1Corinthians:3

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* And (note :)Having declared the worthiness of heavenly wisdom , and of the Gospel , and having generally condemned the blindness of man 's mind , now at length he applies it particularly to the Corinthians , calling them carnal , that is , those in whom the flesh still prevails against the Spirit . And he brings a twofold testimony of it : first , because he had proved them to be such , in so much that he dealt with them as he would with ignorant men , and those who are almost babes in the doctrine of godliness , and second , because they showed indeed by these dissensions , which sprang up by reason of the ignorance of the power of the Spirit , and heavenly wisdom , that they had profited very little or nothing .(:note ) I , brethren , could not speak unto you as unto spiritual , but as unto He calls them carnal , who are as yet ignorant , and therefore to express it better , he calls them «babes ». carnal , [even ] as unto babes in Christ . * I have fed you with milk , and not with (note :)Substantial meat , or strong meat .(:note ) meat : for hitherto ye were not To be fed by me with substantial meat : therefore as the Corinthians grew up in age , so the apostle nourished them by teaching , first with milk , then with strong meat . The difference was only in the manner of teaching . able [to bear it ], neither yet now are ye able . * For ye are yet carnal : for whereas [there is ] among you envying , and strife , and divisions , are ye not carnal , and walk as (note :)Using the tools of man 's intellect and judgment .(:note ) men ? * For when one sayeth , I am Pauls , and another , I am Apollos , are yee not carnall ? * * * So then , neither is hee that planteth any thing , neither hee that watreth , but God that giueth the increase . * And he that planteth , and he that watreth , are one , and euery man shall receiue his wages , according to his labour . * For we are (note :)Serving under him : now they who serve under another do nothing by their own strength , but as it is given them of grace , which grace makes them fit for that service . See ( 1Co_15:10 ; 2Co_3:6 ). All the increase that comes by their labour proceeds from God in such a way that no part of the praise of it may be given to the servant .(:note ) labourers together with God : ye are God 's husbandry , [ye are ] God 's building . * According to the grace of God which is given unto me , as a wise masterbuilder , I have laid the foundation , and another buildeth thereon . (note :)Now he speaks to the teachers themselves , who succeeded him in the church of Corinth , and in this regard to all that were after or will be pastors of congregations , seeing that they succeed into the labour of the apostles , who were planters and chief builders . Therefore he warns them first that they do not persuade themselves that they may build after their own fantasy , that is , that they may propound and set forth anything in the Church , either in matter , or in type of teaching , different from the apostles who were the chief builders .(:note ) But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon . * * * * If any mans worke , that he hath built vpon , abide , he shall receiue wages . * If any man 's work shall be burned , he shall suffer loss : but (note :)He does not take away the hope of salvation from the unskilful and foolish builders , who hold fast the foundation , of which sort were those rhetoricians , rather than the pastors of Corinth . However , he adds an exception , that they must nonetheless suffer this trial of their work , and also abide the loss of their vain labours .(:note ) he himself shall be saved ; yet so as by fire . * * If any man (note :)Defiles it and makes it unclean , being holy : and surely they do defile it , by Paul 's judgment , who by fleshly eloquence defile the purity of the Gospel .(:note ) defile the temple of God , him shall God destroy ; for the temple of God is holy , which [temple ] ye are . * * For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God . For it is written , He (note :)Be they ever so crafty , yet the Lord will take them when he will discover their treachery .(:note ) taketh the wise in their own craftiness . * And againe , The Lord knoweth that the thoughtes of the wise be vaine . * * Whether Paul , or Apollos , or Cephas , or the (note :)He passes from the persons to the things themselves , that his argument may be more forcible . Indeed , he ascends from Christ to the Father , to show that we rest ourselves not in Christ himself , in that he is man , but because he carries us up even to the Father , as Christ witnesses of himself everywhere that he was sent by his Father , that by this band we may be all united with God himself .(:note ) world , or life , or death , or things present , or things to come ; all are yours ; * And ye Christes , and Christ Gods .

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