First Corinthians Chapter 3
Originally posted Wednesday July 9
First Corinthians Chapter
3:1-23 Divisions in the Corinthian Church
Paul
has already written about the party spirit that has created divisions and
disunity in the community. Here he returns to this issue as a sign of the
Corinthians' spiritual immaturity. They are acting like people of the flesh,
"as infants in Christ" apparently not ready for solid food. As long
as there is quarreling and jealousy they are acting like unspiritual humans,
acting out of worldly wisdom and not the wisdom of God. As an example he points
to those who say they belong to Paul or to Apollos as born of human wisdom,
being of the flesh rather than of the spirit. He and Apollos are merely
servants leading them to Christ according to God's bidding, each according to
the gifts God has given. Using the seed as a metaphor for those who through
faith believed in the Gospel preached by both, Paul writes, "I planted,
Apollos watered, but God gave the growth." Neither Paul nor Apollos can
take any credit for the result. It is God who brings the planted and watered
seed to full blossom. They are God's servants who share the work God gave to
them and for which each will receive the appropriate wages in keeping with
their labor.
The
idea of differing "wages" in the new age (or in heaven?) is not
explained by Paul. However, in the Jewish tradition of the time there were
a number of heavens, perhaps as many as seven and where the first heaven is
where the birds fly (the sky). Later Paul will write of being caught up into
the third heaven.
Paul
extends the metaphorical language calling the Corinthians God's field and God's
building. Paul has laid the foundation for each member of the
community and Apollos has built upon it. Whoever adds to this foundation
should take care to remember that the foundation is Jesus Christ. Whatever is
added must be suitable to what has been set in place. Indirectly Paul is
warning against altering what he has preached, for in doing so these divisions
have arisen. Indeed, whatever is added will be tested by fire (the
usual way of speaking of the separation of the good from the wicked
in the "Day"). Paul's use of various building materials stresses
the difference between that which is precious - will past the trial by
fire, and that which is common - will be consumed by fire.
Expanding
on the use of "God's building" as a description of the Corinthian
Christian, Paul names the building as God's temple in which God's Spirit
dwells. Anyone who destroys God's temple will be destroyed. In this case to
destroy means to inappropriately build upon the foundation that is the
crucified Christ as Lord, thus leading the Christian astray. This is a
warning to those who might be swayed by eloquent words and supposed wisdom and
to those whose teaching is of wood, hay or straw. It is better to become fools
so that they may find the true wisdom of God. In the end human leaders do
not matter. Whether it is Paul, Cephas or Apollos, all belong to the faithful
Christian; the Christian belongs to Christ; and Christ belongs to God.
If
we feel too far removed from Paul's time to hear the core of his argument
perhaps we have not understood the issue. There is but one foundation for the
Christian and for the church as a community of Christians. That foundation is
Christ. But this is not a rhetorical Christ of words we mouth in the creeds and
prayers that we can ignore when we leave the Sanctuary. This is the Christ received through an
abiding faith in Christ as the one who most clearly and
fully reveals God. The God Christ reveals is no generic spirit far removed
from the fray of life. This is a God with a dream for the world, a
dream of the transformation of the world into one big Shalom zone,
unbroken and filled with well being, justice, kindness and compassion. Whatever
we do in our ministries, in preaching and teaching, in the use of our
structures and all our resources, if we do not build upon the sure foundation
which is Christ we have toiled in vain.
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