CHAPTER III. _Because of the carnal, divided state of the people at Corinth,_ _the apostle was obliged to treat them as children in the_ _knowledge of sacred things_, 1-3. _Some were for setting up Paul, others Apollos, as their sole_ _teachers_, 4. _The apostle shows that himself and fellow a... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 3:2. _I HAVE FED YOU WITH MILK._] I have instructed you in the _elements_ of Christianity-in its _simplest_ and _easiest_ truths; because from the low state of your minds in religious knowledge, you were incapable of comprehending the higher truths of the Gospel: and in this stat... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 3:3. THERE IS _AMONG YOU ENVYING, AND STRIFE, AND_ _DIVISIONS_] ζηλος και ερις και διχοστασιαι. There are _three_ things here worthy of note: these people were wrong in _thought,_ _word_, and _deed_. ζηλος, _envying_ refers to the state of their souls; they had inward grudgings... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 3:4. _FOR WHILE ONE SAITH, I AM OF PAUL_, c.] It was notorious that both Paul and Apollos held the _same creed_ between _them_ there was not the slightest difference: when, therefore, the dissentients began to prefer the one to the other, it was the fullest proof of their _carna... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 3:5. _MINISTERS BY WHOM YE BELIEVED_] The different apostles who have preached unto you the word of life are the _means_ which God has used to bring you to the knowledge of Christ. No one of those has either preached or recommended _himself_; they all preach and recommend Christ... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 3:6. _I HAVE PLANTED_] I first sowed the seed of the Gospel at Corinth, and in the region of Achaia. _APOLLOS WATERED_] Apollos came after me, and, by his preachings and exhortations, watered the seed which I had sowed; _but God gave_ _the increase_. The seed has taken root, ha... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 3:7. _SO THEN, NEITHER IS HE THAT PLANTETH ANY THING_] God alone should have all the glory, as the _seed_ is his, the _ground_ is his, the _labourers_ are his, and the _produce_ all comes from himself.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 3:8. _HE THAT PLANTETH AND HE THAT WATERETH ARE ONE_] Both Paul and Apollos have received the same doctrine, preach the same doctrine, and labour to promote the glory of God in the salvation of your souls. Why should you be divided with respect to Paul and Apollos, while these ap... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 3:9. _FOR WE ARE LABOURERS TOGETHER WITH GOD_] We do nothing of ourselves, nor in reference to ourselves; we labour together in that work which God has given us to do, expect all our success from him, and refer the whole to his glory. It would perhaps be more correct to translate... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 3:10. _AS A WISE MASTER BUILDER_] Ὡς σοφος αρχιτεκτων. The _design_ or _plan_ of the building is from God; all things must be done according to the _pattern_ which he has exhibited; but the _execution_ of this plan was entrusted chiefly to St. Paul; he was the _wise_ or _experie... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 3:11. _OTHER FOUNDATION CAN NO MAN LAY_] I do not speak particularly concerning the _foundation_ of this spiritual building; it can have no other foundation than Jesus Christ: there cannot be two opinions on this subject among the true apostles of our Lord. The only fear is, lest... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 3:12. _IF ANY MEN BUILD - GOLD, SILVER_, c.] Without entering into curious criticisms relative to these different expressions, it may be quite enough for the purpose of edification to say, that, by _gold, silver_, and _precious stones_, the apostle certainly means pure and whole... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 3:13. _THE DAY SHALL DECLARE IT, BECAUSE IT SHALL BE_ _REVEALED BY FIRE_] There is much difference of opinion relative to the meaning of the terms in this and the two following verses. That the apostle refers to the approaching destruction of Jerusalem I think very probable; and... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 3:14. _IF ANY MAN'S WORK ABIDE_] Perhaps there is here an allusion to the purifying of different sorts of vessels under the law. All that could stand the fire were to be purified by the fire; and those which could not resist the action of the _fire_ were to be purified by _water_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 3:15. _IF ANY MAN'S WORK SHALL BE BURNED, HE SHALL SUFFER_ _LOSS_] If he have preached the necessity of incorporating the _law_ with the _Gospel_, or proclaimed as a doctrine of God any thing which did not proceed from heaven, _he shall suffer loss_-all his time and labour will b... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 3:16. _YE ARE THE TEMPLE OF GOD_] The apostle resumes here what he had asserted in 1 Corinthians 3:9: _Ye are God's building_. As the whole congregation of Israel were formerly considered as the _temple_ and _habitation_ of _God_, because God _dwelt among them_, so here the whole... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 17. _IF ANY MAN DEFILE THE TEMPLE_] This clause is not consistently translated. Ει τις τον ναον του Θεου φθειρει, φθερει τουτον ὁ Θεος. _If any man destroy the temple of God, him will God_ _destroy_. The verb is the same in both clauses. If any man injure, corrupt, or destroy the Church of Go... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 18. _IF ANY MAN AMONG YOU SEEMETH TO BE WISE_] Ει τις δοκει σοφος ειναι· _If any pretend or affect to be wise_. This seems to refer to some _individual_ in the Church of Corinth, who had been very troublesome to its peace and unity: probably _Diotrephes_ (1 Corinthians 1:14 (note)) or some one... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 19. _THE WISDOM OF THIS WORLD_] Whether it be the pretended deep and occult wisdom of the rabbins, or the wire-drawn speculations of the Grecian philosophers, _is foolishness with God_; for as folly consists in spending time, strength, and pains to no purpose, so these may be fitly termed _foo... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 20. _THE LORD KNOWETH THE THOUGHTS OF THE WISE_] They are always full of schemes and plans for earthly good; and God knows that all this is _vain, empty_, and unsatisfactory; and will stand them in no stead when he comes to take away their souls. This is a quotation from Psalms 94:11. What is... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 21. _LET NO MAN GLORY IN MEN_] Let none suppose that he has any cause of _exultation_ in any thing but God. _All are yours_; he that has God for his portion has every thing that can make him happy and glorious: _all are his_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 22. _WHETHER PAUL, OR APOLLOS_] As if he had said: God designs to help you by all _things_ and _persons_; every teacher sent from him will become a blessing to you, if you abide faithful to your calling. God will press every thing into the service of his followers. The _ministers_ of the Churc... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 3:23. _AND YE ARE CHRIST'S_] You are called by his name; you have embraced his doctrine; you depend on him for your salvation; he is your foundation stone; he has gathered you out of the world, and acknowledges you as his people and followers. υμειςδεχριστου, _ye are of Christ_;... [ Continue Reading ]