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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1721)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>F I R S T C O R I N T H I A N S.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. III.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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In this chapter the apostle,
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I. Blames the Corinthians for their carnality and divisions,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+3:1-4">ver. 1-4</A>.
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II. He instructs them how what was amiss among them might be rectified,
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by remembering,
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1. That their ministers were no more than ministers,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+3:5">ver. 5</A>.
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2. That they were unanimous, and carried on the same design,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+3:6-10">ver. 6-10</A>.
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3. That they built on one and the same foundation,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+3:11-15">ver. 11-15</A>.
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III. He exhorts them to give due honour to their bodies, by keeping
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them pure
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+3:16,17">ver. 16, 17</A>),
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and to humility and self-diffidence,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+3:18-21">ver. 18-21</A>.
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IV. And dehorts them from glorying in particular ministers, because of
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the equal interest they had in all,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+3:22-23">ver. 22 to the end</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="1Co3_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Co3_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Co3_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Co3_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Spirit of Party Reproved.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 57.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual,
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but as unto carnal, <I>even</I> as unto babes in Christ.
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2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye
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were not able <I>to bear it,</I> neither yet now are ye able.
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3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas <I>there is</I> among you
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envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk
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as men?
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4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I <I>am</I> of
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Apollos; are ye not carnal?
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here,
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I. Paul blames the Corinthians for their weakness and nonproficiency.
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Those who are sanctified are so only in part: there is still room for
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growth and increase both in grace and knowledge,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Pe+3:18">2 Pet. iii. 18</A>.
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Those who through divine grace are renewed to a spiritual life may yet
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in many things be defective. The apostle tells <I>them he could not
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speak to them as unto spiritual</I> men, <I>but as unto carnal</I> men,
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<I>as to babes in Christ,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+3:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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They were so far from forming their maxims and measures upon the ground
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of divine revelation, and entering into the spirit of the gospel, that
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is was but too evident they were much under the command of carnal and
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corrupt affections. They were still mere babes in Christ. They had
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received some of the first principles of Christianity, but had not
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grown up to maturity of understanding in them, or of faith and
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holiness; and yet it is plain, from several passages in this epistle,
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that the Corinthians were very proud of their wisdom and knowledge.
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Note, It is but too common for persons of very moderate knowledge and
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understanding to have a great measure of self-conceit. The apostle
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assigns their little proficiency in the knowledge of Christianity as a
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reason why he had communicated no more of the deep things of it to
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them. They could not bear such food, they needed to be fed with milk,
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not with meat,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+3:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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Note, It is the duty of a faithful minister of Christ to consult the
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capacities of his hearers and teach them as they can bear. And yet it
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is natural for babes to grow up to men; and babes in Christ should
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endeavour to grow in Stature, and become men in Christ. It is expected
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that their advances in knowledge should be in proportion to their means
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and opportunities, and their time of professing religion, that they may
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be able to bear discourses on the mysteries of our religion, and not
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always rest in plain things. It was a reproach to the Corinthians that
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they had so long sat under the ministry of Paul and had made no more
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improvement in Christian knowledge. Note, Christians are utterly to
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blame who do not endeavour to grow in grace and knowledge.</P>
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<P>
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II. He blames them for their carnality, and mentions their contention
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and discord about their ministers as evidence of it: <I>For you are yet
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carnal; for whereas there are among you envyings, and strifes, and
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divisions, are you not carnal, and walk as men?</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+3:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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They had mutual emulations, and quarrels, and factions among them, upon
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the account of their ministers, <I>while one said, I am of Paul; and
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another, I am of Apollos,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+3:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>.
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These were proofs of their being carnal, that fleshly interests and
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affections too much swayed them. Note, Contentions and quarrels about
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religion are sad evidences of remaining carnality. True religion makes
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men peaceable and not contentious. Factious spirits act upon human
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principles, not upon principles of true religion; they are guided by
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their own pride and passions, and not by the rules of Christianity:
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<I>Do you not walk as men?</I> Note, It is to be lamented that many who
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should walk as Christians, that is, above the common rate of men, do
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indeed walk as men, live and act too much like other men.</P>
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<A NAME="1Co3_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Co3_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Co3_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Co3_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Co3_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Co3_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Mutual Agreement of Ministers.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 57.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>5 Who then is Paul, and who <I>is</I> Apollos, but ministers by whom
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ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
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6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
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7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he
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that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
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8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every
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man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
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9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's
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husbandry, <I>ye are</I> God's building.
