ACC ~ 1 Corinthians 3 v5 - 10

OVERVIEW:

Only one who is planted in the Lord’s house, the doctrines of the church, will bring forth flower and fruit (JEROME). In this process only God gives growth (AUGUSTINE, AMBROSIASTER, THEODORET OF CYR). God the Spirit gives life even where there is not yet a visible baptism, as in the case of martyrs (AMBROSIASTER). Differing gifts and tasks may be inspired by the one Spirit. The unity of God’s building is protected against splitting by the boundaries of ecumenical consent (CHRYSOSTOM). What we build now must cohere with the foundation (AMBROSIASTER). Christ is the only foundation (CHRYSOSTOM), which must be preserved, not overthrown (THEODORET OF CYR). We are not slaves but God’s fellow workers in our preaching (THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA). The poison of pride is resisted with the medicine of true humility (CAESARIUS OF ARLES). It is a great thing to be a servant so as to be used by God to bring others to faith, but compared with the root of all good, this is nothing (CHRYSOSTOM, PELAGIUS). Paul wants to avoid the temptation to idleness that results when everybody is treated as though equal in virtue (CHRYSOSTOM, AMBROSIASTER, PELAGIUS).

3:5 | Servants Through Whom They Believed

APOLLOS AND PAUL AS SERVANTS. PELAGIUS: If Paul and Apollos counted for nothing, what can we say about those who glory in the flesh? COMMENTARY ON THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 3.

PREACHING AND SERVING. CHRYSOSTOM: Paul denigrates himself in order to show the Corinthians that he is not mistreating them. It is a great thing to be a servant, used by God to bring others to faith, but compared with the source and the root of all good, it is nothing. Note also that Paul called Apollos and himself servants, not evangelists. This is because they had not merely preached the gospel, but they had also ministered to the people at Corinth. The first was a matter of word only, whereas the second includes deeds as well. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 8.5.

3:6 | God Gave the Growth

GOD THE SPIRIT GIVES GROWTH. AMBROSIASTER: To plant is to evangelize and to bring to faith, to water is to baptize with the approved form of words. To forgive sins, however, and to give the Spirit belongs to God alone. We know that the Holy Spirit is given by God without the laying on of hands, and it has happened that an unbaptized person has received the forgiveness of his sins. Was such a person invisibly baptized, considering that he received the gift which belongs to baptism? COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

PUTTING DOWN ROOTS IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD. JEROME: I have been planted in the house of the Lord, I mean in the church; not in the walls but in its doctrines. Everyone who has been planted in the house of the Lord, who has put down roots there, brings forth flowers. HOMILY 21.

DIFFERING GIFTS. CHRYSOSTOM: Paul and Apollos had different functions, but everything they did was of God. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 8.5.

3:7 | Only God Is Anything

PLANTERS AND WATERERS ARE NOTHING. AMBROSIASTER: In relation to God’s honor, human honor is nothing. As far as the ministry is concerned, a man may be honored in the way that a servant is honored. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

ONLY GOD GIVES INCREASE. AUGUSTINE: Since the apostles would not have accomplished anything if God had not given the increase, how much more true is this of you or me, or anyone else of our time, who fancies himself as a teacher. LETTER 193.

LABOR IN VAIN. THEODORET OF CYR: Our labor is in vain without the help of God. COMMENTARY ON THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 180.

3:8 | Receiving Wages According to Labor

A GREATER REWARD. AMBROSIASTER: Even though they are equal, the one who preaches the gospel is still greater than the one who baptizes and will receive a greater reward. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

HIRED HANDS. PELAGIUS: Paul points out that he and Apollos are merely hired hands on someone else’s farm. They have nothing apart from the payment they get for their labor. COMMENTARY ON THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 3.

AVOIDING THE TEMPTATION TO IDLENESS. CHRYSOSTOM: Paul says this in order to show that the Corinthians have no reason to think that some of them are superior to others. He did not allow those who worked hard to regard themselves as superior to those who did less, nor did he permit the latter to be jealous of the former. But in order to avoid the temptation to idleness which naturally results when everybody is treated equally, whether they have worked hard or not, Paul adds that the rewards will be distributed to each one according to the work accomplished. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 8.6.

3:9 | Fellow Workers

THE UNITY OF GOD’S BUILDING. CHRYSOSTOM: The building does not belong to the workman but to the master. If you are a building, you must not be split in two, since then the building will collapse. If you are a farm, you must not be divided but rather surrounded with a single fence, the fence of unanimity. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 8.6.

