What Are We Building?

Identication

God’s fellow workers - Paul starts by stating that “For we are God’s fellow workers...” referring to Apollos and himself, making it clear that they are equals not competitors in sharing the gospel;

The New King James Version. (1982). (1 Co 3:9). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

God’s field - This is meaning that they worked with the believers of the church of Corinth to continue to share the gospel of Jesus Christ;

God’s building - Paul here identifies the congregation of the church of Corinth, and the church today, as God’s building, you and I are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit - God’s spirit;

This fitting metaphor designates the church as a work both accomplished and ongoing: its foundation of Jesus Christ is secure and permanent (1 Co 3:11), but various builders continue the work of adding stones (believers) to the structure.

Tomlinson, F. A. (2017). 1 Corinthians. In E. A. Blum & T. Wax (Eds.), CSB Study Bible: Notes (p. 1815). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

Wise builder - now the English Standard Version (ESV) uses the word “skilled” while the King James Version (KJV) uses the word “masterbuilder” - however the intent is the same, it someone that is talented in their skill set of accomplishing their task;

The phrase another builds on it refers to later builders who would have a role in building the body of Christ at Corinth

Tomlinson, F. A. (2017). 1 Corinthians. In E. A. Blum & T. Wax (Eds.), CSB Study Bible: Notes (p. 1815). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

Building

Everything that is built requires one key component - a strong foundation - without this strong foundation nothing will be secure;

The church’s “strong foundation” is, and has always been, Jesus Christ - He is the true foundation and true corner stone from which the church does everything;

Now there has to be caution in build but not stagnation in building, there has to be a plan in building and not haphazard concepts;

There has to be trust in the “wise builder” - pastor and leadership of the church;

Why, because “the day will declare it...”, this is referring to the day when God will examine the how and the with what the builders of His church did in His name;

Pastors will be held to a higher accountability in the building (James 3:1).

Awareness

Starting in v. 14 Paul bring a stark awareness to what we do individually and corporately;

First if what we build with is quality and honoring it will withstand the refiner’s fire;

Second if what we build with is poor and dishonoring it will be destroyed in the refiner’s fire;

Third this does not determine our salvation just our reward of be faithful with what God has provided;

Fourth Paul reminds the church of Corinth to whom they belong and who dwells in them - the Spirit of God.

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 3

Just as the Jerusalem temple served to unify Israel, the corporate temple concept in Paul’s writings serves to unify the Church. The Corinthians represent a unified body wherein God dwells; there can be no divisions among them.