NOVEMBER 24, 2019
THE MINISTER’S OFFICE AND RESPONSIBILITY
INTRODUCTION:
1. The Apostle began the body of this letter by addressing the matter of divisions in the church at Corinth. Since one of the factions claimed to be rallying behind him, saying we are of Paul, he laid to rest any thought that his intention was to gain a following to himself. As one proof of his innocence, in this regard he had reminded them of how few of them were baptized by him personally.
2. In making that point, he declared that his main business was not to baptize, but to preach the Gospel. With that, he began to defend his mode or preaching among them, driving home the point that it was only by the plain preaching of the Gospel that the Holy Spirit is pleased to open hearts and save lost souls. This defense was primarily for the benefit of the worldly wise, some of whom were false teachers and errorists in the church.
3. Paul now returns to the subject with which he began; that of division in the church. One of the objections against him by professed believers was that his preaching was too simple. Here, he answers the charge by saying he could not make it otherwise, because they were mere babes in Christ. The proof of their being in this infantile state was that strifes and divisions existed among them. (Verses 1-4)
4. As their dissensions had reference to their religious teachers, the Apostle endeavors to correct the evil by resenting the ministerial office in its true light. True ministers of God are not leaders of rival sects, but are one, with one Master, and one work.
I. THE CORINTHIANS WERE WORTHY OF BLAME FOR THEIR WEAKNESS AND LACK OF PROFICIENCY. (VERSES 1-4)
A. THESE WORDS ARE ADDRESSED NOT TO ANTI-CHRISTIAN FALSE TEACHERS, BUT TO BELIEVERS WHO HAD BEEN SEDUCED BY THEM. (VERSE 1) “BRETHREN…”
1. There were two classes of opponents in Corinth. There were false teachers and errorists whom Paul denounces as anti-Christian. There were some true brethren who due to the influence of the errorists had been to some degree spoiled through philosophy and vain deceit. (Col. 3:8)
2. Against the false teachers and the unconverted Jews and Greeks he upheld the simple Gospel as higher than the wisdom of the world; that the world’s wisdom is foolishness to God, whereas in the simple Gospel is manifested the power and wisdom of God. (Ch. 1:18-2:16)
3. To the objection as urged by believers, that his preaching was too elementary, he here answers that it was merely adapted to their state. He could only speak to them as children.
4. He describes them as carnal, and as babes. The word carnal is here used in a modified sense, for all true Christians are spiritual. But here the comparison is to other Christians. They were not as spiritual as some other Christians, being as babes in knowledge and experience. In this sense we may speak of some as worldly without denying that they are Christians. Nevertheless, it is a matter of concern.
B. PAUL DISCERNED THEIR SPIRITUAL STATE, AND REGULATED THEIR DIET ACCORDINGLY. (VERSE 2)
1. Sometimes milk as an emblem of the Gospel speaks of its sufficiency. (Isa. 55:1; I Pet. 2:2)
2. In the case here, milk is seen as food for the undeveloped and immature whose systems are not capable of digesting meat.
3. Ministers must be able to discern stages of spiritual development, and teach accordingly. Notice, Paul did not refuse to feed them, even though he would have much preferred to have given them meat instead of milk.4. Ministers must also make it known that a perpetual infantile state is not acceptable. The tone here is clearly not one of passivity or acceptance. “Hitherto ye were not able,…neither yet now are ye able…”
C. THEIR CARNAL, INFANTILE STATE WAS MADE EVIDENT IN THEIR FACTIOUS TENDENCIES. (VERSE 3)
1. The commendations given this church in the salutation seem not to be consistent with this description. That is because, compared to the heathen about them, they deserved praise. But judged by the standard to the Gospel, or their privileges, they deserved censures, which Paul faithfully administers.
2. He here lists again the particular factions that existed, and then asks rhetorically, “Are ye not carnal?”
3. A party spirit is a sign of spiritual immaturity and must not be tolerated.
4. To have formed divisions under the banners of the various ministers was to show dishonor to those men of God.
II. CHRIST’S MINISTERS ARE HIS SERVANTS WHO DO NOT HAVE, NOR DO THEY SEEK TO HAVE AUTHORITY AND POWER OF THEIR OWN. (VERSES 5-9)
A. MINISTERS ARE MERE INSTRUMENTS IN THE HANDS OF GOD. (VERSE 5)
1. The doctrines which they preach are not their own discoveries, and neither is the power that gives their success of themselves. It is therefore a perversion of their relation to the church to make them heads of parties.
2. He asks, “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos?” Then he answers, “Ministers.” (Diaconoi – waiters, attendants, servants) They are so called, not only because of their relation to God, but also because of their relation to His Church. “By Whom…” i.e. by whose instrumentality, “…ye believe,” i.e. became believers.
