Verses 1-3 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
The Greek word translated as “carnal” is “sarkikos” and it means fleshly, carnal, having the nature of flesh, under the control of the animal appetites, or governed by mere human nature and not by the Spirit of God. When the Apostle Paul was with the Corinthian church he had to treat them as babes in Christ as they had not learned to walk in the Spirit but were living both in the world and in the kingdom of God. He had to teach them the very basics of how to live for Jesus Christ, and it seems that even as he was penning this epistle or letter to them, they were still operating in the flesh and behaving like those people who were not born again but out in the world serving their master, the devil. They were not living and behaving as sons of God but as those in the world.
Application: Today’s mainstream, organized, evangelical establishment churches are full of carnal believers who have one foot in the kingdom of God and one in the world, ready to hop onto whichever side is convenient at any particular time. They are letting their flesh and the lusts of the world control their earthly walk instead of being totally in agreement with the LORD. They will sit in church religiously every week, will tithe, and often will give of their time, but then they engage in things that are not pleasing to the LORD and that do not present a pure witness of what it means to be a Christian. This writer has heard many times the comment from unbelievers observing people claiming to be Christian, “If she/he is a Christian, I don’t want to be one” or “If that is what it means to be a Christian, I don’t want anything to do with it.” When it is not possible to differentiate the believer from the unbeliever, there is a problem. The one claiming to be a Christian is carnal and operating in their flesh whereas the unbeliever is just doing what comes natural. Carnal believers may be religious, but their relationship with the LORD Jesus Christ is not holy and pure and true. Remaining as a carnal believer can keep a believer from going to Heaven. It is a serious situation spiritually.
Verses 4-7 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? 5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
Apollos was a companion and co-worker of the Apostle Paul, a Jew from Alexandria who knew the Scripture and who became a teacher of Christianity. The Corinthians were choosing men to follow and not following Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul points out that both he and Apollos are just ministers that showed them the way to Jesus Christ. He uses the analogy of farming in that he planted or started the spiritual conversion and growth of the people at Corinth and then Apollos came along and watered or added to that which he had already started so that they could grow in the Faith. However, it was God who called people out of their sins, and who sent both the Apostle Paul and Apollos to continue what He, God, had started.
Verses 8-9 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
The Apostle Paul continues to explain that he and Apollos are equal and co-workers in the Gospel and are not in competition with each other. They are both working for and with God. And the believers in Corinth are now equal with them and should be working for and with God to spread the Gospel message to others and should not be causing division by choosing to follow after men instead of the LORD Jesus Christ.
Verses 10-11 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Paul then uses a metaphor to help illustrate his point. He compares himself to an architect or masterbuilder who laid the foundations or the first principals of the Gospel and then Apollos came in and built the building or built up the knowledge and faith of the people in the Corinthian church who then made up “God’s building” as stated in verse 9 above. So no one was greater than another. And the foundation of the Christian Faith was/is Jesus Christ, not the Apostle Paul or Apollos. It is upon the LORD Jesus Christ that the Church rests.
Verses 12-13 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
Application: Every believer has a work to do for God. Some produce works that can be compared to valuable metals and gem stones which last, while others produce works that are compared to wood, hay, and stubble which do not last and which are easily destroyed by fire. At the day of Judgement when the LORD Jesus Christ returns to Earth to judge both the wicked and the righteous, each Christian believer’s works will be judged for their quality, and they will be judged by God’s standards and not by those of men.
Verses 14-15 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
The Apostle Paul clearly teaches here that those whose works abide or last will be rewarded when in eternity in Heaven, but those who’s works do not abide or do not last won’t be rewarded, but they will have eternity in Heaven. They will not forfeit their salvation which is a free gift from the LORD and not based on works that believers do or don’t do.
Application: What the rewards will be is not revealed in Scripture, but they are over and above the privilege of spending eternity in Heaven in the presence of the LORD Jesus Christ. Would it not be prudent to evaluate one’s works here on Earth to see if one’s best effort is being invested in that which God has directed to be done? Is each Christian believer giving of his/her talents, time and treasure with a joyful heart and with the mind of Christ?
Verses 16-17 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
Because of living in a physical body of flesh and in a physical world it is often difficult to understand the truth that a Holy God could dwell inside of people and that all the people indwelt by God make up a spiritual building or Temple. The Old Testament Temple was destroyed several times and rebuilt, but it was always temporary in nature and able to be destroyed, the final destruction being by the Romans in 70 A.D.. But God’s spiritual Temple cannot be destroyed. It is under construction now, it will one day be completed when the last man or woman repents and follows Jesus, and it will continue on in eternity. Anyone attempting to remove or destroy any part of the Temple of God by causing a believer to fall away from the Faith will have to answer to an angry God.
Verses 18-19 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
The Greek word translated as “wise” is “sophos” and it means skilled, expert, skilled in letters, cultivated, learned, and a philosopher or orator. The definition of “wisdom” is the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment. An individual can have numerous college degrees, be skilled in reading and writing and speaking, and have studied all the philosophies and religious opinions in the world and still be as dumb as a post. As stated previously, the wisdom found in the world is that of sinful, fallible men who have limitations on their mental abilities and experience, and who are influenced by devils. This wisdom is anything but wise in the true sense of the word – having or showing experience, knowledge, and good judgment. The Apostle Paul is clearly stating that if a converted, Christian believer wishes to be wise, he/she must give up those things in this world that are considered to be wise and align his/her thinking, feeling, and actions with the Holy Ghost/Spirit of the LORD Jesus Christ who is the Way, the Truth, and the Light. Only when believers begin to see all things through the eyes of God can they attain wisdom. Anything else, any other belief or understanding based on unsaved mankind’s intellect is foolishness to both God and to His followers. All the “wise men” who have ever lived who were too wise to accept the kingship of an invisible God are living out eternity in the fires of Hell. Think about it.
Verses 20-23 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. 21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; 22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; 23 And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s. (1 Corinthians 3)
The Greek word translated as “vain” is “mataios” and it means devoid of force, truth, success, result, useless, or of no purpose. So the Corinthian believers were putting their faith in Paul, Apollos and Cephas (Peter) because they were Church leaders and viewed as successful instead of putting their faith in the One who was the head of the Church, Jesus Christ. It was what today could be called ‘star worship’ where people follow after film actors and rock band members and attempt to mold themselves to the image being portrayed by these so-called famous people. They did not understand that, as sons of God, they held a superior place in the realm of mankind as everything that belonged to God was also theirs to richly enjoy and participate in. They belonged to Jesus Christ and therefore to God and they were to emulate Jesus and not men who appeared to be wise but were foolish instead if they did not have the presence of the LORD in their lives. “Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!” Isaiah 5:21