1Cor 3:3-4 | KingComments | STEP | . What Paul wanted very much to do with the Corinthians, he could not do unfortunately. He would have wanted to speak to the Corinthians as to “spiritual men”. The expression ”spiritual men” has nothing to do with a religious job. Sometimes people speak about ‘clergymen and laymen’. The clergymen are people like pastors and priests. They have received a training for which they have passed an exam to be appointed by their own church as a ‘clergyman’. All other members of that church are ‘laymen’. Those are people who have had no training in theology. God has never meant such a distinction. Just to be not misunderstood: I don’t say that all pastors and priests are unbelievers. I know that some of them really love the Lord Jesus sincerely. But to me it is about their ‘profession’ as a clergyman. That is something that you can’t find in the Bible. Now you read in about “spiritual men” and “men of flesh”. In both cases believers are meant. In the previous chapter we read of “natural men” ( ). Those are unbelievers. We have not only to do with a distinction between believers and unbelievers, but also with a distinction between believers. The latter is the issue here. You might have noticed this distinction already. You might also have the opinion that all believers are people who of course love the Lord Jesus and serve Him. What you possibly still have to discover is that you too from one moment to another can change from a spiritual person into a fleshly person. Therefore it is important to be fully aware of what Paul is saying here. Whether you are spiritual or fleshly depends on your attitude of mind as a believer. You are spiritual when the Holy Spirit can lead your life and when He can focus your heart and ‘mind’ (do you remember ?) on the Lord Jesus. Then you are willing to do all things in your life to the honor of God. You will make mistakes, but you will be willing to quickly put things right again. When you are fleshly however, you find yourself important or you are too occupied with how other people think of you. You yourself are in the center of your life and not Christ. You really don’t have to live in sin to be fleshly. To be fleshly easily creeps into your life. The follow-up of this chapter makes that clear. He who is fleshly looks like an infant, a little child. A little child is limited in his ability to understand. When adults talk with each other, he hears the words, but doesn’t understand what it is all about. . Little children should be approached on their own level. Therefore Paul couldn’t tell them more about the Person of Christ than that He was crucified ( ). He couldn’t talk with them about God’s wisdom, for they didn’t belong to the perfect or mature (i.e. full-grown or mature Christians). Just look up the section of chapter 2:6. They could only receive milk. Milk is indeed baby food. The solid food is for the mature or perfect. In Hebrew 5 you find the same issue ( ). There the believers were actually converted for a longer period of time, but they had not made progress in their faith life. The author of the letter to the Hebrews has to admonish them regarding that. That can easily happen to you. You may have a good start, you’re very enthusiastic and you love to read the Bible. But after a while you may notice that your impetus is weakening. Then you need to be nourished with the simple things of the Bible, for you cannot recognize the deeper truths. . In the case of the Corinthians, the deeper truths of the Bible couldn’t be told to them because they were still “fleshly”. As a proof of that they are reprimanded for being jealous and having division among them. Paul even adds to it that they behaved like “mere men”. He just means that they were behaving like the people in the world. That is serious. Their division in small groups, each with a favorite leader, is really walking like mere men. That’s how it works in the world. In politics and in sport as well, everyone can decide which club or faction he wants to join. They criticize all other factions. Jealousy and dissension are the order of the day. Supporters of soccer clubs are attacking each other with chains, bats and knives. Politicians criticize each other in public debates to present themselves and assure themselves that their voters will continue to support them. This is not how it should be in God’s church. Everyone has his own place and task there. . Paul calls himself and Apollos just “servants” through whom the Corinthians became believers. Thankfully, they didn’t come to faith in Apollos or Paul. It was faith in God. Every servant had his own part in the work that God had done in the hearts of the Corinthians. I don’t know how you became a believer. Apparently God has used some believers for that. You will always be grateful to those people and that is a good thing. But be careful not to honor them or run after them. The real servant of God doesn’t like it when people honor him. He will want to give all tribute, honor and glory to God alone, for He finally has given the increase. That’s how Paul talks here. That’s how Peter talks in . In Revelation 19 you even read that an angel should not receive worship from us ( ). He even rejects it. The only One Who is worthy of worship is God! Now read 1 Corinthians 3:1-7 again. Reflection: How do you recognize in yourself whether your conduct is spiritual or fleshly?

