Principles a first century church can teach us today.
What happens in Corinth stays in Corinth…That could have been the slogan for first century marketers. The city was filled with carnality, immorality, pride, and wickedness. Unfortunately, this environment was affecting the church.
History records a leader who made free use of Christian vocabulary. He talked about the blessing of the Almighty and the Christian confessions which would become the pillars of the new government. He assumed the earnestness of a man weighed down by historic responsibility. He handed out pious stories to the press, especially to church papers. He showed his tattered Bible and declared that he drew strength for his work from it as scores of pious people welcomed him as a man sent from God. Hitler was a master of outward religiosity–with no inward reality![1]
The way we remember Hitler today is nothing like the image portrayed in his early days of seizing power. He knew the importance of “image.” Unfortunately, in many churches our true condition resembles Corinth, but the image projected reminds people of Berea! We long to hear, “You are more noble than they…” Paul will not be fooled by the projected image. He knows Corinth’s true condition and stands ready to share his diagnosis.
Working through this text, sitting with religious “game-faces” on – ask yourself a question. Does the image we see from Sunday to Sunday matches the real you from Monday through Saturday? If there is a Corinthian tendency, let’s deal with it.
The Problem at Corinth
Paul lets the Corinthians know he cannot speak to them as spiritual ones. Ironically, while Paul writes this letter, they are telling one another how spiritual they are! They are not prepared to read his words in 3:1. He addresses these believers as carnal babies rather than spiritually mature giants of faith. Spiritual immaturity is always problematic – but, it is a much bigger problem when those that are immature are spouting off how mature they are!
HISTORICAL CONTEXT:
Problem #1: Spiritual Immaturity
Some were trying to disassociate from Paul. To frame the issue in today’s vernacular, they felt as though they had simply outgrown the apostle’s theology. They were grateful for his “simple salvation message” but now that they had grown deeper into the heavenly mysteries, Paul could no longer lead them.
The spiritually elite were now speaking the language of angels, no longer in bondage to worldly desires, had no need for marriages – they had arrived! With all this special knowledge, the church was fracturing. It became so difficult, that a lady with influence, Chloe, sent a letter to Paul (1Cor1:11).
This carnal church is quickly splintering. Chloe sends Paul a report. The result of that is the letter we know as 1 Corinthians. Paul forbids this church to form parties because that destroys the unity of the church. He will tell these people in this letter that they are one body (chapter 12).
TEXTUAL CONTEXT:
Problem #2: Pride
With the immaturity of so many that had influence, it is expected to see the pride that came as a result. The text reveals the spirit of the problem at Corinth. These that think they are spiritual are about to learn that they are carnal. Those that believe they have moved on to the advanced Christian life are about to learn that they are still spiritual infants.
“I have fed you with milk, and not meat…you couldn’t handle anything else!” (v 2)
Remember the historical setting? These people were convinced that they had “gone deeper” into Christianity. On the “advanced track,” they had left Paul behind. Now, the truth confronts them head on: “You can only handle milk…you are just spiritual babies…until you identify with this truth, you will never grow!”
The underlying point behind Paul’s word choices is a direct attack on their presupposed spirituality and a reckoning of the real problem. The problem is not Paul, Apollos, or Cephas – it is their pride.
“The fact that you have these divisions demonstrates the carnality!” (v3)
Anticipating the argument that they were not carnal, he illustrated his thesis by pointing to their divisions. The very fact there were “camps” identifying with different leaders was enough evidence Paul needed to show their immaturity and pride.
You may believe that you have the “tongues of angels,” but Paul tells them that they “walk as men” in verse 3. It’s time for the super-Christians to be “brought back down to earth.” Pride is a dangerous sin; it has ruined too many ministries and men. Before that happens in Corinth, Chloe sends an urgent delegation to Paul. The apostle can diagnose the problem, but for maturity to take place, the Corinthians themselves are going to have to deal with the issue of pride. If they continually exalt themselves, they are going to be humbled.
“It doesn’t matter what party you claim, you destroy unity with carnality!” (v4-5)
Continuing through this passage, Paul is not pulling back. His spirit is gracious; his tone is firm. Garland describes this passage with these words:
For the first time…he criticizes the church directly…but he cushions his rebuke by addressing them as brothers…The use of maternal imagery of a nursing mother, breast-feeding them milk, also “reinforces the imagery of family.” Gaventa further notes that in contrast to the many other ancient writers who use the image of milk, “Paul speaks of himself as the one supplying the milk.” He does not say, “You are still drinking milk and need to be weaned,” but “I must still give you milk.” Implying that they still require a diet of babies’ milk packs a punch for those who think they have advanced far beyond that stage. But the image of “mother Paul,” who knows what nourishment they truly need and nurses them somewhat softens the blow.[2]
Notice a non-negotiable truth for Paul: Christ loved the church and died for it. Thus, Paul took the “care of the churches” very seriously. He was more interested in “pleasing the audience of One” than worrying about the sensitivities of the Corinthians. He has much to say to this church; he can really help them go to the next level in their walk with God. If he is to help them, however, they must acknowledge their true condition and repent.
