Advanced Bible Study Methods

Interpretation of 1 Corinthians 3:9-17

May 8, 2004

William W. Babb II

662 Furnace creek Road

LaFayette, Georgia 30728

Student ID # 1434284

OBSERVATION

The writer (Paul) says that he and Apollos are God’s fellow workers and that the Corinthian church is God’s field or building.

Paul reports that he was given the task (by God) to lay the foundation of the Church, and that Apollos was simply building on that same foundation. The church’s foundation is Jesus Christ and no one can change that fact. Although the foundation can not be substituted there are various grades of material that can be used to build on the foundation. These materials are described as gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, and straw. The author does not say that each man’s work is readily evident, but it will become evident when it is tried by fire. This fire will test the quality of each man’s work. For all of his work that remains on the foundation after it has been tried by the fire he will receive a reward, but any work that is consumed by the fire will simply be lost, yet the worker himself will be saved.

Paul asks the Corinthian believers whether or not they realize that they are the temple of God and that His Spirit dwells in them. Paul also emphasizes that God Himself will destroy any man who destroys God’s temple.

Corinthians 3:1-8

The subject matter contained in verses 1-8 addresses immature Christians in the Church at Corinth. The apostle Paul has compared them to “babes” because they cannot digest anything other than milk (the elementary things of God). He told them that they were carnal, and because of this there was envy, strife, and divisions among them. He asks them (rhetorically) if they are carnal since they were choosing to create divisions. “Who are these men whom they have attached themselves to?” And Paul told them that these are ministers who have simply watered that which Paul had planted, and that God alone gives the increase. Each of these men will receive their reward according to the quality of their own labor.

Verses 1-8 set the tone for 9-17. As a wise master builder Paul displays that gift here by laying a foundation in verse 1-8, and then building on that foundation with deeper explanation in verses 9-17. He has rebuked the Corinthians for their carnality in verses 1-8, he explained to them the marks of a good minister in verses 12-15, and he revealed to them in verses 16 & 17 the results of continuing in carnality (destruction). This passage is limited to the immature Christians at Corinth because Paul is addressing the issues of the divisions in this particular church; however, the eternal principals that are involved in this passage would apply to anyone who is called a minister or teacher of God’s Word.

Figures of Speech

1. God’s husbandry – This is a metaphor that literally refers to someone who would nurture and care for a vineyard or an orchard. The aspect of the literal sense of this metaphor implies that the believers at Corinth were God’s children and under His nurture and care.

2. God’s building – The literal meaning of this phrase proclaims God as the sole owner of the subject. This is a metaphor meaning that God is the owner of this assembly or church that was being built.

3. Master Builder – The Master Builder would be equivalent to an Architect and either one would be considered the overseer of a building project and working directly under the supervision of the Designer or Owner. This is a simile meaning that Paul was used with the inspired ability to put forth God’s gospel and eternal principles orally and in written form.

4. Gold, Silver, Precious Stones, Hay, Wood, Stubble – The first three of these six materials are not only rare, but very costly. The last three are common materials that can be obtained at little or no cost. This is a metaphor that implies the different qualities of teaching and doctrine whether they are true or false.

5. Revealed by fire- When heat is applied to metals such as gold and silver the dross or impurities rise to the top to be skimmed off. This causes the metal to become even more pure and thus more costly. Precious stones were developed under extreme heat and pressure therefore the fire does no harm to them. Wood, hay, and stubble are used to fuel fire they are quickly consumed. “The true character of the material is revealed by fire.” This is a hypocatastisis that is used in conjunction with gold, silver, precious stones, etc. too imply that judgement will consume any works that are not found to be of quality material.

6. Temple of God- A place where the one true God resides. This is a metaphor that implies that God’s Spirit dwells in the local assembly of believers as well as the individual.

Theme: God is very particular about the doctrines that are taught His people, and He will not reward those who will not teach morally, responsibly, and correctly. He will also destroy anyone who defiles His sanctuary with false doctrine.

I. The Foundation which Paul Laid.

1. The Oral Proclamation of the Gospel.

2. The Written Proclamation of the Gospel.

II. The Fabric that the Builders use.

1. Material supplied from extensive study. (gold, silver, precious stones)

2. Material supplied from the hip. (wood, hay, stubble)

A. The false interpretation of the Scriptures.

B. The fanatical preaching of sincere but ignorant men.

III. The Folly of a Foolish Builder.

1. He will suffer loss.

2. He will be saved as by fire.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Evidently there were many quarrels among the believers at the Church of Corinth. According to Paul in chapter one verse eleven some of the people of Chloe’s house had reported this situation to him. The Corinthians were placing somewhat of an order of importance on their favored teachers as though a different message was being taught by each. Some were saying, “I am of Paul” some were saying, “I am of Apollos” others were saying “I am of Cephas” and others were saying, “I am of Christ” as though this somehow trumped all of the others. In short they sounded like a group of elementary school children fussing about whom among them were the most prominent by interjecting these statements as some sort of qualifier to their individual stand with God. Paul was rebuking this entire body of believers. He was trying to set the record straight telling them that there is only one gospel, and it was the one that he had originally preached.

WORD STUDY

3485-temple-a fane, shrine, temple. Comp. 2411

2411-hieron; neut. Of 2413; a sacred place i.e. the entire precincts (where as 3485 denotes the central sanctuary itself) of the temple (at Jerusalem, or elsewhere):temple

2413-hieros; of uncert. affin.; sacred: -holy. 1

Temple- The word temple in verses 16 and 17 means sanctuary. In the KJV where the word is printed the second time in verse 17 it does not appear in the Greek. The double relative which refers to the epithet holy; “of which holy character or class are ye.” 2

The Day Shall Declare It- John MacArthur Says “The Day. Refers to the Judgment Seat of Christ.” 3 and Matthew Henry said “The last day, the great day of trial.” 4 I agree with the fact that these works will be judged by Christ, however; I think that since this verb “work” was written in the perfect tense. And when any work is set into motion the trials and tribulations of the “day” shall reveal whether or not the work is foundational. In short are the teachings able to stand the test of hardship and suffering, are the believers standing fast in Christ or are they falling away in fear. The fires of tribulation and persecution will reveal the quality of a minister’s work. The difference between this “day” and the final judgement is that this “day” is within our life time on the earth where the final judgement will take place in heaven after all works have been completed and the eternal effect have been weighed. There are great similarities between the two, however, the word reward in verse 14 means that he will receive the pay that is due him (good or bad). And if this were to take place in heaven there would be no place for penalty (other than loss of reward) at the Judgment Seat of Christ since Christ has paid all penalties for the believer.

Saved as Though by Fire- Better, Revealed through fire “He will escape as through the fire that consumes his work, as one does through the flames which destroy his house.”2 He will not lose his salvation because of “tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword.” See Romans 8:35, but he will see his work destroyed.

WORKS CITED

1. Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. Dugan Publishers, Inc. Gordonsville Tennessee 38563.

2. Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament. Hendrickson Publishers, PO Box 3473 Peabody, MA 01961-3473

4. Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible. Hendrickson Publishers, PO Box 3473 Peabody, MA 01961-3473

Advanced Bible Study Methods Interpretation of 1 Corinthians...

WORKS CITED