1 Corinthians 3:12-23

1 Corinthians 3:12 ESV

Now if           anyone          builds

on the foundation

with                                                                               gold,

silver,

precious stones,

Manifest = φανερός =  phaneros = shining, that is, apparent (literally or figuratively); neuter (as adverb) publicly, externally: - abroad, + appear, known, manifest, open [+ -ly], outward ([+ -ly]).

wood,

hay,

straw—

1 Corinthians 3:13 ESV

each one's    work              will become manifest,

for                                                                                           the Day will disclose it,

Disclose = δηλόω = dēloō = to make plain (by words): - declare, shew, signify.

           because                  it                   will be revealed by fire,

Revealed =  ποκαλύπτω = apokaluptō = to take off the cover, that is, disclose: - reveal.

and the                                                                                 fire will test

what sort of work each one has done.

The Apostle Paul uses three different words that are closely related to each other. The each, to one degree or another mean “to be seen”. He tells us that:

1)    Everyone will see the kind of “work” we did. It will be made manifest to all.

2)    It will be disclosed by God’s judgment of it on Judgment Day.  We will see what he thinks of our efforts

3)    The revelation will be by fire and what is unworthy will be burned away and only that which is worthy will be left behind. 

This appears to be a judgment visible to all.  How embarrassed each of us will be on that day and how sorrowful for our failures is dependent upon our actions in this life.

Survives = μένω = menō = A primary verb; to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy): - abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry (for), X thine own.

1 Corinthians 3:14-15 ESV
If the             work   that anyone             has built        on the foundation    survives,

       he                     will receive    a reward.

If                                    anyone's            work              is burned up,

      he                      will suffer loss,

though                           he himself          will be saved,           but only as through fire.

 The Apostle Paul envisions people who are doing something for the Kingdom of God. These are not those who make a claim and then live a life apart.  These are those who make some sort of effort at living as they should and sharing the gospel as they should.  The kind of effort they make will be reflected, more or less, in the results they achieve.  Those who do a good job will find their efforts weathering God’s judgment. Those with a lackadaisical approach will find that much of what they did accomplish will be burned away, embarrassing and distressing to say the least.

1 Corinthians 3:16 ESV

Do you          not know       that you

are     God's temple

Holy = ἅγιος = hagios = From ἅγος hagos (an awful thing) sacred (physically pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially consecrated

and                                               that               God's Spirit              dwells in you?

1 Corinthians 3:17 ESV
If        anyone          destroys                             God's temple,

God will destroy       him.

Destroy = φθείρω+phtheirō= Probably strengthened from φθίω phthiō (to pine or waste): properly to shrivel or wither, that is, to spoil (by any process) or (genitive) to ruin (especially figuratively by moral influences, to deprave): - corrupt (self), defile, destroy.

For                                                                     God's temple           is holy,

and                                                                                                    you are that temple.

These are some very amazing and important statements. First, we, upon our belief in Jesus as Lord and Messiah, become the temple of God.  He places his Spirit in us.  The presence of that Spirit makes us holy, sacred.  We, in effect, become holy ground.

Secondly, we become a “sacred place”. As God’s sacred place the first effect should be that people encounter truth and integrity.  They should also experience love, God’s kind of love: forgiving, self-sacrificing love.  In reality, they should experience God’s presence emanating from you.

Thirdly, with God’s Spirit residing within us we should be able to talk to him as we would someone walking beside us. That means that we become a the source of truth for the world at large. 

Finally, we should be able to ascertain God’s will because he is a real and dynamic part of our lives.

John 16:14-15 ESV 

He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

We are the light of the world. 

Matthew 5:14 ESV
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

 We are the only true source of guidance for the world. They are confused and lost.  We are a walking temple giving out truth and pointing the way for all around us.

1 Corinthians 3:18 ESV
Let      no one                     deceive         himself.

If         anyone among you thinks that he is       wise

Folly = μωρία = mōria =  silliness, that is, absurdity: - foolishness.

in this age,

let       him                          become a                fool

that     he                            may become            wise.

Job 5:13

1 Corinthians 3:19-20 ESV
For the                     wisdom         of this world             is        folly with God.

For it is written,                  “He catches the wise in their craftiness,”

Psalm 94:11

and again,                          “The Lord knows the thoughts      of the wise,

that                                                                               they are futile.”

1 Corinthians 3:21 ESV
So      let                 no one          boast             in men.

For                                                                     all things       are                yours,

1 Corinthians 3:22 ESV
whether         Paul

or                  Apollos

or                  Cephas

or the            world

or                  life

or                  death

or the            present

or the            future—                   all are yours,

 

1 Corinthians 3:23 ESV
and                                                                    you                are     Christ's,

and                                                                    Christ            is        God's.

God has a wisdom all his own.  Man, in his sinfulness, is blind to God’s wisdom and way of doing things.  Arrogance is out, humility is God’s way and will.  Man’s wisdom amounts to nothing.  It cannot save.  It cannot eliminate man’s innate sinfulness.  It is merely a description of what man is and is doing.  It has no corrective or directive power of its own.

Christians have direct access to God.  As a result, we are the one true source of truth and proper living.

A cursory reading of chapter 3 would lead you to believe that Paul is defending his apostleship as well as pointing to the obvious: the real source of growth and success is to be found in Jesus.  But, there are some other things brought out in this chapter which are easily overlooked.

First, focusing on our favorite preacher to teacher is a false and fruitless endeavor.  It is not who brought us the word that led to our salvation but the one who provides that salvation. 

Secondly, not only are we saved from our sins through our faith in Jesus but we open the door to God and become, in the process, holy ground.  God, through his Spirit comes to reside within us and we become a temple of the living God.  When we confront the world, it is not us but God who is there confronting the world through us.

Thirdly, because God comes to reside in us through his Spirit, we are the only ones who can understand God’s wisdom because he reveals it to us.  The world walks in darkness but we walk in  light and can lead the way to living a God-pleasing life.

Finally, no matter how smart we are our how well crafted our philosophy, our wisdom is little more than nonsense to God. The only true wisdom comes from God and since he resides within us, we become God’s spokesperson for truth in the world.  In fact, Christians are the only one who can provide wisdom and direction to the world.