Building on the Right Foundation

1. Craving Spiritual Nourishment, 1-4.

V. 1 - begins with an emphatic expression laced with affection.

Spiritual men ct. men of flesh (this does not mean natural man/unsaved) sarkinos - human. These are saved but worldly. In principle, they are spiritual by virtue of their reception of the Sprit of God; in practice, they are presently not “spiritual,” that is mature in the faith. Spiritual in the context is synonymous to mature in the faith.

Paul is not able to speak to them as mature believers because of their childish behavior. What is the evidence of this? their jealousy and quarreling.

Being called infants in this context is not good. infancy is only good in the beginning stages of Christian experience.

v. 2 - the normal progression for growth is to start with the basics; the “milk” for an infant, then later add more advanced teaching; the “solid food.” Paul is saying that the Corinthians have failed to comprehend and live out the wisdom of the cross because they have failed to recognize that what Paul gives them to be wisdom.

v. 3 - Instead they are characterized by the flesh. Here is a rhetorical question, “are you not fleshly?” The Greek word is sarkikos, which also has the idea of self-centered. There are two uses of this word, the first use in context as the emphasis of unspiritual, characterized by evidence of jealousy and strife in the church. The second use is more self-centered.

Here is a second rhetorical question, which also shows up in verse 4 (with a slight variation), “are you not walking like mere men?”

Paul is pointing out to them that there is no discernable difference in their lives from the natural man, who tends toward strife and envy. This factionalism evidences a fleshly, worldly mindset , not “the mind of Christ.”

v. 4 - this is demonstrated by the factions of choosing men to follow. The result is acting just like the world.

2. Cultivating God’s Growth, 5-9.

v. 5 - Paul begins to expound on the proper role and status of leaders in the church in light of God’s wisdom. First he asks two questions, introducing them with the use of the neuter voice, drawing attention not to the individual but to their function. And what is that? Apollos, Paul and anyone else who assumes a leadership role in the church are servants. The image is of a lowly laborer in the field, the lowly character of the service rendered. These leaders are mere instruments for the Lord’s work, each one gifted to the different tasks God wants them to perform for His church. Paul will later extend the tasks God has given beyond the church leadership to each member of the body of Christ in chapter 12.

vs. 6-8 - Paul turns to an agricultural metaphor to point out that each servant has different tasks, but each is also part of the process; each one was important to the effect. But it was God who was causing the growth. here are some observations:

different activities by the leadership lead to growth in the church.

each laborer performs the task(s) assigned to him by the field’s owner. Apollos and Paul are compared to humble field hands, servants serving in God’s field.

God is the one who causes the growth. He is always at work behind the scenes. Even when human work is finished, God’s work continues.

There is a unity of purpose, yet each servant will receive his own reward, where God Himself will affirm the quality of each one’s work.

Each servant is responsible to God and their worth is determined by God, not man.

Paul emphasizes the unity of the workers in their labor under God.

v. 9 - In transitioning from an agricultural metaphor to an architectural metaphor, Paul emphasizes the role of Apollos and himself as fellow workers belonging to God.

Then Paul, using emphatic language, declares the Corinthians are “God’s field,” a cultivated field where growth is to occur, and “God’s building.” The stress is on God’s divine initiative and ownership; the Corinthians are God’s possession, not Apollos nor Paul.

3. Constructing On Christ, 10-17.

v. 10 - Paul reveals the nature of the church of God in verse 10-17:

God is the owner of the “building”

Holy Spirit dwells in the temple

God will destroy those who destroy His temple.

The building represents the church, God is the owner, Paul is the founder, and the workers are rewarded according to their labor, the rewards emphasizing the quality of the materials used.

This is ministry according to God’s wisdom, not human wisdom

Those who build on the foundation laid is any who are involved in the building up of the church

All work does not receive equal pay/reward.

v. 11 - It is crucial that the right foundation was laid.

Paul laid a foundation, Jesus Christ, There is no other foundation laid for God’s building, His church. If Jesus Christ is not the foundation, it is not a church!

v. 12-15 - leaders have an individual responsibility, to build upon the right foundation. They can build with that which is imperishable, built with God’s wisdom, or that which is perishable, of human wisdom which is not the quality of God’s wisdom.

Individual leaders’ work (v. 13) will become evident as to whether it was of God’s wisdom or that of man. Any work that exalts men or arises out of a self service motive will perish for “the day will show it.” It will be put through the fire of God’s evaluation. This fire is not punitive; its’ purpose is to test and disclose the true value of one’s work for God. It will be that which determines the reward/pay of the laborer, not their ruination.

Paul often links his own success in ministry to the faithfulness of others, who are his work in the Lord, 1 Thess. 2:19-20

1 Thessalonians 2:19–20 NASB95

For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? For you are our glory and joy.

God’s verdict of the quality of each laborer’s work is comprehensive, definitive, and final because Gid knows comprehensively all the motivations and intentions of the human heart.

Vs. 16-17 - Paul now turns to a temple metaphor, which more explicitly links the gathered church to the very presence of God.

He begins with an indictment of the Corinthians, the first of ten in this letter: “Do you not know ...”

You are a temple of God

The Spirit of God dwells within you?

Jesus associated the temple to His body, John 2:19-21

John 2:19–21 NASB95

Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking of the temple of His body.

For Paul, the church is the body of Christ, constituted by the Holy Spirit, 1 Cor 12:12-13, 17

1 Corinthians 12:12–13 NASB95

For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:17 NASB95

If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?

In light of this, note the warning from general to the specific situation:

General: if any man...

Specific (context): those causing and stoking divisions. To engage in such behavior is to destroy the temple of God, which is holy. Therefore, the consequences of this activity is severe.

This is not an activity that holy people would be engaged in...and “that is what you are” … holy!

4. Choose to Seek Christ’s Wisdom, 18-23.

vs. 18-23 - Paul now gives three commands:

Let no man deceive you (18)

He must become foolish (18b)

The way to become truly wise is to become a “fool,” which means to embrace the cross not just as an object of faith but also as a value system, a way of thinking and behaving.

The wisdom of this world = foolishness before God,

3. Let no one boast in men (21)

Boasting has its place, but only in the Lord

All thing belong to you...

ct. 1:12. The Corinthians do not belong to these men; these men belong to the church, and all belongs to Christ who belongs to God.