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10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a
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wise master-builder, I have laid the foundation, and another
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buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth
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thereupon.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here the apostle instructs them how to cure this humour, and rectify
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what was amiss among them upon this head,</P>
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<P>
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I. By reminding them that the ministers about whom they contended were
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but ministers: <I>Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers
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by whom you believed? Even as the Lord gave to every man,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+3:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
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They are but ministers, mere instruments used by the God of all grace.
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Some of the factious people in Corinth seem to have made more of them,
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as if they were lords of their faith, authors of their religion. Note,
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We should take care not to deify ministers, nor put them into the place
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of God. Apostles were not the authors of our faith and religion,
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though they were authorized and qualified to reveal and propagate it.
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They acted in this office as God gave to every man. Observe, All the
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gifts and powers that even apostles discovered and exerted in the work
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of the ministry were from God. They were intended to manifest their
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mission and doctrine to be divine. It was perfectly wrong, upon their
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account, to transfer that regard to the apostles which was solely to be
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paid to the divine authority by which they acted, and to God, from whom
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they had their authority. <I>Paul had planted and Apollos had
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watered,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+3:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
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Both were useful, one for one purpose, the other for another. Note, God
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makes use of variety of instruments, and fits them to their several
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uses and intentions. Paul was fitted for planting work, and Apollos for
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watering work, but God gave the increase. Note, The success of the
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ministry must be derived from the divine blessing: <I>Neither he that
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planteth is any thing, nor he that watereth, but God who giveth the
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increase,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+3:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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Even apostolical ministers are nothing of themselves, can do nothing
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with efficacy and success unless God give the increase. Note, The best
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qualified and most faithful ministers have a just sense of their own
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insufficiency, and are very desirous that God should have all the glory
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of their success. Paul and Apollos are nothing at all in their own
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account, but God is all in all.</P>
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<P>
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II. By representing to them the unanimity of Christ's ministers: <I>He
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that planteth and he that watereth are one</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+3:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>),
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employed by one Master, entrusted with the same revelation, busied in
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one work, and engaged in one design--in harmony with one another,
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however they may be set in opposition to each other by factious
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party-makers. They have their different gifts from one and the same
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Spirit, for the very same purposes; and they heartily carry on the same
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design. Planters and waterers are but fellow-labourers in the same
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work. Note, All the faithful ministers of Christ are one in the great
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business and intention of their ministry. They may have differences of
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sentiment in minor things; they may have their debates and contests;
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but they heartily concur in the great design of honouring God and
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saving souls, by promoting true Christianity in the world. All such may
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expect a glorious recompence of their fidelity, and in proportion to
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it: <I>Every man shall receive his own reward, according to his own
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labour.</I> Their business is one, but some may mind it more than
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others: their end or design is one, but some may pursue it more closely
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than others: their Master also is one, and yet this good and gracious
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Master may make a difference in the rewards he gives, according to the
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different service they do: <I>Every one's own work shall have its own
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reward.</I> Those that work hardest shall fare best. Those that are
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most faithful shall have the greatest reward; and glorious work it is
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in which all faithful ministers are employed. <I>They are labourers
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with God,</I> <B><I>synergoi</I></B>--<I>co-workers,
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fellow-labourers</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+3:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>),
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not indeed in the same order and degree, but in subordination to him,
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as instruments in his hand. They are engaged in his business. They are
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working together with God, in promoting the purposes of his glory, and
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the salvation of precious souls; and he who knows their work will take
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care they do not labour in vain. Men may neglect and vilify one
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minister while they cry up another, and have no reason for either: they
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may condemn when they should commend, and applaud what they should
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neglect and avoid; but the judgment of God is according to truth. He
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never rewards but upon just reason, and he ever rewards in proportion
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to the diligence and faithfulness of his servants. Note, Faithful
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ministers, when they are ill used by men, should encourage themselves
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in God. And it is to God, the chief agent and director of the great
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work of the gospel, to whom those that labour with him should endeavour
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to approve themselves. They are always under his eye, employed in his
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husbandry and building; and therefore, to be sure, he will carefully
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look over them: "<I>You are God's husbandry, you are God's
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building;</I> and therefore are neither of Paul nor of Apollos; neither
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belong to one nor the other, but to God: they only plant and water you,
