God did not choose either Paul or Apollos to be the
single instrument to achieve His purposes in Corinth. Each
has his own task, his own calling. Paul, as the first to
come to Corinth, is the seed planter; Apollos, who follows,
“watered.” The ministry of each, Paul and Apollos, is
dependent upon the other. They are not competitors or
rivals, but teammates, fellow-workers. They work in
complementary roles, rather than competitive roles. Both are
engaged in the same work, in the same goal of making
disciples. Both serve the same Master; both are engaged in
accomplishing the same task. Both are brothers in Christ.
However, each one has his own unique calling and
contribution to make to the overall task. Each will receive
a reward, granted according to his own labor.
When Paul says, “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are
God’s field, God’s building,” he is telling us two very
important things. First, he is indicating that all
Christians belong to God, and none of them belongs to any
apostle. Second, he distinguishes himself and Apollos, as
apostles, from all the rest of the Christians in Corinth. He
and Apollos are apostles; the rest are not. The apostles
play a unique role in the founding of the church, a role
that no other can duplicate. In a unique way, the apostles
did labor together with God in their intimate contact with
Him, and in being witnesses of His resurrection, but
especially in the laying of the foundation of the church.
This occurred through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, as
previously described by Paul in 2:10-13.
At the outset Paul refers to his work, that of laying a
foundation on which others will build. Paul’s work of laying
a foundation is a finished work. Even he cannot change the
foundation he has laid. What remains is for the Christians
at Corinth to complete the construction.
Paul’s instructions, “Now if any man builds on this
foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or
straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will
show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire
itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any
man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive
a reward” (1 Corinthians 3:12-15).
Paul is not talking about salvation here. This is not a
proof-text for the doctrine of purgatory. Paul is saying
that the fire of divine judgment, but not the believer may
burn up a Christian’s works. Someone might think Paul’s
words encourage the “infants in Christ” those who “are still
fleshly” to live a careless, self-indulgent life, knowing he
will get to heaven regardless. Paul directs his next words
toward those who might try to pervert his teaching in
practice, so that they might live a life of sinful
self-indulgence based on the words of Paul in verse 15.
The building described by Paul, as under construction in
verses 10-15 is the temple of God, His dwelling place (3:9).
While elsewhere Paul speaks of each individual believer as
God’s dwelling place (1 Corinthians 6:19), here he speaks of
the whole church as God’s dwelling place, through the
Spirit. We are not the temple, but we are a temple, a place
where God dwells. Because God dwells there, the temple is
holy, and it must remain holy. Since this is the case, we
should understand the seriousness of the implications for
defiling God’s temple. When we live godly lives, in
obedience to His Word through the power of the Spirit, we
display God’s glory (1 Peter 2:9). In so doing, we are good
workers, building up the church in accordance with our
calling. However, when a Christian fails to fulfill their
mission, then they become a detriment to the church, that
destroys or defile the temple of God.
The consequences for such defilement are severe, because we
are defaming the reputation of God by defiling His temple.
Those who would do damage to God’s dwelling place should
expect severe consequences. Paul does not hold back when he
warns, “ If any man destroys the temple of God, God will
destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what
you are” (v. 17). Lest one feel too smug and secure in sin,
let him ponder the meaning of the word “destroy” in verse
17.
Just how does one defile the temple of God? Paul gives a
very strong word of warning for defiling the temple, but he
does not define for us just how one defiles it. One can
defile the temple by dividing it up into little groups and
factions. One can defile the temple by forsaking the
simplicity of the gospel and seeking wisdom elsewhere. He
can defile the temple of God by sexual immorality (chapter
5) or by taking a brother to the law court (chapter 6).He
can defile the temple by divorce (chapter 7) or by causing a
weaker brother to sin through the insensitive use of your
rights as a Christian (chapters 8-10). One can defile the
temple of God by misconduct at the Lord’s Supper and the
meeting of the church (chapters 11-14). One can also defile
the temple by false teaching (chapter 15). When Christians
fail to fulfill their part in the construction program, the
temple is adversely affected.
If, as Paul teaches in our text, every Christian is to build
upon the foundation of the apostles, if each believer is to
build skillfully, using only the best materials, then how is
your contribution to the building going? Do you know what
part you are to play? Do you know what part of the temple is
yours to build? You cannot build well if you are not
building at all. If you are not building at all, you are
defiling the temple.
We live in a consumer age. Generally, the church growth
movement caters to members, or seekers, as consumers. It
finds out the kind of church people want to attend, and then
seeks to provide this kind of church. Consequently, some
churches may have many of their pews filled, but with people
who expect, even demand, to get what they want from the
church in terms of services, yet at a bargain price, at
little or no cost to themselves. They want to get much and
give little.
Paul knows nothing of this kind of church. Paul knows only
of the kind of church where every member is a worker, and
where there is no such thing as a shirker. Paul’s words here
have a very clear inference. He assumes we know that we have
an obligation to build the temple, to play an active role in
the building up of the church, the body of Christ. Why do
most churches have a few members giving much, some members
giving little, and many do not give at all? Why does the
church have so much trouble getting volunteers to teach in
Sunday school, and to help with the many tasks in the
church? It is simply because many consider themselves a part
of the church but fail to understand the fact that God
requires every member of it to be a working member,
contributing to the growth and ministry of the church.
Workers must work in accordance with sound doctrine.
Doctrine is therefore important to every Christian, and not
just for the theologians.