WORKERS ARE NOT SLAVES. THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA: Paul calls us God’s fellow workers, not his servants or slaves. PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH.

THE MEDICINE OF HUMILITY. CAESARIUS OF ARLES: Coworkers of God are those who, when once they see the poison of pride creeping into the heart of a brother, with all haste try to destroy it with the medicine of true humility. SERMON 233.6.

3:10 | Laying a Foundation

BUILD PROPERLY ON THE FOUNDATION. ORIGEN: This warning applies to you and me as well. If I do not build properly on the foundation already laid for me, then the fire will consume my work on the day of judgment. COMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 1.15.18-20.

WHAT WE BUILD COHERES WITH THE FOUNDATION. AMBROSIASTER: The wise master builder is one who preaches the same gospel as that which was preached by the Savior. Afterward other people build on the foundation, sometimes well and sometimes badly. We need to pay attention to make sure that what we build coheres with the foundation, because if it is crooked or lightweight it will collapse, though the foundation itself will remain intact. Even when people have taught badly, the name of Christ endures, because it is the foundation, although the bad teaching collapses. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

CHRIST IS THE FOUNDATION. CHRYSOSTOM: Paul is not exalting himself by taking the example of a skilled master builder, because whatever skill he possesses comes entirely from the grace of God that has been given to him. Furthermore, because it is grace, it is not divided but rests securely on the one foundation, which is Christ. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 8.6.

PRESERVING THE FOUNDATION. THEODORET OF CYR: We need to build on the foundation, not overthrow it. COMMENTARY ON THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 181.

THE PRINCIPLES OF DIVINE ARCHITECTURE

OVERVIEW: Paul uses the metaphor of architecture to describe the Christian life: There is no other foundation (AMBROSIASTER) than Jesus Christ (ORIGEN) to which the faithful are firmly cemented (CHRYSOSTOM). This same foundation was laid for the Gentiles in Paul’s ministry (ORIGEN). Though the foundation is the same for all the faithful, they may choose to build with different moral materials (CHRYSOSTOM, THEODORET OF CYR). To sin after repentance and faith is to build once again on hay and straw (ORIGEN). On a scale from the highest-grade materials (jewels) to the lowest (straw), the builder chooses materials for good or ill (PELAGIUS). Each one’s quality of work will be tested in final judgment (AUGUSTINE) and will become clear (AMBROSIASTER). Wood, hay and straw will not survive the fire of judgment (PELAGIUS). One who is saved by faith may yet have to be tested by fire (AMBROSIASTER). When one who has faith continues to pursue a wicked life, his faith will not protect him from punishment, because his work will be burned like hay in the fire, as distinguished from gold (CHRYSOSTOM). The good works offered up by faith must be offered in this life, for when the gate of death once closes there is no future opportunity in the world to come for human freedom to repair sins (GREGORY THE GREAT). Though heretics may want to be called Christian, the substantial proclamation underlying the name Christian is not honored (AUGUSTINE). The eternal destiny of the teacher does not finally depend exclusively on the irresponsible choices of his pupils (THEODORET OF CYR).

3:11 | Jesus Christ the Foundation

THE FOUNDATION LAID FOR THE GENTILES. ORIGEN: The other apostles laid this foundation among the Jews, while Paul and Barnabas laid it among the Gentiles. COMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 1.15.41-42.

NO OTHER FOUNDATION. AMBROSIASTER: Nobody can lay another foundation, because even if some people are heretics, they do not teach except in the name of Christ. They cannot commend the inventions of their error in any other way. So through the dignity of his name they try to make contradictory and absurd ideas acceptable. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

CEMENTED TO THE FOUNDATION. CHRYSOSTOM: The foundation is already in place, and no one can change it. Let us therefore build on it and cling to it in the way that branches cling to the vine, so that there is no gap between us and Christ. For the minute a gap opens up between the vine and its branches, the branches wither and perish. Similarly, if a building is not cemented to its foundation, it will collapse. Therefore, let us not merely cling to Christ, but let us be cemented to him, for if we stand apart we shall perish. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 8.7.

THE PRETENSE OF THE HERETICS. AUGUSTINE: It should not be denied that this is the distinctive basis of the orthodox faith, just because it is shared between us and certain heretics as well. For if we think carefully about the meaning of Christ we shall see that among some of the heretics who want to be called Christians, the name of Christ is held in honor, but the reality to which the name points is not. ENCHIRIDION 2.5.