3. Each one ministered by whatever gifts the Lord had given him. “Even as the Lord gave to every man.”
B. THERE IS A DIVERSITY OF SERVICE WHICH IS OF AN ENTIRELY SUBORDINATE AND INSTRUMENTAL CHARACTER. (VERSE 6)
1. One may plant, while another waters, but both are God’s servants, and both are hopeful of the same harvest.
2. As in nature planting and watering are not the efficient causes of grace. In both cases, all of the efficiency is of God.
3. One thing that is clear, the work of the ministry is the ordinary and appointed means by which the Husbandman secures His harvest. (Ch. 1:21)
C. TO GOD ALONE IS DUE ALL OF THE GLORY AS THE ONE SOURCE OF TRUTH, STRENGTH AND SUCCESS. (VERSE 7)
1. This is the conclusion: Ministers are nothing except instruments in the hand of God.
2. Whatever use He makes of His servants is purely His business. If this is so, why should anyone say, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos?”
D. CHRIST’S MINISTERS ARE LIKE FELLOW-LABORERS ON THE SAME FARM, OR FELLOW-BUILDERS ON THE SAME TEMPLE. (VERSE 8)
1. Ministers have the same office. “He that planteth…that watereth are one.”
2. Each shall have his own reward, according to how well he labored, whether planting, watering, or other labor.
3. Rewards are not according to gifts, or success, but faithfulness in labor.
4. The office of bishop, Paul said, is a good work. He that labors well will be rewarded accordingly.
E. MINISTERS ARE ONE, BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL CO-WORKERS WITH GOD. (VERSE 9)
1. The propriety of this representation is clear. It is because the church is God’s husbandry, or farm.
2. A more frequent figure of the church is that of a building, a temple. It is God’s temple, and His ministers are the builders. (Eph. 2:20-22; I Pet. 2:5)
3. Oneness and cooperation are required in those who are tilling and planting the same farm, or erecting the same building.
4. The Apostle drops the former figure, and continues with the later, that of the erecting of a building.
III. IN THEIR RESPECTIVE LABORS GOD’S MINISTERS INCUR A GREAT RESPONSIBILITY. (VS. 10-15) If they attempt to build up the building of God using the rubbish of their own wisdom, they will be severely punished. If they employ that which God had furnished, they will be rewarded.
A. PAUL HIMSELF HAD LAID THE SOLID FOUNDATION FOR THE CORINTHIAN CHURCH. (VSE. 10)
1. He speaks of this ministry as an Apostle and his gifts as “the grace of God given to him.”
2. It was by God’s grace in these respects that he was able, like a wise master builder, to lay the foundation, and other ministers like Apollos had assisted in building on his foundation. The same idea is expressed above, where he says, “I have planted, and Apollos hath watered.”
3. He warns every man to take heed how he builds on this foundation. The warning is addressed particularly to ministers, as the whole context suggests.
B. THE ONE FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH IS JESUS CHRIST. (VERSE 11; ISA. 28:16; ACTS 4:11 EPH. 4:20; I PET. 2:6)
1. This may speak of either the Person or the doctrine of Christ, or of both.
2. There can be no other ground of confidence except the Person and work of Christ.
3. Those who followed Paul in Corinth were required to simply build on the one foundation of Jesus Christ. And as for His work; it was Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
4. In laying the foundation in Corinth, Paul can only mean that here he had taught the doctrines concerning the Person and work of Jesus Christ.
C. THE BUILDERS MUST USE THE PROPER BUILDING MATERIALS, AND REJECT ALL IMPROPER ONES. (VERSES 12, 13)
1. Gold, silver, precious stones, can only mean truth.
2. Wood, hay, stubble represent error.
3. Paul had established the church with believers only; adding to its membership only such as received and adhered to the already described truth of the Gospel.
4. All who should follow Him must adhere to the same policy.
5. All that were added to the visible church on any other basis would surely be proven false. They would never stand the fiery tests. What fiery trials do not expose, the Day of Judgment surely will.
6. It is scary how many are presently being added to the visible church upon some flimsy profession of faith based on unbiblical teaching.
7. Every minister must take heed what kind of converts he is adding, for “the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.”
D. FAITHFUL BUILDERS WILL BE REWARDED, WHILE CARELESS BUILDERS WILL SUFFER LOSS. (VERSES 14, 15)
1. What servant would not desire the rewards that shall be given those who build well?
2. What servant would forfeit such bestowments in order to have temporal success that will one day go up in smoke?3. The foolish servant jeopardizes his own soul for sake of temporal gratification. The phrase “so as by fire” means with difficulty. (I Pet. 3:20; Jude 23; Zech. 3:2)4. The unwise builder’s salvation will be attended with great loss.
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