Corinthians 3

1 carnal. I was obliged, in my ministry among you, to treat you almost as unrenewed men, as mere infants in Christian knowledge.

2. I have fed you, etc. Rather, “I gave you milk to drink, not [solid] food, for ye were not able [to eat it]. Nay, not even now are ye able.”

3 as men. Or, “according to man”; i.e., as unrenewed men do.

4. Paul . . . Apollos. “Paul” and “Apollos” probably exemplify two different classes of teachers: see iv. 6, and note.

5 ministers by whom ye believed, etc. Not masters in whom, but “servants through whom ye believed, and that too as the Lord gave to each”: i.e., only just as the great Master allotted to each his labour and success.

6. I have planted, etc. Paul “planted” the church at Corinth; and then Apollos came and “watered” it, during Paul’s journey through Upper Asia (Acts xviii.; xix. 1). In both cases it was God who made their labours effectual.

9 with God. See Acts xiv. 27; 2 Cor. vi. 1. God Himself has the work in hand. As labourers in a harvest field, or in the erection of a building, we work both for and with the Master, who will give to each his own reward according to his fidelity.

God’s building. This new metaphor illustrates the different kinds of teaching; and it is appropriately used for the purpose of warning “every one” to teach only what is consistent with the fundamental truths.

10 a wise master-builder. Paul here claims to be “by God’s grace” not a builder merely, but a master-builder, who has wisely laid the only true foundation, Jesus Christ (11); that which indeed “is laid” already by God Himself: see Isa. xxviii. 16; Rom. ix. 33.

12. Now if any man build upon this foundation, etc. The only foundation of a true church and of personal religion is Jesus Christ (11). But in teaching or in life and character, a man may build the abiding things, the gold, silver, and precious stones; truth, faith, love, or the perishing wood, hay, stubble, of false teaching, selfish motives, unworthy conduct.

13 it shall be revealed. Rather, “it is revealed”: for every time of special Divine manifestation is a time of trial and of sifting (see Mal. iii. 1-3; Matt. iii. 11, 12, and notes); and such above all will the time of Christ’s coming to judgement be; see 2 Thess. i. 8.

15 yet so as by fire. Though he himself will be saved, because he has built on the true foundation, his building will be consumed; he will lose his reward; and he will come out as one who has had a narrow escape from a burning ruin. It is plain that the apostle speaks of “fire” here only as an illustration (so as by fire: cp. Amos iv. 11); and that the words can give no support to the notion of purgatory.

16. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God?** It is a natural transition from the thought of the work of building to the building itself. The connexion between teaching and life is also suggested. On the injury done to the Church of God by erroneous teaching or sinful life he enlarges in v., vi.

17 defile. The same word is rendered “destroy” in the other clause of this verse, and “corrupt” in 2 Cor. vii. 2; xi. 3. The word “ruin” best corresponds to its full extent of meaning (as Conybeare and Howson). The ruin that such a man works in God’s Church God will inflict on him.

which [temple] ye are. Rather, “of which sort (i.e., holy) are ye”; see R.V. marg.

18 let him become a fool. That is, a fool in the world’s esteem.

19 taketh. Or “catcheth.”

21. For all things are yours.** Men and things which are otherwise most unlike, are yet all alike the common property of the Church. The names of apostles or teachers, instead of being a source of division, should be a cause of unity. They all lead to Christ, “ministers by whom ye believed” (5).