1 Corinthians 3 – Page 3 – Ministry of Grace Church

Category: 1 Corinthians 3

1 Corinthians 3:3 – Now and Later!

Posted on June 18, 2013 by Will

for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?

Truth to Learn

Immature Christians live for themselves; spiritual Christians live their lives in a Godly manner, for the glory of God.

Behind the Words

The words “you are” are translated from the verb eimi, the verb of being. It is expressed in the present tense and indicative mood, indicating present, ongoing action.

“Still” is from the adverb eti, meaning “still.” It implies a duration of time starting in the past and continuing up to the present time.

Dzēlos is the word translated “envy.” It is based on the verb dzeō, meaning “to be hot.” Thus, dzēlos literally means “hot.” This word is most often used metaphorically, sometimes in a good sense but most often in a bad sense. When used in a good sense it is often translated as “zeal” or “zealous.” When used in a bad sense it is translated as “envy,” “jealousy,” or “anger.”

“Strife” is from the Greek word eris, which means “strife,” “contention,” or “arguing.” It is often used metaphorically to mean “the love of strife,” which seems to be Paul’s intent here.

The word “divisions” is translated from dichostasia, which is composed of dicha, meaning “separately” and stasis, meaning “a stance” or “a posture.” Hence, dichostasis literally means “a separate standing.” This word is not found in the best Greek manuscripts.

Meaning Explained

The Apostle Paul has just told the Christians in Corinth that they are still babies in Christ because they have not grown much spiritually since the time of their conversion. Twice in this verse he says that they are living according to the thoughts and desires of a natural person instead of living according to the thoughts and desires of a spiritual person. They are not spiritually mature Christians, they are carnal Christians.

The evidence that he gives is the fact that within the church in Corinth there is envy and strife. The clear evidence of this is the fact that they boast and argue about who their spiritual hero is (Paul, Apollos, Peter, or Christ). If you look at the remainder of this chapter you will see that Paul emphasizes the building up of the body of Christ. Envy and strife do not serve to build, but to tear down. In fact, in his letter to the churches, James says this about envy and strife:

But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. (James 3:14-16)

Clearly, the Christians in Corinth have their sights fixed on themselves and on the things of this world. That is not the way a Christian is to live. The things of this world will pass away, but the things of God are eternal.

Application

As Christians, you spend a few years on this earth, but you will spend an eternity in glory. You can choose to live these few short years for yourself or you can choose to live them for God and give Him all the glory for eternity. The choice is yours!

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Corinthians 3:2 – Milk or Meat?

Posted on June 17, 2013 by Will

I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able;

Truth to Learn

Infants are satisfied with milk. Those who are growing require a lot more nourishment in order to grow.

Behind the Words

The word translated “fed” is potidzō, which means “to give a drink to” or “to let drink.”

“Milk” is from gala, which literally refers to the milk of an animal. Figuratively it refers to the rudimentary elements of the Word of God from which Christians receive spiritual nourishment.

“Solid food” is the translation of the Greek word broma, which refers specifically to food which must be chewed before it is swallowed.

Oupō is the word translated “until now.” It is made up of ou, meaning “not” and pō, meaning “yet.” So this word literally means “not yet.”

The words “you were … able” are translated from the Greek verb dunamai, which means “to have the power or ability to do something. It is expressed in the imperfect tense, indicating past continuous action.

Meaning Explained

In chapter two of 1 Corinthians, Paul contrasted two types of people: those who live according to the thoughts and desires of the flesh (the natural, physical, and emotional part of man) and those who live according to the spirit (the spiritual part of man that is only enabled by God’s Holy Spirit). In yesterday’s verse he introduced a third type of person: the carnal Christian who, although having God’s spirit, chooses to live life according to the flesh, rather than the spirit.

In today’s verse Paul is specifically talking to carnal Christians, those whom he referred to as infants in Christ. For the year and a half that Paul was in Corinth, he put most of his effort into witnessing about Christ and spoon feeding the new converts in the basics of Christianity. Now, several years later, he is writing to the church and chastens them for still being babies in their Christian walk.

Our Christian life very much parallels our physical life. In our physical life we started out as a newborn infant. At this stage in our development we could not tolerate solid food, so our mother fed us milk. As we grew, however, we began eating solid food by which we continued to grow and get stronger. Likewise, in our Christian life, we started out by becoming “born again,” as Jesus described it in John 3:3. As a baby in Christ, we were not able to handle deep theological truths. Instead, we had to first learn about the basics of our spiritual life. As our spiritual life continued to grow, we began to receive and understand these deeper spiritual truths.

If a baby is never fed anything other than milk, he or she will not mature. Likewise, if a Christian never feeds on anything other than spiritual milk, he or she will not grow in his or her spiritual life. It takes more effort to consume spiritual solid food, but it is necessary for spiritual growth.

Application

Do you crave spiritual meat, or are you satisfied with spiritual milk?

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Corinthians 3:1 – Eternal Babies

Posted on June 11, 2013 by Will

And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.

Truth to Learn

Some Christians don’t grow in their relationship with Christ.

Behind the Words

The word “could” is translated from a form of dunamis, meaning “to be able” or “to have power or authority.”

“Speak” is from laleō, which refers to the use of words in speech or writing. It is a reference to the ability to communicate rather than the quality of it.

“Spiritual” is translated from pneumatikos. It describes those who exist in the spiritual realm, as opposed to the physical realm. It refers to those who communicate with the God of creation. Therefore, pneumatikos describes those who have a spiritual relationship with God.

Sarkinos is the Greek word translated “carnal.” It is based on the word sarx, which refers to the flesh of a living creature. Thus, sarkinos refers to those who live in the realm of the flesh as opposed to those who live in the realm of the spirit.

The word “babes” is from the Greek nēpios, which is made up of nē, meaning “not” and a form of epō, meaning “to speak.” Hence, nēpios literally means “non-speaking.” It is equivalent to the Latin infans (an infant). So, we see that nēpios refers to someone who is like an infant who hasn’t yet learned to speak.

Meaning Explained

In the previous chapter, the Apostle Paul compared the “natural man” to “the spiritual man.” The natural man is one who does not have God’s Spirit (a non-Christian). As a result, he (or she) lives under the influence of the sin nature, rather than the influence of the Spirit of God.

In today’s verse Paul introduces a third type of person, “the carnal man.” This person is barely distinguishable from the natural man because both the natural man and the carnal man are controlled by the flesh (human nature). A carnal Christian is in a most unhappy condition. He or she has been given the Holy Spirit of God as a guide, but does not communicate with the Spirit or, at best, ignores what the Spirit says.

A carnal Christian is further described by Paul as an infant in Christ. Let me point out that there is nothing wrong with being an infant in Christ – if you have recently been “born again.” Every Christian starts out as an infant in Christ. Here Paul is referring to Christians who haven’t grown in their Christian life. For whatever reason, they have decided to remain a baby and not grow in their relationship with God.

Unfortunately, we see this kind of Christians all around us. These “Sunday morning Christians” come to church wearing their Sunday-morning-go-to-church clothes, they sing the songs, they sit patiently (sometimes) while the preacher gives his message, then they walk out and live like the devil the rest of the week. Christianity is easy for them. They don’t have to put any work into it and they typically don’t suffer from spiritual attacks. Our enemy doesn’t have to attack them because they are infants who don’t pose any threats.

Application

Christianity may seem easy to the carnal Christian, but he or she is missing out on the rich blessings of a close personal relationship with the God of creation. Where are you today, my friend? Are you still a baby Christian, or are you growing?

In God's service, for His glory,