A Sprinting Commentary on 1 Corinthians 3:9–23
9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
The church is God’s building, His garden. Revelation speaks of this city, this building as a perfect cube—the heavenly Jerusalem. The church is the heavenly Jerusalem (see Heb. 12:22, 23)
10 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.
The Apostles were given the task to lay the foundation of the gospel. Christ is the Cornerstone. “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone” (Eph. 2:19, 20). In referencing those who build upon the foundation, Paul is turning attention to the pastors and elders who build the church.
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
If any pastor/elder seeks to lay another foundation he is not building upon Christ, it is another gospel.
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
10 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.
The Apostles were given the task to lay the foundation of the gospel. Christ is the Cornerstone. “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone” (Eph. 2:19, 20). In referencing those who build upon the foundation, Paul is turning attention to the pastors and elders who build the church.
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
If any pastor/elder seeks to lay another foundation he is not building upon Christ, it is another gospel.
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
Pastors who do build—gain converts—may build with different materials. Peter tells us that the church is to be comprised of living stones: “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 2:5).
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.
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.
Because of common teaching on this passage we must remember of what Paul is speaking. The trying is in relation to the church. The laborers (v. 9) build on the foundation of God’s building. The materials—converts—will be tested, they are his work.
14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
Here we see reward for the man who builds with lasting material, the precious stones. They are akin to the seed that brings fruit in the parable of the sower, God’s garden.
15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
There are, however, those who are not lasting and fall away. It may be that the testing is one throughout history, or it may be that it is on the Day of Judgment. In either case, the builder—the pastor, elder, evangelist—will survive although his work does not survive.
16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
The church is the body of Christ. Christ’s body is the temple. “Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body” (Jn. 2:19–21).
17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
Here is a warning to those who would seek to destroy the church. God will not long tolerate his bride to be abused. Any effort to make crooked what God has made straight will result in judgment upon the wrongdoer. In seeking to dig a pit he will fall into it.
18 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.
Continuing with the warning against those who were against Paul’s message, he urges the church to not trust in men whose wisdom is of the world. Be careful of those who heap up piles and piles of dead sticks to build a church.
19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
Here we see reward for the man who builds with lasting material, the precious stones. They are akin to the seed that brings fruit in the parable of the sower, God’s garden.
15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
There are, however, those who are not lasting and fall away. It may be that the testing is one throughout history, or it may be that it is on the Day of Judgment. In either case, the builder—the pastor, elder, evangelist—will survive although his work does not survive.
16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
The church is the body of Christ. Christ’s body is the temple. “Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body” (Jn. 2:19–21).
17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
Here is a warning to those who would seek to destroy the church. God will not long tolerate his bride to be abused. Any effort to make crooked what God has made straight will result in judgment upon the wrongdoer. In seeking to dig a pit he will fall into it.
18 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.
Continuing with the warning against those who were against Paul’s message, he urges the church to not trust in men whose wisdom is of the world. Be careful of those who heap up piles and piles of dead sticks to build a church.
19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
It is not by the wisdom of the world that God’s building is built. Those who attempt such will be caught in their own nets.
20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
Men who rely upon reason and not the Spirit of God to build the church are fools.
21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are your's;
Do not, then, let churches rest on the man who speaks from the pulpit, it must rest upon the foundation. If it is by a man that a church lives and dies let it be by the God-man Christ Jesus.
22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are your's;
21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are your's;
Do not, then, let churches rest on the man who speaks from the pulpit, it must rest upon the foundation. If it is by a man that a church lives and dies let it be by the God-man Christ Jesus.
22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are your's;
All things are to be for our use. Anything that replaces the foundation is no longer for use but dependence and we must depend upon nothing other than what God has given in Christ.
23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.
So be his, for he is what God has given for us to depend upon.
23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.
So be his, for he is what God has given for us to depend upon.
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