For one to say to another, “I am of Paul,” was not a flattering statement to the apostle. He did not say, “I’m glad I have some people still in my corner there in Corinth!” Rather, he said, “That spirit only reveals your carnality! Don’t you get it? Peter, Apollos, Paul, Christ – we are on the same team!”
“It’s not about me, Cephas, or Apollos – it is about God!” (v6-8)
It really doesn’t matter who plants, who waters – the fact that a church was in Corinth was evidence that God had given the increase. Paul could “water” all day long, but if God was not in it, nothing profitable would happen at all. The one who plants and the one who waters are one – they are part of the same team.
This pride problem will hinder any ministry. Richard Baxter, in a cutting article printed in the Puritan Reformed Journal (Jan 2009), was writing primarily to preachers. He observed that when pride is present in the study, it will work its way to the pulpit. A sermon that is sown with pride in the study and delivered in pride in the pulpit will only reap pride in the hearers.
The Principles to Apply
The problems of immaturity and pride are not incurable. There is a solution. Paul exhorts these believers to live by principle, not by feelings, emotions¸ or other signs of spirituality.
Principle #1: We are all on the same team!
Paul states in verse 9 that the believers in Corinth, the apostles, and other Christian leaders are “laborers together.” Cephas, Apollos, Paul – these men are not competitors. Rather, they are on the same team.
This principle, if properly understood, would speak to the “camps” within our churches and fellowships today. Today, the mantra of the Corinthians (I am of…) would look like this: “I went to such and such college…” Perhaps it would be phrased as a question, “Do you agree with Dr. So and So and his philosophy of ministry?” The questions can be divisive and can also undercut two very important truths: 1) Unity in the church, and 2) Autonomy of each local church.
If the analogy of “team” conjures up too small an image, consider this in terms of military companies. We are fighting the same fight! Let us not be guilty of fighting the wrong enemy.
Principle #2: We serve the same Coach!
Not only are we “laborers together,” but we are also laborers together “with God.” There is an underlying teaching in the tenses of these verbs. Paul has mentioned that he planted and Apollos watered. Both actions are past tense. The phrase, “God gave the increase” is in the imperfect tense.
Notice the teaching they needed to hear (we need to continually hear also): Ministers come and go, but God’s work continues. Pastors (and movements, fellowships) may come and go, but God’s work will continue. The emphasis of verse 9 is not that we are co-equal to God in ministry. Rather, the picture is that we belong to God – we work together for Him. Yes, we work “with Him” in a sense, but we must not construe this to mean that we are equal partners.
The conclusion in 3:9 puts “God’s” (θεοῦ, theou) in the emphatic position to underscore the point. Literally, “God’s we are co-workers; God’s cultivation, God’s construction you are.”[3]
Principle #3: God is working on you!
Verse 9 shifts from the “we” to the “ye” and this shift teaches a valuable principle. Paul has emphasized that he and Apollos have worked for God. Now, Paul is teaching them that God is working on them! He states that this Corinthian church is God’s field – He is working it. To work a field implies not only nurture, water, and care – it also implies removing weeds, that growth which steals the nutrients from the plant and hinders growth. In this church, there were some weeds that must be pulled before it destroyed the field. The picture is one of cultivation.
This Corinthian church is also God’s building – He is building it. This is what Christ promised in Matthew 16:18, “I will build my church…” As He constructs the building, the temple, at Corinth, He moves all the right pieces in and takes all the defective pieces away! He is building a place that will bring glory to the Builder, not the building. The picture here is one of construction.
CONCLUSION
We have identified two problems that were prevalent in the Corinthian church: 1) Spiritual immaturity, and 2) Pride. These two problems still exist today. Churches must deal each.
In our desire to “look good” or “spiritual,” we must ensure that there is substance behind the words and actions with which people see us involved. If we become hypocritical, we lose our effectiveness. If our lips and our life do not match, people will know.
To help solve the problems, Paul gave these believers three principles to remember: (1) We’re on the same team, (2) serving the same Coach, (3) Who is working within and upon us.
If we serve God with right motives, God will reward His team. We do not get closer to the Lord by climbing on the backs of others. Pride has no place in Christian ministry. Instead, let’s build something by the grace of God that will last!
[1] Today in the Word June 3, 1989
[2] David E. Garland, 1 Corinthians, Baker Exegetical Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2003), 105-06.
[3] David E. Garland, 1 Corinthians, Baker Exegetical Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2003), 110-11.