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but it is the divine blessing on his own husbandry that alone can make
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it yield fruit. You are not our husbandry, but God's. We work under
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him, and with him, and for him. It is all for God that we have been
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doing among you. You are God's husbandry and building." He had employed
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the former metaphor before, and now he goes on to the other of a
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building: <I>According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a
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wise master-builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth
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thereon.</I> Paul here calls himself a wise master-builder, a character
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doubly reflecting honour on him. It was honourable to be a
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master-builder in the edifice of God; but it added to his character to
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be a wise one. Persons may be in an office for which they are not
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qualified, or not so thoroughly qualified as this expression implies
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Paul was. But, though he gives himself such a character, it is not to
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gratify his own pride, but to magnify divine grace. He was a wise
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master-builder, but the grace of God made him such. Note, It is no
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crime in a Christian, but much to his commendation, to take notice of
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the good that is in him, to the praise of divine grace. Spiritual
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pride is abominable: it is making use of the greatest favours of God to
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feed our own vanity, and make idols of ourselves. But to take notice of
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the favours of God to promote our gratitude to him, and to speak of
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them to his honour (be they of what sort they will), is but a proper
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expression of the duty and regard we own him. Note, Ministers should
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not be proud of their gifts or graces; but the better qualified they
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are for their work, and the more success they have in it, the more
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thankful should they be to God for his distinguishing goodness: <I>I
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have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon.</I> As before
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he had said, <I>I have planted, Apollos watered.</I> It was Paul that
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laid the foundation of a church among them. He had <I>begotten them
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through the gospel,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+4:15"><I>ch.</I> iv. 15</A>.
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Whatever instructors they had besides, <I>they had not many
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fathers.</I> He would derogate from none that had done service among
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them, nor would he be robbed of his own honour and respect. Note,
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Faithful ministers may and ought to have a concern for their own
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reputation. Their usefulness depends much upon it. <I>But let every man
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take heed how he buildeth thereon.</I> This is a proper caution; there
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may be very indifferent building on a good foundation. It is easy to
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err here; and great care should be used, not only to lay a sure and
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right foundation, but to erect a regular building upon it. Nothing must
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be laid upon it but what the foundation will bear, and what is of a
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piece with it. Gold and dirt must not be mingled together. Note,
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Ministers of Christ should take great care that they do not build their
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own fancies or false reasonings on the foundation of divine revelation.
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What they preach should be the plain doctrine of their Master, or what
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is perfectly agreeable with it.</P>
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<A NAME="1Co3_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Co3_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Co3_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Co3_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Co3_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Spiritual Foundation.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 57.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which
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is Jesus Christ.
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12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver,
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precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
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13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall
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declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire
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shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
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14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he
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shall receive a reward.
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15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but
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he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here the apostle informs us what foundation he had laid at the bottom
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of all his labours among them--<I>even Jesus Christ, the chief
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corner-stone,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+2:20">Eph. ii. 20</A>.
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Upon this foundation all the faithful ministers of Christ build. Upon
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this rock all the Christians found their hopes. Those that build their
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hopes of heaven on any other foundation build upon the sand. <I>Other
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foundation can no man lay besides what is laid--even Jesus Christ.</I>
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Note, The doctrine of our Saviour and his mediation is the principal
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doctrine of Christianity. It lies at the bottom, and is the foundation,
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of all the rest. Leave out this, and you lay waste all our comforts,
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and leave no foundation for our hopes as sinners. It is in Christ
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<I>only that God is reconciling a sinful world to himself,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+5:19">2 Cor. v. 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
But of those that hold the foundation, and embrace the general doctrine
|
|
of Christ's being the mediator between God and man, there are two
|
|
sorts:--</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. Some build upon this foundation <I>gold, silver, and precious
|
|
stones</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+3:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>),
|
|
|
|
namely, those who receive and propagate the pure truths of the gospel,
|
|
who hold nothing but the <I>truth as it is in Jesus,</I> and preach
|
|
nothing else. This is building well upon a good foundation, making all
|
|
of apiece, when ministers not only depend upon Christ as the great
|
|
prophet of the church, and take him for their guide and infallible
|
|
teacher, but receive and spread the doctrines he taught, in their
|
|
purity, with out any corrupt mixtures, without adding or
|
|
diminishing.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. Others <I>build wood, hay, and stubble,</I> on this foundation;
|
|
that is, though they adhere to the foundation, they depart from the
|
|
mind of Christ in many particulars, substitute their own fancies and
|
|
inventions in the room of his doctrines and institutions, and build
|
|
upon the good foundation what will not abide the test when the day of
|
|
trial shall come, and the fire must make it manifest, as wood, hay, and
|
|
stubble, will not bear the trial by fire, but must be consumed in it.