‏ 1 Corinthians 3:3-4

Spiritual and Fleshly

1Cor 3:1. What Paul wanted very much to do with the Corinthians, he could not do unfortunately. He would have wanted to speak to the Corinthians as to “spiritual men”. The expression ”spiritual men” has nothing to do with a religious job. Sometimes people speak about ‘clergymen and laymen’. The clergymen are people like pastors and priests. They have received a training for which they have passed an exam to be appointed by their own church as a ‘clergyman’. All other members of that church are ‘laymen’. Those are people who have had no training in theology. God has never meant such a distinction. Just to be not misunderstood: I don’t say that all pastors and priests are unbelievers. I know that some of them really love the Lord Jesus sincerely. But to me it is about their ‘profession’ as a clergyman. That is something that you can’t find in the Bible.

Now you read in 1Cor 3:1 about “spiritual men” and “men of flesh”. In both cases believers are meant. In the previous chapter we read of “natural men” (1Cor 2:14). Those are unbelievers. We have not only to do with a distinction between believers and unbelievers, but also with a distinction between believers. The latter is the issue here. You might have noticed this distinction already. You might also have the opinion that all believers are people who of course love the Lord Jesus and serve Him. What you possibly still have to discover is that you too from one moment to another can change from a spiritual person into a fleshly person. Therefore it is important to be fully aware of what Paul is saying here.

Whether you are spiritual or fleshly depends on your attitude of mind as a believer. You are spiritual when the Holy Spirit can lead your life and when He can focus your heart and ‘mind’ (do you remember 1Cor 2:16?) on the Lord Jesus. Then you are willing to do all things in your life to the honor of God. You will make mistakes, but you will be willing to quickly put things right again. When you are fleshly however, you find yourself important or you are too occupied with how other people think of you. You yourself are in the center of your life and not Christ.

You really don’t have to live in sin to be fleshly. To be fleshly easily creeps into your life. The follow-up of this chapter makes that clear.

He who is fleshly looks like an infant, a little child. A little child is limited in his ability to understand. When adults talk with each other, he hears the words, but doesn’t understand what it is all about.

1Cor 3:2. Little children should be approached on their own level. Therefore Paul couldn’t tell them more about the Person of Christ than that He was crucified (1Cor 2:2). He couldn’t talk with them about God’s wisdom, for they didn’t belong to the perfect or mature (i.e. full-grown or mature Christians). Just look up the section of chapter 2:6. They could only receive milk. Milk is indeed baby food. The solid food is for the mature or perfect.

In Hebrew 5 you find the same issue (Heb 5:11-14). There the believers were actually converted for a longer period of time, but they had not made progress in their faith life. The author of the letter to the Hebrews has to admonish them regarding that. That can easily happen to you. You may have a good start, you’re very enthusiastic and you love to read the Bible. But after a while you may notice that your impetus is weakening. Then you need to be nourished with the simple things of the Bible, for you cannot recognize the deeper truths.

1Cor 3:3-4. In the case of the Corinthians, the deeper truths of the Bible couldn’t be told to them because they were still “fleshly”. As a proof of that they are reprimanded for being jealous and having division among them. Paul even adds to it that they behaved like “mere men”. He just means that they were behaving like the people in the world. That is serious. Their division in small groups, each with a favorite leader, is really walking like mere men.

That’s how it works in the world. In politics and in sport as well, everyone can decide which club or faction he wants to join. They criticize all other factions. Jealousy and dissension are the order of the day. Supporters of soccer clubs are attacking each other with chains, bats and knives. Politicians criticize each other in public debates to present themselves and assure themselves that their voters will continue to support them. This is not how it should be in God’s church. Everyone has his own place and task there.

1Cor 3:5-7. Paul calls himself and Apollos just “servants” through whom the Corinthians became believers. Thankfully, they didn’t come to faith in Apollos or Paul. It was faith in God. Every servant had his own part in the work that God had done in the hearts of the Corinthians.

I don’t know how you became a believer. Apparently God has used some believers for that. You will always be grateful to those people and that is a good thing. But be careful not to honor them or run after them. The real servant of God doesn’t like it when people honor him. He will want to give all tribute, honor and glory to God alone, for He finally has given the increase. That’s how Paul talks here. That’s how Peter talks in Acts 10:25-26. In Revelation 19 you even read that an angel should not receive worship from us (Rev 19:10). He even rejects it. The only One Who is worthy of worship is God!

Now read 1 Corinthians 3:1-7 again.

Reflection: How do you recognize in yourself whether your conduct is spiritual or fleshly?