Lesson 3 of 1 Corinthians, Chapter 3 Paul's Argument for Unity A Proper Perspective on Leadershi
The 1st Epistle of Paul to The Church @ Corinth
Lesson Three: Chapter 2-4 Paul’s Argument for Unity
Introduction
In chapter three Paul’s argument for unity shifts to another method. I the previous two chapters his argument was for unity because of what believers had in common. In chapters 3 and 4 he begins to point our common errors that the saints in Corinth were making that caused division.
In these chapters Paul tries to encourage the saints to not make these common mistakes that lead to division.
In this lesson we seek to point out these mistakes as Paul argued them and highlight the behavior that we should exhibit in its place.
True to Pauline writing, in this chapter, we will see Paul make one long argument that encompasses this chapters and it will run over into chapter 4. We will discover that Paul is making one argument with several sub-points, illustration, and applications.
As we exegete this text we will point out all of these elements in Paul’s argument and highlight the importance in there meaning to us as believers.
Point #1 Your are Acting Infantile (1-4)
In the first part of Paul’s argument he points out to the Corinthians their error of exalting those in leadership too highly.
Vs. 1-4 Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?
Paul points out that the behavior of the Corinthians was retarding their progress. He said to them that by now you should have been able to receive meet but you are still on milk the (the elementary things of Christ).
In verse 4 Paul points out for them how the behavior that is holding them back is manifesting itself in their lives.
Vs. 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?
Paul’s statement also point to the idea that, Christians with a proper perspective should be beyond just Human.
Human in the context of the passage is a synonym for fleshly. What he desires is for us to be more spiritual, as in being led by the Spirit.
This will never be accomplished as long as we concentrate on other men more than on God.
Point # 2 Paul Illustrates the Proper Thinking of Mature Christians (5-15)
Paul starts his second point by making a clear statement of the roles of the persons who are call to lead others to Christ and to lead God’s people. (Vs. 5)
Vs5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task.
In verses 6-15 Paul gives 2 illustration to emphasize his point.
Illustration #1 The Church is God’s Field
(Vs. 6-9) I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9 For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.
Paul’s first illustration highlights the importance of a mature church seeing their leadership in proper perspective.
A mature church sees leaders working together.
Vs. 5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task.
A mature church sees leaders working in different roles for the same goal.
Vs. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor.
A mature church knows that all the glory belongs to the one who owns the field. (let’s look back at verses 6-9)
(Vs. 6-9) I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9 For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.
Let us remember that whether it is our role to plant or to water it is God who causes the growth.
Point # 2 Paul Illustrates the Proper Thinking of Mature Christians (5-15)
In Paul’s seconded illustration he stresses that a mature church works together. His second illustration is that of building a building. In the illustration the leadership and their role is pointed out but unlike the previous illustration this one puts the entire church to work building itself.
A mature church builds on a Godly foundation as established through the leader.
Vs. 10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Everyone is included in the effort of building and everyone must be careful to use approved building material only.
Vs. 12-15 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
Please note that the use of non-regulated material has disastrous consequences for the builder and not for the owner.
Point #3 Paul’s Illustration of the Proper Perspective (16-17)
Vs. 16-17 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.
Paul here makes clear that the emphasis of it all is about the temple itself. In verses 12-15 he gave the consequences for the congregation impropriety toward God’s building but here the emphasis is on the leadership’s impropriety toward the building.
He writes this way so that the Corinthians will see the proper perspective they are to have toward leadership.
Paul’s Conclusion to this Point (18-22)
Paul wraps up this point in his argument by giving the Corinthians 2 applications for life.
Application 1 Abandon Worldly Thinking
Vs. 18-20 Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”[a]; 20 and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”
Paul’s Conclusion to this Point (18-22)
Application 2 Quit Over Emphasizing the Leaders
Vs. 21-22 So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas[c] or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23 and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.
