3:1 - 3:23 god, not man, is the cause of growth
3:1 - 3:11 i planted, apollos watered, but god was causing the growth
3:12 - 3:15 build with care, for the result will be tested
3:16 - 3:17 foreshadowing...you are a temple
3:18 - 3:23 do not boast in men
I - the corinthians are fleshly
1Cr 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as
to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ.
1Cr 3:2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able
{to receive it.} Indeed, even now you are not yet able,
A. spiritual vs fleshly applied to the corinthians
1. spiritual / fleshly : a matter of salvation or sanctification?
paul's group (we) and the corinthians (fleshly)?
(2:14 'natural man', 3:1 'as to flesh')
i don't think so.
it seems that chap. 2 makes the distinction between christian and non;
previous use of the plural seemed to include the corinthians (1:30)
the deliniation in chap 2. seems to be on things that would be the result
of salvation not sanctification.
however some do say that chap 2 makes the distinction based on
sanctification.
some would argue that this is an indication of two grades of christians
in a strict pre-experience, post-experience sense (weslyans, keswicks [most],
etc...
i don't think that is necessarily supported; i would view this as a
young/old distinction; most people can be easily categorized, but no
firm line divides them. what qualifies someone as 'mature'? this is not
a strange concept to us or the nt...
3. either way, paul is making some bold statements about the fleshly state of the
corinthian christians.
fleshly isn't necessarily a statement about christian/non-christian;
same word used in rom 7:14...
II - god (not man) is responsible for growth
1Cr 3:5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed,
even as the Lord gave {opportunity} to each one.
1Cr 3:6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.
1Cr 3:7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but
God who causes the growth.
A. there is no room for division based on leadership
what has the issue been in the last 3 chapters? "i am of apollos, i am of paul"
it seems that paul has been hitting on the problems with status and wisdom
because of their factionalism.
the ultimate application he seems to be pushing for is unity
in other words, true status and true wisdom will provide them a
unified body.
III - each man must be careful how he builds {the church}
1Cr 3:8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own
reward according to his own labor.
1Cr 3:9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.
1Cr 3:10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master
builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be
careful how he builds on it.
1Cr 3:11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
A. we participate in the labor
1Cr 3:9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.
having made the statement that god is responsible for growth, paul states
that we still do have a role.
B. we are rewarded for our labor
1Cr 3:8 but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
i don't want to head into specifics on what the rewards are...i don't know.
C. we must labor in a manner consistent with the start
1Cr 3:11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which
is Jesus Christ.
the building methods must be consistent with the foundation (christ).
1Cr 1:17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel,
not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.
I - signs of a fleshly christian
A. looks like the world
1Cr 3:3 ...are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?
1Cr 3:4 ...are you not {mere} men?
again...1 john makes it clear that the christian should look distinct (esp.
due to his love [which is the overarching virtue]).
a fleshly christian will look like a non christian.
B. attributes mentioned : jealousy, strife, [devisive]
1Cr 3:3 For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly
1. jealousy, strife, and divisions; invalid in light of christ
1Cr 3:7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but
God who causes the growth.
A. the common christian idea is that all good comes from god
wisdom, status, goodness, etc... as created beings, nothing we
have can be traced back to ourselves.
consider these statements already made in 1 cor :
1Cr 1:1 sanctified
1Cr 1:1 saints by calling
1Cr 1:5 enriched in Him
1Cr 1:9 God is faithful, through whom you were called into
fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
1Cr 1:30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to
us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,
1Cr 1:31 so that, just as it is written, "LET HIM WHO BOASTS,
BOAST IN THE LORD."
1Cr 2:7 the hidden {wisdom} which God predestined before the ages to
our glory;
1Cr 2:9 but just as it is written, "THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN
AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND {which} HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF
MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM."
II - role of a spiritual christian
A. servants (3:5)
B. fellow workers (with god) (1Cr 3:9 For we are God's fellow workers)
C. careful builders (1Cr 3:10 but each man must be careful how he builds on it.)