1 Corinthians 3:22

Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are your's (KJV)

Then: Henry specifies and explains the spiritual riches the Corinthians possessed. It didn't matter whether they followed Paul or Apollos or Cephas, through them they had access to Christ's teachings and therefore they owned all the knowledge and teachings that any of the leaders could give them.

Now: Beardslee (p. 31) compares Paul's reasoning that the Corinthians should abandon worldy wisdom to Christ's teaching that those who lose their lives for him will actually gain it. Paul lists what they gain. By now, readers see Paul's teaching style. State the principle first, follow it with supporting quotations or explanatory details, and connect it to the lives of the Corinthians.

Extra source: Commentary on the Whole Bible Acts to Revelation Vol VI by Matthew Henry online at http://www.ccel.org/ccel/henry/mhc6.iCor.iv.html
First Corinthians: a commentary for today by William A. Beardslee (St. Louis MO: Chalice Press, c1994) online at http://books.google.com/books?id=cKpy9maLuiQC&dq=Corinthians+commentary&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=ZdJnhnUolH&sig=xQvIGm41suvwCLZkF_tsYdCfnuc&hl=en&ei=b6koS5rODtLDlAfBgo2hDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CCEQ6AEwCDhk#v=onepage&q=&f=false

1 Corinthians 3:13

Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is (KJV)

Then: Did the Corinthians already know this? They knew about the second coming of Christ. They knew that all would be judged on the last day. But they may not have thought about it in this way. One thing for sure, what's ahead is personal for every believer. This will not be a whole group experience. Baker (p. 57) reminds readers about the many ways buildings can be tested - weather conditions, decay through time, or military destructions by fire. Burning was Corinth's experience when Luccius Mummius sacked the city in 146 BC. Corinthians could still see the remains of some of those buildings. Baker also infers (p. 58) that some of the Corinthian leaders were doing good work. Otherwise the metaphor would have reflected complete destruction with nothing left standing.

Now: Matthew Henry understands the passage to apply to all believers, while Baker believes Paul's main concern is with the leaders and teachers. Since it looks like the teaching is universal, not limited, and since Paul speaks through access to the Holy Spirit, no one following Christ can set this aside. It's not an easy thing to anticipate, but, remembering that Paul's purpose is the salvation and eternal life for his hearers, believers should consider it to be a warning.

Extra Source: Cornerstone Biblical Commentary 1 Corinthians (William Baker), 2 Corinthians (Ralph Martin & Carl Toney), ed. by Philip Comfort. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, c2006.
Commentary on the Whole Bible Acts to Revelation Vol VI by Matthew Henry online at
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/henry/mhc6.iCor.iv.html

1 Corinthians 3:12

Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble (KJV)

Then: Gold, silver and precious stones were construction materials used in building the temple. Paul is preparing the Corinthians for his upcoming thoughts in vs 16. Obviously, he's referring to spiritual foundations, not actually physical ones. He teaches through a the third metaphor in a series of four: laborers, fields, foundations, temples. Is the building of great value made from beautiful materials or poorly constructed with perishable materials? Will it stand in the final judgement? Wesley broadens the thought from solely personal applications to a concern for the church as a whole. He states any doctrines, ceremonies, or other man-created additions to the worship of Christ cannot stand the fire. Wright (p. 37) expands his discussion to the conflict between builders and destroyers. Paul's concentration on the Corinthian problem of divisions became a straight line-wind coming down on the Corinthians; not to destroy, but to purify before the last days.

Now: These words and what follows make all readers cringe as they question their personal work. "What is the quality of my work? Is it long-lasting and solid like gold, silver, or other stones which can withstand fire, or is it not?" The question deals with one part of a Christian, the temple. The other part of the person - the servant - emerges as the temple is built.

Extra source: John Wesley's Notes on the New Testament by John Wesley (on-line version: publisher and date not listed) http://www.ccel.org/ccel/wesley/notes.i.viii.iv.html

1 Corinthians 3:10

According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon (KJV)

Then: Enter the wise, yet humble, masterbuilder, a person with experience who through Christ, does his own work well. He is not the paymaster (Baker, p. 53) or the bricklayer or the carpenter. Those other workers -- "Watch out! Be careful." If any one builds carelessly, he can destroy the whole building, cause it to be unsturdy, or leave places with cracks or splinters.

There's a lot in this verse. Another detail is Paul's statement that he laid the foundation which is Jesus Christ. He himself is not the foundation; it was just his joy to be the one who first brought Christ into the lives of individual Corinthians. A final word which strikes commentators is "grace." Morris likes its sense of dependence on God's power as it enables recipients more than its meanings of divine call and direction, loving kindness, or favor (p. 65).

Now: We look to Paul's metaphoric teaching to understand both our place and our work in God's kingdom. Following Paul we too hope to reach the ability to be wise masterbuilders while at the same time be under care of the buildings master architect. As builders we hear Paul's warning that we do our work with care, always checking with the Lord and not doing things "our own way," as "it might be convenient" or as "quick and dirty." We hope our work compares favorably to those who took years to build the cathedrals, inch by inch, detail by detail, and perfection by perfection.

Extra Source: Cornerstone Biblical Commentary 1 Corinthians (William Baker), 2 Corinthians (Ralph Martin & Carl Toney), ed. by Philip Comfort. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, c2006.
The First epistle of Paul to the Corinthians: an introduction and commentary by Leon Morris (Grand Rapids MI: Wm B. Eerdmans, c1985, 2002) online at http://books.google.com/books?id=lNc0AYIqQvAC&dq=Corinthians+Morris&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=NwNTeWfd4I&sig=XgqcdeZIJ7jIfOrxTT7PUqQqo_4&hl=en&ei=F-MkS82TPIvWlAfW55D-CQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CAwQ6AEwATgK#v=onepage&q=&f=false

1 Corinthians 3:9

For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building (KJV)

Then: Thinking of yourself as a field of dirt where others walk or a building where others occupy the rooms could be degrading, but Paul doesn't give the Corinthians any time to think. He's finished the cultural metaphor and adding one from industry. Instead, the point is working with others for God and, concurrently, being his handiwork. Morris (p. 64) notes that a translation of being "partners" with God doesn't really fit Paul's teaching. Corinthians could also see that the sentence was a brief segue into the next metaphor.

