1 Corinthians - Division, Gifts, Marriage, Love, & Resurrection
Session 5 – Watering, Working, and Warning
(1 Corinthians 3:12-23)

What happens in Corinth…stays in Corinth!

It was an ancient day “Hollywood, Las Vegas, and New York” with all the immorality and debauchery of today.

Map of Greece / Asia Minor (Modern day Turkey):
Corinth
Olympia
Athens
Thessalonica
Philippi
Ephesus
Smyrna
Pergamos
Sardis
Laodicea

(Halley’s Bible Handbook)
Corinth lies 56 miles west of Athens, on the narrow strip of land (isthmus) between the Peloponnesus and the Greek mainland. Ever since the Golden Age of Greece, Athens had been the leading cultural center, but under Roman rule, Corinth had been made the capital of the Roman province called Achaia (which also included Athens) and was the most important city in the country. Land traffic between the north and south had to pass the city, and much of the commerce between Rome and the East was brought to its harbors.

Paul visited Corinth for the first time on his second missionary journey (Acts 18). He became acquainted with Aquila and Priscilla, fellow Christians and, like himself, tentmakers. During his stay of 1 ½ years he lived at their home. Paul later wrote two New Testament letters to that church and at least two other letters, now lost (1 Cor 5:9) and the severe letter (2 Cor 7:8). Paul also wrote the letter to the Romans while in Corinth (Romans 16:23).

(Chuck Missler – 1&2 Corinthians Commentary 1995)
Occasion of 1 Corinthians
Paul wrote a letter to the Corinthian church, a letter which apparently perished (1 Cor 5:9). (Some scholars believe it is preserved as 2 Cor 6:14-7:1.) This letter had been misunderstood (1 Cor 5:9-10) and Paul mentions it to clear up a misconception. [Remember: The chapters were not divided up until the 13th century; the verses not until the 16th.] The household of Chloe brought him news of cliques in the church (1 Cor 1:11) and the church wrote him a letter (re: 1 Cor 7:1), presumably brought to Ephesus by Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus (1 Cor 16:17) who probably added their own comments. The situation was serious. Paul responded with the letter we know as 1 Corinthians.

The “Painful visit”
The situation worsened. Paul felt it necessary to leave his work in Ephesus and pay a hurried visit in the attempt to set things right. (This visit is implied in passages in 2 Corinthians, which speak of Paul as being ready to pay a third visit to Corinth (2 Cor 12:14; 13:1; his second visit is past, 13:2).

His references to “coming again in sorrow” (2 Cor 2:1) indicate that this visit had been an unpleasant one. It failed to clear up the situation and Paul went away profoundly disturbed.

The “Severe Letter”
Paul determined to write another letter, obviously very severe in tone, and it cost him much to write (2 Cor 2:4; 7:8). Had it not been successful it might conceivably have meant a final rupture between Paul and this church he had founded. This letter seems to have been lost. (Many scholars feel part of it is preserved in 2 Cor 10-13.) The letter was apparently taken by Titus, who was to return via Macedonia and Troas. Paul was impatient to know how it had been received. When he eventually catches up to Titus, he learns that all is well (2 Cor 2:12-17; 7:5-7, 13). Out of his great relief and joy, Paul wrote the letter we call 2 Corinthians. Almost certainly he visited the church soon afterwards.

Three Visits:
1) When church was founded;
2) The “painful” visit;
3) A visit after 2 Corinthians had been sent.

Four letters:
1) The “Previous Letter”;
2) 1 Corinthians;
3) The “Severe Letter”;
4) 2 Corinthians.

Authorship
There is no doubt that Paul is the author. He is cited as the author in 1 Clement 47:1, a first century letter, and freely quoted by Ignatius and Polycarp; plus subsequent frequent references.
The church at Corinth is the “carnal church.” Spiritual babes, immature and undeveloped spiritually. Unseparated from the world. They have only a minimum of doctrine; what they have is mostly practical, conduct-related.

Paul addresses the following:

Discipline, Chapter 5;
Going to Law, Chapter 6;
Marriage and Divorce, Chapter 7;
Christian Liberty, Chapters 8, 9, 10;
Lord’s Table, Chapter 11;
Tongues, Chapters 12-14;
Resurrection, Chapter 15.

Contrast:
1) Exciting speech of men vs. the Spirit filled preaching of Paul.
2) Wisdom of the world vs. the wisdom of God.
3) The spirit of the world vs. the Spirit of God.
4) The natural man vs. the spiritual man.

In Roman times Corinth was a city of wealth, luxury, and immorality – with a growing population that reached more than 300,000 free citizens and 460,000 slaves in the 2nd century A.D. The theater in Paul’s day seated 14,000 spectators. In the past, more than 1,000 hierodouloi – temple prostitutes – had been active in pagan worship rites, but these practices probably had ceased by Paul’s time, although the memory of that era was still fresh. “To live like a Corinthian” meant to live a life of sexual immorality and drunkenness. The Isthmian games, held every two years, made Corinth a great center of Hellenic life. (The Olympian Games were held every four years at Olympia, some 100 miles west of Corinth).

READ (All) 1 Corinthians 3:12-23
Starting in chapter 2 verse 14, Paul begins to separate people into three classifications. The natural man, the spiritual man, and the carnal Christian.

1) (1 Corinthians 3:12-15) The church of God is described as a building.

