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Adam GonnermanIgneousQuill.com
Explanatory Commentary on 1st Corinthians 3
Some passages of Scripture suffer from distortion of interpretation due to the perceptual baggage thatreaders bring to them. 1 Corinthians 3 is a chapter that fits this category of poor interpretation. So, I'mproviding this brief personal commentary on the chapter to help clarify what it is really saying. Pleaseread slowly, thoughtfully and carefully. Let's look at the immediate context of the chapter and compareit with other relevant passages, letting Scripture interpret Scripture.Milk or Meat?(1 Corinthians 3:1 ASV) And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal,as unto babes in Christ.(1 Corinthians 3:2 ASV) I fed you with milk, not with meat; for ye were not yet able to bear it: nay, noteven now are ye able;All fields of learning must be approached starting with the basics, at least whenever novices areinvolved. This is built right into our educational system. A freshman college student wouldn't ordinarilyattempt (or even be permitted) to take a 400 level Chemistry class just because she was thinking aboutthat subject for a Major. An exception would be made for a prodigy that had already mastered thebasics before college, and could demonstrate said mastery through testing or other means.The same principle applies to spiritual truths. Though the Good News of Jesus Christ can beunderstood by all who have an ear to hear, the deeper truths of Scripture can only be grasped with timeand experience. The simple things must be known and comprehended before the intermediate, and soforth. Thus, the average unbaptized person who is not certain about Christ being the only was of salvation would not necessarily be helped by being taught the ins and outs of the major Christologicalcontroversies of the first centuries AD. Studies of the Mosaic law would be lost on new believers inChrist, who -- like infants -- must learn to crawl before they can walk.
 
Adam GonnermanIgneousQuill.com
The Apostle Peter, along with all the apostles, understood this when he said, "as newborn babes, longfor the spiritual milk which is without guile, that ye may grow thereby unto salvation" (1 Peter 2:2ASV).The writer of Hebrews rebuked some of the early Christians for not making better progress in theirChristian lives when he wrote:"For when by reason of the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need again that some one teach youthe rudiments of the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk,and not of solid food. For every one that partaketh of milk is without experience of the word of righteousness; for he is a babe. But solid food is for fullgrown men, even those who by reason of usehave their senses exercised to discern good and evil" (Hebrews 5:12-14 ASV).Apparently, theCorinthian Christians were suffering from a similar malady, as we shall now see.Strife and Faction(1 Corinthians 3:3 ASV) for ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you jealousy and strife, areye not carnal, and do ye not walk after the manner of men?(1 Corinthians 3:4 ASV) For when one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye notmen?Conflict in a church is one of the most painful things a believer can go through. Whether it's the colorof the carpet or what to do with a preacher caught in adultery, when conflict and division comes greatdistress is shared by all. It is a sad situation, and one that can have repercussions that never fully fade inthis life. A church can be destroyed, and if not closed it may well simply limp along for years withoutrecovery. People who leave are often bitter, and children who are exposed to it can grow up skepticalabout religion in general and about Christianity in particular.
 
Adam GonnermanIgneousQuill.com
In the Corinthian church, people were taking foolish pride in certain men. They were claiming this manor that as their spiritual leader and benefactor. The church was being torn apart by unholy devotion topersonalities. How often have we seen a church in our day that was not a church of Christ, but rather a"Church of Pastor Jones" or "Brother Billy's Church?" Even in churches that aren't dictatoriallycontrolled by the minister we see this problem, particularly when he moves on somewhere else. Achurch of 100 in attendance can easily dip to 60 or fewer in a matter of weeks.Arguing and fussing isn't the way the Lord wants His Church."If there is therefore any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of theSpirit, if any tender mercies and compassions, make full my joy, that ye be of the same mind, havingthe same love, being of one accord, of one mind; doing nothing through faction or through vainglory,but in lowliness of mind each counting other better than himself; not looking each of you to his ownthings, but each of you also to the things of others" (Philippians 2:1-4 ASV).Who Really Matters?(1 Corinthians 3:5 ASV) What then is Apollos? and what is Paul? Ministers through whom ye believed;and each as the Lord gave to him.(1 Corinthians 3:6 ASV) I planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.(1 Corinthians 3:7 ASV) So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth; but Godthat giveth the increase.(1 Corinthians 3:8 ASV) Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: but each shall receive hisown reward according to his own labor.(1 Corinthians 3:9 ASV) For we are God's fellow-workers: ye are God's husbandry, God's building.
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