Now: We see Paul talking about himself and Apollos, and we include ourselves in that group of laborers for Christ. Christian maturity always puts us in two places at the same time - God's work and God's worker. We learn; we serve God; we learn more; we try to be better servants; and yet, in both phases it's not us, but God's work within us. Confusing? Yes, but perfectly sensible to those who depend upon the Spirit abiding within them.

Extra Source: The First epistle of Paul to the Corinthians: an introduction and commentary by Leon Morris (Grand Rapids MI: Wm B. Eerdmans, c1985, 2002) online at http://books.google.com/books?id=lNc0AYIqQvAC&dq=Corinthians+Morris&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=NwNTeWfd4I&sig=XgqcdeZIJ7jIfOrxTT7PUqQqo_4&hl=en&ei=F-MkS82TPIvWlAfW55D-CQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CAwQ6AEwATgK#v=onepage&q=&f=false

1 Corinthians 3:8

Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour (KJV)

Then: The thought of the one who waters and the one who plants as being one entity matches the teachings of Christ that his followers be unified. Paul says it is a truth for he and Apollos. Even though, in the final judgement each shall receive a reward for the work which they did individually, that doesn't matter as far as the goal of serving Christ and bringing others into the kingdom is concerned. The natural man may respond well to incentives of competition, but the spiritual man responds more valiantly to the goal of not disappointing the Lord.

Now: Two other interesting parts of the rhetorical method were the incorporation of both antithetical and balanced phrases (Collins, p. 141). Verse 8, here shows one that is balanced: "he that planteth" and "he that watereth." Using them organizes thoughts in listeners' minds. When you remember one, you remember the other. Other commentators look at the broad reaching effect of these verses. Hays (p. 49) deals with the elitism which has crept into the churches - especially noticeable in the competitions between large and small ones. It takes conscious effort for believers to speak glowingly of the work in both, never intimating that that which is done in one has less eternal value than the work in another. This does not preclude the need for both small and large churches to be ever searching for better methods of cultivation. The work of a large church may be shallow and short range, while the work of a small church may be too narrow in focus.

Extra Source: First Corinthians by Raymond F. Collins and Daniel J. Harrington (Collegeville MN: Liturgical Press, c1999) online at http://books.google.com/books?id=c4VXq9fKoRwC&dq=Sacra+Pagina+and+1st+Corinthians&printsec=frontcover&source=in&hl=en&ei=NqEJS7XzEITklAeejdiEBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=11&ved=0CDUQ6AEwCg#v=onepage&q=&f=false
First Corinthians by Richard B. Hayes (John Knox Press, 1997) on line at http://books.google.com/books?id=M_PC0PAs3VYC&dq=1+Corinthians+and+Richard+B.+Hays&printsec=frontcover&source=in&hl=en&ei=2oPcStDCIIvf8Aaq0Ki3BQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=11&ved=0CCMQ6AEwCg#v=onepage&q=1%20Corinthians%20and%20Richard%20B.%20Hays&f=false

1 Corinthians 3:7

So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase (KJV)

Then: Paul explains the metaphor. The workers in the field have no signficance that they should be picked out to be more important than other workers. Only God, the head of the universe, and the one who occupies the hearts of each individual believer is to be valued, honored and glorified. Through him all things are accomplished. Without him, nothing of eternal consequence will ever be done.

Now: Farming is a necessity for providing life. As a metaphor it has enduring significance and meaning, age after age. Twenty-first century Christians can understand it just as well as first century Christians could. We learn from Paul and Apollos. We are glad for the work they did, but our worship and praise goes to the Lord, for without him our lives are empty.

1 Corinthians 3:6

I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase (KJV)

Then: A succinct summary turns the wisdom of the sophists to the work of farming. That's a lowly occupation about which non-farmers usually know everything. So Paul tells them he did the planting, i.e, brought the word of Christ to the Corinthians. Afterwards Apollos did the watering by helping them understand and use what they'd learned. But all the time the true overseer, God, made sure the fruit was unblemished, plentiful, and full in order for the process to be replicated over and over.

Now: The church consists of workers with specific jobs. God directs the workers. No single one of his workers can be elevated by members of the church to being in charge of the process. Only God has the power, knowledge, and presence (omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent) to do that. Verses 6 to 9 are always noted as an outstanding metaphor in Paul's teaching techniques. Morris (p.63), among others, explains that verse 3 verbs are in the past completed tense when referring to Paul and Apollos, but the one for God is in the past imperfect designating an ongoing process. That means today's Christians and those who follow us are still part of that plan, an ongoing process until the time of the second coming. We are all blessed by his love.

Extra source: The First epistle of Paul to the Corinthians: an introduction and commentary by Leon Morris (Grand Rapids MI: Wm B. Eerdman's, c1985, 2002) online at http://books.google.com/books?id=lNc0AYIqQvAC&dq=Corinthians+Morris&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=NwNTeWfd4I&sig=XgqcdeZIJ7jIfOrxTT7PUqQqo_4&hl=en&ei=F-MkS82TPIvWlAfW55D-CQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CAwQ6AEwATgK#v=onepage&q=&f=false