|
|
There is a time coming when a discovery will be made of what men have
|
|
built on this foundation: <I>Every man's work shall be made
|
|
manifest,</I> shall be laid open to view, to his own view and that of
|
|
others. Some may, in the simplicity of their hearts, build wood and
|
|
stubble on the good foundation, and know not, all the while, what they
|
|
have been doing; but in the day of the Lord their own conduct shall
|
|
appear to them in its proper light. Every man's work shall be made
|
|
manifest to himself, and made manifest to others, both those that have
|
|
been misled by him and those that have escaped his errors. Now we may
|
|
be mistaken in ourselves and others; but there is a day coming that
|
|
will cure all our mistakes, and show us ourselves, and show us our
|
|
actions in the true light, without covering or disguise: <I>For the day
|
|
shall declare it</I> (that is, every man's work), <I>because it shall
|
|
be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work, of what
|
|
sort it is,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+3:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
The day shall declare and make it manifest, the last day, the great day
|
|
of trial; see
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+4:5"><I>ch.</I> iv. 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
Though some understand it of the time when the Jewish nation was
|
|
destroyed and their constitution thereby abolished, when the
|
|
superstructure which judaizing teachers would have raised on the
|
|
Christian foundation was manifested to be no better than hay and
|
|
stubble, that would not bear the trial. The expression carries in it a
|
|
plain allusion to the refiner's art, in which the fire separates and
|
|
distinguishes the dross from the gold and silver; as it also will
|
|
silver and gold and precious stones, that will endure the fire, from
|
|
wood and hay and stubble, that will be consumed in it. Note, There is a
|
|
day coming that will as nicely distinguish one man from another, and
|
|
one man's work from another's, as the fire distinguishes gold from
|
|
dross, or metal that will bear the fire from other materials that will
|
|
be consumed in it. In that day,
|
|
|
|
1. Some men's works will <I>abide the trial</I>--will be found
|
|
standard. It will appear that they not only held the foundation, but
|
|
that they built regularly and well upon it--that they laid on proper
|
|
materials, and in due form and order. The foundation and the
|
|
superstructure were all of a piece. The foundation-truths, and those
|
|
that had a manifest connection with them, were taught together. It may
|
|
not be so easy to discern this connection now, nor know what works will
|
|
abide the trial then; but that day will make a full discovery. And such
|
|
a builder shall not, cannot fail of a reward. He will have praise and
|
|
honour in that day, and eternal recompence after it. Note, Fidelity in
|
|
the ministers of Christ will meet with a full and ample reward in a
|
|
future life. Those who spread true and pure religion in all the
|
|
branches of it, and whose work will abide in the great day, shall
|
|
receive a reward. And, Lord, how great! how much exceeding their
|
|
deserts!
|
|
|
|
2. There are others <I>whose works shall be burnt</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+3:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>),
|
|
|
|
whose corrupt opinions and doctrines, or vain inventions and usages in
|
|
the worship of God, shall be discovered, disowned, and rejected, in
|
|
that day--shall be first manifested to be corrupt, and then disapproved
|
|
of God and rejected. Note, The great day will pluck off all disguises,
|
|
and make things appear as they are: <I>He whose work shall be burnt
|
|
will suffer loss.</I> If he have built upon the right foundation wood
|
|
and hay and stubble, he will suffer loss. His weakness and corruption
|
|
will be the lessening of his glory, though he may in the general have
|
|
been an honest and an upright Christian. This part of his work will be
|
|
lost, turning no way to his advantage, though he himself may be saved.
