God’s Fellow Workers
After comparing human and spiritual wisdom, Paul addresses...
After comparing human and spiritual wisdom, Paul addresses the divisions in the Corinthian church (see 1 Corinthians 1:10–12), especially their undue loyalty to him and Apollos.
Paul criticizes the Christians in Corinth for not...
Paul criticizes the Christians in Corinth for not growing spiritually.
1Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual, but as worldly—as infants in Christ. 2I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for solid food. In fact, you are still not ready, 3for you are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and dissension among you, are you not worldly? Are you not walking in the way of man? 4For when one of you says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere men?
It is wrong to proudly identify as a...
It is wrong to proudly identify as a follower of a human teacher because God does the real work of redemption. He deserves the honor.
They are servants: See 2 Corinthians 4:5.
It is wrong to proudly identify as a follower of a human teacher because God does the real work of redemption. He deserves the honor.
They are servants: See 2 Corinthians 4:5.
5What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, as the Lord has assigned to each his role. 6I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8He who plants and he who waters are one in purpose,† and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. 9For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.
Christ Our Foundation
(Isaiah 28:14–22; Ephesians 2:19–22; 1 Peter 2:1–8)
Everyone is responsible to God for how they...
Everyone is responsible to God for how they serve Christ.
10By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one must be careful how he builds. 11For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Some things people build on Christ's foundation will...
Some things people build on Christ's foundation will last. Others will burn in judgment (see Malachi 4:1). On judgment day, the work of each church teacher will be evaluated (see James 3:1; also Romans 14:10–12; 2 Corinthians 5:10). Those with faithful teachings will earn a reward. Others will face great loss, not of salvation but of reward. They will be saved, but barely, like someone rescued through flames (see Amos 4:11; Zechariah 3:2; Jude 1:23).
12If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, 13his workmanship will be evident, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will prove the quality of each man’s work. 14If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward. 15If it is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as if through the flames.
God’s Temple and God’s Wisdom
(Romans 12:1–8; 1 Corinthians 6:18–20)
Christians should be careful about what they teach...
Christians should be careful about what they teach and how they interact with each other. The community of believers is God's temple, where God's Spirit lives (see Ephesians 2:21–22). God's temple is holy (see 1 Corinthians 1:2). There are serious consequences for anyone who harms God's temple through jealousy, arguments, or division (see 3:3–4).
16Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in† you? 17If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.
Paul contrasts human wisdom with divine wisdom again...
Paul contrasts human wisdom with divine wisdom again (see 1 Corinthians 1:18–25). He uses Old Testament quotes to encourage the Corinthians. He urges them to be willing to seem foolish to the world so that they can be truly wise in God's eyes.
18Let no one deceive himself. If any of you thinks he is wise in this age, he should become a fool, so that he may become wise. 19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.”† 20And again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”†
As God's privileged children, they can now claim...
As God's privileged children, they can now claim everything—the world, life, death, the present, and the future (see Romans 8:38–39). Therefore, claiming a specific human leader is unnecessary.
21Therefore, stop boasting in men. All things are yours, 22whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas† or the world or life or death or the present or the future. All of them belong to you, 23and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.