1Cor 3:1-3 | Clarke | STEP | Because of the carnal, divided state of the people at Corinth, the apostle was obliged to treat them as children in the knowledge of sacred things, . Some were for setting up Paul, others Apollos, as their sole teachers, . The apostle shows that himself and fellow apostles were only instruments which God used to bring them to the knowledge of the truth; and even their sowing, and watering the seed was of no use unless God gave the increase, . The Church represented as God's husbandry, and as God's building, the foundation of which is Christ Jesus, . Ministers must beware how and what they build on this foundation, . The Church of God is his temple, and he that defiles it shall be destroyed, , . No man should depend on his own wisdom; for the wisdom of the world is foolishness with God, . None should glory in man as his teacher; God gives his followers every good, both for time and eternity, . Verse 1 I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual - This is a continuation of the preceding discourse. See the notes on , (note), and (note). But as unto carnal - Σαρκικοις, Persons under the influence of fleshly appetites; coveting and living for the things of this life. Babes in Christ - Just beginning to acquire some notion of the Christian religion, hut as yet very incapable of judging what is most suitable to yourselves, and consequently utterly unqualified to discern between one teacher and another; so that your making the distinctions which you do make, so far from being a proof of mature judgment, is on the contrary a proof that you have no right judgment at all; and this springs from your want of knowledge in Divine things.

1 Corinthians 3:1-3

Introduction

Because of the carnal, divided state of the people at Corinth, the apostle was obliged to treat them as children in the knowledge of sacred things, 1Cor 3:1-3. Some were for setting up Paul, others Apollos, as their sole teachers, 1Cor 3:4. The apostle shows that himself and fellow apostles were only instruments which God used to bring them to the knowledge of the truth; and even their sowing, and watering the seed was of no use unless God gave the increase, 1Cor 3:5-8. The Church represented as God's husbandry, and as God's building, the foundation of which is Christ Jesus, 1Cor 3:9-11. Ministers must beware how and what they build on this foundation, 1Cor 3:12-15. The Church of God is his temple, and he that defiles it shall be destroyed, 1Cor 3:16, 1Cor 3:17. No man should depend on his own wisdom; for the wisdom of the world is foolishness with God, 1Cor 3:18-20. None should glory in man as his teacher; God gives his followers every good, both for time and eternity, 1Cor 3:21-23.

Verse 1

I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual - This is a continuation of the preceding discourse. See the notes on 1Cor 2:14, 1Cor 2:15 (note), and 1Cor 2:16 (note).

But as unto carnal - Σαρκικοις, Persons under the influence of fleshly appetites; coveting and living for the things of this life.

Babes in Christ - Just beginning to acquire some notion of the Christian religion, hut as yet very incapable of judging what is most suitable to yourselves, and consequently utterly unqualified to discern between one teacher and another; so that your making the distinctions which you do make, so far from being a proof of mature judgment, is on the contrary a proof that you have no right judgment at all; and this springs from your want of knowledge in Divine things. Verse 2

I have fed you with milk - I have instructed you in the elements of Christianity - in its simplest and easiest truths; because from the low state of your minds in religious knowledge, you were incapable of comprehending the higher truths of the Gospel: and in this state you will still continue. The apostle thus exposes to them the absurdity of their conduct in pretending to judge between preacher and preacher, while they had but a very partial acquaintance even with the first principles of Christianity. Verse 3

There is among you envying, and strife, and divisions - Ζηλος και ερις και διχοστασιαι. There are three things here worthy of note: these people were wrong in thought, word, and deed. Ζηλος, envying refers to the state of their souls; they had inward grudgings and disaffection towards each other. Ερις, strife or contention, refers to their words; they were continually disputing and contending whose party was the best, each endeavoring to prove that he and his party were alone in the right. Διχοστασιαι, divisions, refers to their conduct; as they could not agree, they contended till they separated from each other, and thus rent the Church of Christ. Thus the envying and grudging led to strife and evil Speaking, and this led to divisions and fixed parties. In this state well might the apostle say, Are ye not carnal, and walk as men? Ye act just as the people of the world, and have no more of the spirit of religion than they.