|
|
Observe, Those who hold the foundation of Christianity, though they
|
|
build hay, wood, and stubble, upon it, may be saved. This may help to
|
|
enlarge our charity. We should not reprobate men for their weakness:
|
|
for nothing will damn men but wickedness. He shall be saved, <I>yet so
|
|
as by fire,</I> saved out of the fire. He himself shall be snatched out
|
|
of that flame which will consume his work. This intimates that it will
|
|
be difficult for those that corrupt and deprave Christianity to be
|
|
saved. God will have no mercy on their works, though he may pluck them
|
|
as brands out of the burning. On this passage of scripture the papists
|
|
found their doctrine of purgatory, which is certainly hay and stubble:
|
|
a doctrine never originally fetched from scripture, but invented in
|
|
barbarous ages, to feed the avarice and ambition of the clergy, at the
|
|
cost of those who would rather part with their money than their lusts,
|
|
for the salvation of their souls. It can have no countenance from this
|
|
text,
|
|
|
|
(1.) Because this is plainly meant of a figurative fire, not of a real
|
|
one: for what real fire can consume religious rites or doctrines?
|
|
|
|
(2.) Because this fire is to <I>try men's works, of what sort they
|
|
are;</I> but purgatory-fire is not for trial, not to bring men's
|
|
actions to the test, but to punish for them. They are supposed to be
|
|
venial sins, not satisfied for in this life, for which satisfaction
|
|
must be made by suffering the fire of purgatory.
|
|
|
|
(3.) Because this fire is to <I>try every man's works,</I> those of
|
|
Paul and Apollos, as well as those of others. Now, no papists will have
|
|
the front to say apostles must have passed through purgatory fires.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="1Co3_16"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Co3_17"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec4"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Holiness Prescribed.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 57.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and <I>that</I> the
|
|
Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
|
|
17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy;
|
|
for the temple of God is holy, which <I>temple</I> ye are.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here the apostle resumes his argument and exhortation, founding it on
|
|
his former allusion, <I>You are God's building,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+3:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>,
|
|
|
|
and here, <I>Know you not that you are the temple of God, and the
|
|
Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile</I> (corrupt and
|
|
destroy) <I>the temple of God, him shall God destroy</I> (the same word
|
|
is in the original in both clauses); <I>for the temple of God is holy,
|
|
which temple you are.</I> It looks from other parts of the epistle,
|
|
where the apostle argues to the very same purport (see
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+6:13-20"><I>ch.</I> vi. 13-20</A>),
|
|
|
|
as if the false teachers among the Corinthians were not only loose
|
|
livers, but taught licentious doctrines, and what was particularly
|
|
fitted to the taste of this lewd city, on the head of fornication. Such
|
|
doctrine was not to be reckoned among hay and stubble, which would be
|
|
consumed while the person who laid them on the foundation escaped the
|
|
burning; for it tended to corrupt, to pollute, and destroy the church,
|
|
which was a building erected for God, and consecrated to him, and
|
|
therefore should be kept pure and holy. Those who spread principles of
|
|
this sort would provoke God to destroy them. Note, Those who spread
|
|
loose principles, that have a direct tendency to pollute the church of
|
|
God, and render it unholy and unclean, are likely to bring destruction
|
|
on themselves. It may be understood also as an argument against their
|
|
discord and factious strifes, division being the way to destruction.
|
|
But what I have been mentioning seems to be the proper meaning of the
|
|
passage: <I>Know you not that you are the temple of God, and that the
|
|
Spirit of God dwelleth in you?</I> It may be understood of the church
|
|
of Corinth collectively, or of every single believer among them;
|
|
Christian churches are temples of God. He dwells among them by his Holy
|
|
Spirit. <I>They are built together for a habitation of God through the
|
|
Spirit,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+2:22">Eph. ii. 22</A>.