3:12 | Precious or Common Building Materials

BUILDING ON WOOD, HAY AND STRAW. ORIGEN: If we think what is right and good, then we are building on a foundation of gold. If we repeat every holy word that has been spoken without corrupting it, then we are building on a foundation of silver. If all our works are good, then we are building on precious stones. But if I sin after laying the foundation, then I am building on wood; if I continue, I am building on hay, and finally, if I still go on, I am building on straw. COMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 1.15.46-55.

TYPES OF BUILDING MATERIALS. PELAGIUS: The house does not build itself; somebody has to put the walls up. This is the role of teachers in the church. The gold, silver, etc., represent six different types of hearers. Gold stands for good respondents, silver for better ones (because silver is stronger than gold) and precious stones for the best of all. Similarly, wood stands for bad people, hay for those who are worse and straw for the worst of all. COMMENTARY ON THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 3.

THE FOUNDATION IS THE SAME FOR ALL THE FAITHFUL. CHRYSOSTOM: Our faith is the foundation, and it is the same for everyone. But in life, not everyone is the same. Some are diligent, others lazy. Some are high achievers, others more average. Some do well in greater things, others shine in lesser matters. Some people’s mistakes are more serious than others’. This is why we find the variety here. Furthermore, the judgment applies to the effort, not to the results. A teacher cannot be faulted merely because his pupils refuse to listen. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 9.5.

MORAL MATERIALS. THEODORET OF CYR: Some people think that this refers to the development of Christian doctrine, but a glance at the context will show that Paul is talking about morals and behavior here. COMMENTARY ON THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 182.

3:13 | Fire Will Test One’s Work

TESTED BY FIRE. AMBROSIASTER: In the fire, bad teaching will become clear to everyone, though for the moment it is deceiving some. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

FINAL TESTING. AUGUSTINE: The fire will try the quality of everyone’s work. If his work remains, he will receive his reward. If his work burns, he will lose his reward, but he himself will be saved. In this fire neither man will be lost forever, though the fire will profit the one and harm the other, being a test for both. CITY OF GOD 21.

SURVIVING THE FIRE OF JUDGMENT. PELAGIUS: Gold, silver and precious stones will survive the fire of judgment, but wood, hay and straw will be burned up. COMMENTARY ON THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 3.

3:14 | Receiving a Reward

GLORIOUS WORK BUILT ON THE FOUNDATION. AMBROSIASTER: If anyone’s work proves lasting, he will receive his wage. He will be just like the three brothers in the fiery furnace, destined to receive as his wage heavenly life with glory. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

3:15 | Saved Only As Through Fire

THE FIRE WILL TEST THE WORK. AMBROSIASTER: To suffer loss is to endure reproof. For what person, when subjected to punishment, does not lose something thereby? Yet the person himself may be saved. His living soul will not perish in the same way that his erroneous ideas will. Even so, however, he may suffer punishments of fire. He will be saved only by being purified through fire. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

GOLD SURVIVES FIRE, HAY BURNS. CHRYSOSTOM: If someone has the right faith but leads a wicked life, his faith will not protect him from punishment, because his work will be burned up. A man in gold armor will pass through a river of fire and come out shining all the more brightly, but a man who passes through it with hay will lose it all and destroy himself besides. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 9.5.

THE FAITHFUL TEACHER WILL RECEIVE HIS REWARD. THEODORET OF CYR: The teacher teaches what is right. Some follow him; others do not. Those who follow will be like gold and silver—purified by the fire and shining when they emerge from it. The others will be burned up. But the teacher will not lose anything by this. If he has been faithful, he will receive his reward regardless. COMMENTARY ON THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 183.

AVOIDING FALSE ASSURANCE. CAESARIUS OF ARLES: There are many people who understand this text incorrectly, deceiving themselves with a false assurance. They believe that if they build serious sins upon the foundation of Christ, those very offenses can be purified by transitory flames, and they themselves can later reach eternal life. This kind of understanding must be corrected. People deceive themselves when they flatter themselves in this way. For in that fire it is slight sins which are purged, not serious ones. Even worse, it is not only the greater sins but the smaller ones as well which can ruin a person. SERMONS 179.1.

OPPORTUNITY FOR PURGING OF SIN IN THIS LIFE AND THE NEXT. GREGORY THE GREAT: We should remember that in the world to come no one will be purged of even his slightest faults unless he has deserved such a cleansing through good works performed in this life. DIALOGUE 4.41.