[12-13] Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.

a) Gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw: Six commodities, in descending order of worth. These were all used to build on the foundation but had entirely different results.
(1 Gold – made of gold/utility of gold.
(2 Silver – columns and rafters of noble buildings were covered with it.
(3 Precious stones – as in granite and marble.
(4 Wood – a log or timber with holes in which the feet, hands, neck of prisoners were inserted and fastened with thongs; fetter.
(5 Hay – green grass.
(6 Straw - the stalk left after the ears are cut from the grain.

ii) The largest load of wood or hay may be worth less than the smallest diamond. Don’t confuse quantity with preciousness.

b) Each one’s work will become clear: God will test the “work” of the Christian. (vs. 9 – God’s building is the church).
c) Of what sort it is: So, you have been saved: what have you done with it? (2 Cor 5:10). We must all appear before the bema seat of Christ…
i) Bema Seat
(1 Tribunal seat, judicial bench, judgment seat, or throne.
(a) Acts 12:21: Herod Agrippa I addressed the people of Tyre and Sidon;
(2 John 19:13 (cf. Mt 27:19): Jesus brought before Pilate;
(3 Acts 18:12,16,17: Paul accused before Proconsul Gallio;(Relic still among the ruins in Corinth.)
(4 Acts 25:6,10,17: Paul brought before Festus at Caesarea.
2 Corinthians 5:9-11 (READ)
ii) This judgment of the believer, despite all failures, will have the praise of God (1 Cor 4:5; cf. Rom 14:10; Eph 6:8; 2 Tim 4:8; Rev 22:12).
1 Corinthians 4:5 (NKJV), “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.”

d) Some build on sound doctrine and a love of God’s Word. Others lead shallow lives with only a veneer of Christianity, satisfied with “wood, hay, and stubble.” The first three are permanent. The second three will perish.
e) Five Crowns:
i) of righteousness (2 Tim 4:8), for those who are longing for Jesus’ appearing.
ii) of glory (1 Pet 5:2-4), for those who faithful lead and serve God’s people.
iii) of life (Rev 2:10), for those who love God and persevere through trial.
iv) incorruptible crown (1 Cor 9:25-27), for those who live under self-control and to self-govern yourself.
v) of rejoicing (1 Thes. 2:19,20), for those that serve by bringing people to Jesus and discipling them.
f) What do we do with these crowns, should we earn them? We cast them on the glassy sea before the Throne of God.

g) There is a comparison of incorruptible things (gold, silver, precious stones) and corruptible things (wood, hay, straw). In context, mixing the wisdom of men with the wisdom of God in the work of building the church is like alternating granite and straw make a building.

i) What are you capable of doing to build the church of God? Have you begun to be part of a local fellowship?

h) The fire will test each one’s work: God will test our “work” and it will be revealed as to what kind of work it was. We will receive the reward (2 Cor 5:10) for what we have done in the body. This is NOT to determine salvation, that is a gift, but for our reward/inheritance.
Ephesians 2:8 (NKJV), “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.”
“It is a sobering thought: many, many people who believe they are serving God, but are doing it in an unworthy manner or with unworthy “materials” will come to find in eternity that they have, in reality, done nothing for the Lord. Some will be saved, but with a life that was wasted, and receive no crown to give to Jesus, for His glory (as in Revelation 4:10-11). He himself will be saved, yet so as through the fire shows that some will be saved, but barely saved, and saved with everything gone.” (Guzik)

[14-15] If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

i) If anyone’s work: The fire does not purify the worker, it tests their workmanship. Roman Catholics use this passage to teach purgatory, the idea that when we die, we go to a place where we are purified by fire before we go to heaven. The idea of purgatory has nothing to do with this passage, and nothing to do with any other passage in the Bible. Purgatory is strictly a human invention, and denies the finished work of Jesus for the believer.
j) As through fire: The primary reference is the Bema Seat, but I believe there is a secondary reference to the fires that the Lord allows to sweep into our lives. I am slowly but surely learning when to let some of the fires burn. I don’t defend myself. I don’t defend my church. I don’t try to soothe feelings or calm tensions. I let the fire burn. And when the fire is over, then I look around to see if there is any gold, silver of precious stones left with which to rebuild.
i) Have you ever experience a time in your life where it would have been better just to say or do nothing rather than jumping in and trying to fix the situation?

2) (1 Corinthians 3:16-17) The church with all of its people is protected by God.

[16-17] Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

a) You are the temple of God: Paul will later (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) speak as individual Christians being temples. Here his emphasis is on the church as a whole. Together we are living stones being built up as a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:5) Dead stones fit together nicely, but living/squirming stones tend to rub one another the wrong way (vs. 3 – envy, strife, and divisions).

b) If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him: Destroy doesn’t, mean “damned.” It means “diminished.” Paul is saying that he who defiles the church by either overtly or subtly cause division within the church, by negatively commenting about the church, or by pulling away from the church will himself be diminished. His ability to know the Lord, walk with the Lord, and be used by the Lord will decrease.

i) How do you keep yourself from causing divisions in your church/ministry?

3) 1 Corinthians 3:18-20) Pursue real wisdom to glorify God.

[18-20] Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”; and again, “The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”

a) Let no one deceive himself: Regarding the Corinthian problem of division, Paul gives three exhortations.
b) If anyone among you seems to be wise: First, the Corinthians were to stop thinking that they alone were the only ones given insights into deeper spirituality.
i) How do you keep yourself from being prideful in your knowledge of the Lord?

4) (1 Corinthians 3:21-23) Part two and three and Christian liberty.

[21-23] Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come — all are yours. And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

a) Let no one boast in men: Second, the Corinthians were to stop exalting others.
b) All are yours. And you are Christ’s: Third, the Corinthians were to stop excluding their brothers. The Lord would say, “You’re one body, one temple, and one church.”
i) What do you do to include all believers in your church/ministry?