|
|
|
|
Every Christian is a living temple of the living God. God dwelt in the
|
|
Jewish temple, took possession of it, and resided in it, by that
|
|
glorious cloud that was the token of his presence with that people. So
|
|
Christ by his Spirit dwells in all true believers. The temple was
|
|
devoted and consecrated to God, and set apart from every common to a
|
|
holy use, to the immediate service of God. So all Christians are
|
|
separated from common uses, and set apart for God and his service. They
|
|
are sacred to him--a very good argument this against all fleshly lusts,
|
|
and all doctrines that give countenance to them. If we are the temples
|
|
of God, we must do nothing that shall alienate ourselves from him, or
|
|
corrupt and pollute ourselves, and thereby unfit ourselves for his use;
|
|
and we must hearken to no doctrine nor doctor that would seduce us to
|
|
any such practices. Note, Christians are holy by profession, and should
|
|
be pure and clean both in heart and conversation. We should heartily
|
|
abhor, and carefully avoid, what will defile God's temple, and
|
|
prostitute what ought to be sacred to him.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="1Co3_18"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Co3_19"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Co3_20"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec5"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Humility Prescribed.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 57.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to
|
|
be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be
|
|
wise.
|
|
19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it
|
|
is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
|
|
20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that
|
|
they are vain.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here he prescribes humility, and a modest opinion of themselves, for
|
|
the remedy of the irregularities in the church of Corinth, the
|
|
divisions and contests among them: "<I>Let no man deceive himself,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+3:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
Do not be led away from the truth and simplicity of the gospel by
|
|
pretenders to science and eloquence, by a show of deep learning, or a
|
|
flourish of words, by rabbis, orators, or philosophers." Note, We are
|
|
in great danger of deceiving ourselves when we have too high an opinion
|
|
of human wisdom and arts; plain and pure Christianity will be likely to
|
|
be despised by those who can suit their doctrines to the corrupt taste
|
|
of their hearers, and set them off with fine language, or support them
|
|
with a show of deep and strong reasoning. But <I>he who seems to be
|
|
wise must become a fool that he may be wise.</I> He must be sensible of
|
|
his own ignorance, and lament it; he must distrust his own
|
|
understanding, and not lean on it. To have a high opinion of our wisdom
|
|
is but to flatter ourselves, and self-flattery is the very next step to
|
|
self-deceit. The way to true wisdom is to sink our opinion of our own
|
|
to a due level, and be willing to be taught of God. He must become a
|
|
fool who would be truly and thoroughly wise. The person who resigns his
|
|
own understanding, that he may follow the instruction of God, is in the
|
|
way to true and everlasting wisdom. <I>The meek will he guide in
|
|
judgment, the meek will he teach his way,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+25:9">Ps. xxv. 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
He that has a low opinion of his own knowledge and powers will submit
|
|
to better information; such a person may be informed and improved by
|
|
revelation: but the proud man, conceited of his own wisdom and
|
|
understanding, will undertake to correct even divine wisdom itself, and
|
|
prefer his own shallow reasonings to the revelations of infallible
|
|
truth and wisdom. Note, We must abase ourselves before God if we would
|
|
be either truly wise or good: <I>For the wisdom of this world is
|
|
foolishness with God,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+3:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
The wisdom which worldly men esteem (policy, philosophy, oratory) <I>is
|
|
foolishness with God.</I> It is so in a way of comparison with his
|
|
wisdom. <I>He chargeth his angels with folly</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+4:18">Job iv. 18</A>),
|
|
|
|
and much more the wisest among the children of men. <I>His
|
|
understanding is infinite,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+147:5">Ps. cxlvii. 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
There can be no more comparison between his wisdom and ours than
|
|
between his power and being and ours. There is no common measure by
|
|
which to compare finite and infinite. And much more is the wisdom of
|
|
man foolishness with God when set in competition with his. How justly
|
|
does he despise, how easily can he baffle and confound it! <I>He taketh
|
|
the wise in their own craftiness</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+5:13">Job v. 13</A>),
|
|
|
|
he catches them in their own nets, and entangles them in their own
|
|
snares: he turns their most studies, plausible, and promising schemes
|
|
against themselves, and ruins them by their own contrivance. Nay, <I>He
|
|
knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+3:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>),
|
|
|
|
that they are vanity,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+94:11">Ps. xciv. 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
Note, God has a perfect knowledge of the thoughts of men, the deepest
|
|
thoughts of the wisest men, their most secret counsels and purposes:
|
|
nothing is hidden from him, but <I>all things are naked and bare</I>
|
|
before him,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+4:13">Heb. iv. 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
