1 Corinthians 3:1-12 And I, brothers, could not speak to you as to spiritual, but as to carnal, even as to babes in Christ.… As their dissensions had reference to their religious teachers, the apostle endeavours to correct the evil by presenting the ministerial office in its true light. I. MINISTERS WERE NOT HEADS OF SCHOOLS or rival sects, as were the Grecian philosophers, BUT MERE SERVANTS, without any authority or power of their own. One may plant, and another water, but the whole increase is of God (vers. 5-7). II. MINISTERS ARE ONE. They have one Master and one work. They may have different departments in that great work, but they are like fellow-labourers on the same farm, or fellow-builders on the same temple (vers. 8, 9). III. IN THE DISCHARGE OF THEIR RESPECTIVE DUTIES THEY INCUR A GREAT RESPONSIBILITY. If they attempt to build up the temple of God with the rubbish of their own wisdom, they will be severely punished. If they employ the materials which God has furnished, they will be rewarded (vers. 10-15). The Church is the temple of God, and ministers will be held to strict account for the doctrines which they preach and for the way in which they execute their office (vers. 16, 17). IV. NO MINISTER NEED DECEIVE HIMSELF IN THIS MATTER. He cannot preach a higher wisdom than the wisdom of God; and to learn that wisdom he must renounce his own (vers. 18-20). V. THEREFORE THE PEOPLE SHOULD NOT PLACE THEIR CONFIDENCE IN MINISTERS, who belong to the Church, and not the Church to them. To the interests and consummation of the Church all things, visible and invisible, are made subservient (vers. 21-23). (C. Hodge, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.WEB: Brothers, I couldn't speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshly, as to babies in Christ. |
    |