And he knows them to be vanity. The thoughts of the wisest men in the
|
|
world have a great mixture of vanity, of weakness and folly, in them;
|
|
and before God their wisest and best thoughts are very vanity,
|
|
compared, I mean, with his thoughts of things. And should not all this
|
|
teach us modesty, diffidence in ourselves, and a deference to the
|
|
wisdom of God, make us thankful for his revelations, and willing to be
|
|
taught of God, and not be led away by specious pretences to human
|
|
wisdom and skill, from the simplicity of Christ, or a regard to his
|
|
heavenly doctrine? Note, He who would be wise indeed must learn of God,
|
|
and not set his own wisdom up in competition with God's.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="1Co3_21"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Co3_22"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Co3_23"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec6"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Against Overvaluing Teachers.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 57.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
|
|
22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life,
|
|
or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;
|
|
23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ <I>is</I> God's.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here the apostle founds an exhortation against over-valuing their
|
|
teachers on what he had just said, and on the consideration that they
|
|
had an equal interest in all their ministers: <I>Therefore let no man
|
|
glory in men</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+3:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>)--
|
|
|
|
forget that their ministers are men, or pay that deference to them that
|
|
is due only to God, set them at the head of parties, have them in
|
|
immoderate esteem and admiration, and servilely and implicitly follow
|
|
their directions and submit to their dictates, and especially in
|
|
contradiction to God and the truths taught by his Holy Spirit. Mankind
|
|
are very apt to make the mercies of God cross their intentions. The
|
|
ministry is a very useful and very gracious institution, and faithful
|
|
ministers are a great blessing to any people; yet the folly and
|
|
weakness of people may do much mischief by what is in itself a
|
|
blessing. They may fall into factions, side with particular ministers,
|
|
and set them at their head, glory in their leaders, and be carried by
|
|
them they know not whither. The only way to avoid this mischief is to
|
|
have a modest opinion of ourselves, a due sense of the common weakness
|
|
of human understanding, and an entire deference to the wisdom of God
|
|
speaking in his word. Ministers are not to be set up in competition
|
|
with one another. All faithful ministers are serving one Lord and
|
|
pursuing one purpose. They were appointed of Christ, for the common
|
|
benefit of the church: "<I>Paul, and Apollos, and Cephas, are all
|
|
yours.</I> One is not to be set up against another, but all are to be
|
|
valued and used for your own spiritual benefit." Upon this occasion
|
|
also he gives in an inventory of the church's possessions, the
|
|
spiritual riches of a true believer: "<I>All is yours</I>--ministers of
|
|
all ranks, ordinary and extraordinary. Nay the world itself is yours."
|
|
Not that saints are proprietors of the world, but it stands for their
|
|
sake, they have as much of it as Infinite Wisdom sees to be fit for
|
|
them, and they have all they have with the divine blessing. "<I>Life is
|
|
yours,</I> that you may have season and opportunity to prepare for the
|
|
life of heaven; and <I>death is yours,</I> that you may go to the
|
|
possession of it. It is the kind messenger that will fetch you to your
|
|
Father's house. <I>Things present</I> are yours, for your support on
|
|
the road; <I>things to come</I> are yours, to enrich and regale you for
|
|
ever at your journey's end." Note, If we belong to Christ, and are true
|
|
to him, all good belongs to us, and is sure to us. All is ours, time
|
|
and eternity, earth and heaven, life and death. <I>We shall want no
|
|
good thing,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+84:11">Ps. lxxxiv. 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
But it must be remembered, at the same time, <I>that we are
|
|
Christ's,</I> the subjects of his kingdom, his property. He is Lord
|
|
over us, and we must own his dominion, and cheerfully submit to his
|
|
command and yield themselves to his pleasure, if we would have all
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things minister to our advantage. All things are ours, upon no other
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ground than our being Christ's. Out of him we are without just title or
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claim to any thing that is good. Note, Those that would be safe for
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time, and happy to eternity, must be Christ's. <I>And Christ is
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God's.</I> He is the Christ of God, anointed of God, and commissioned
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by him, to bear the office of a Mediator, and to act therein for the
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purposes of his glory. Note, All things are the believer's, that Christ
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might have honour in his great undertaking, and God in all might have
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the glory. God in Christ reconciling a sinful world to himself, and
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shedding abroad the riches of his grace on a reconciled world, is the
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sum and substance of the gospel.</P>
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