1: And I brethren could not speak to you as to spiritual but as to natural
even as to babes in Christ 2: I have fed you with milk and not with meat
for up till now you were not able to bear it neither yet now are you able 3:
For you are yet fleshly for whereas there is among you envying and strife and
divisions are you not natural and walk as human 4: For while one says I
am of Paul and another I am of Apollos are you not carnal 5: Who then is
Paul and who is Apollos but ministers by whom you believed even as the Lord
gave to every one 6: I have planted Apollos watered but God gave the
increase 7: So then neither are they that plant anything neither they
that water but God who gives the increase 8: Now they who plant and they
who water are one and every one shall receive their own reward according to their
own labor 9: For we are laborer’s together with God you are God's field
you are God's building 10: According to the grace of God which is given to
me as a wise master-builder I have laid the foundation and another build upon
it But let everyone take heed how they build thereupon 11: For other
foundation can no one lay than that is [already] laid which is Jesus Christ 12:
Now if any one build upon this foundation gold silver precious stones wood hay
stubble 13: Every one’s work shall be revealed for the day shall declare
it because it shall be revealed by fire and the fire shall test every one’s work
of what sort it is 14: If any one’s work remain which they have built
thereupon [upon the foundation of Christ] they shall receive a reward 15:
If any one’s work shall be burned [up] they shall suffer loss but they themselves
shall be saved yet so as by fire [as if
they had barely escaped from an inferno][1] 16:
Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells
in you 17: If any one corrupts the temple of God them shall God corrupt
for the temple of God is holy which temple you are[2] 18:
Let no one deceive themselves If any among you seems to be wise in this world
let them become fools that they may be wise 19: For the wisdom of this
world is foolishness with God For it is written He takes the wise in their own
craftiness 20: And again The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise that
they are vain 21: Therefore let no one glory in any person 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
yours Christ’s and Christ’s God’s
[1] Only those who belong to Christ can use
their lives to build upon his foundation. When we are born again, the
foundation of Christ is laid in our lives. It is strong and level. It is
eternal life. It is pure and good, because Jesus is pure and good. After we
become Children of God, we are then given opportunity to build upon that
foundation… every day of our lives. This passage reveals that it is
possible to be saved, produce zero good works, and still make it into Heaven.
But our Savior does ask for our reasonable service while living on earth, and
at the Judgement Seat of Christ, we will be judged for how we built on that
wonderful foundation of Christ and the Eternal Life he brings. What we add to
foundation of Christ (that is laid on the day of our salvation) determines not
whether or not we get into Heaven, but our rewards beyond salvation—in addition
to eternal life. How great is that?
[2] This verse was written to Christians—those
already with tickets to Heaven. Historically, scholars have taken these words as
a warning (in the strongest terms possible) against Christians committing suicide.
That is why, historically, there have been laws against suicide. In recent
history, if a suicide attempt was unsuccessful, the person trying to kill
themselves faced criminal charges. Christians have traditionally been taught that
committing suicide is bringing eternal destruction upon one’s self—jumping from
the frying pan into the fire, so to speak. In recent times, however, popular
leaders have begun teaching that suicide is OK with God. This writer finds this
recent theory presumptuous, frightening, and likely responsible for many deaths
(one death would be too many). Though the former interpretation is not pleasant
to hear, it is a statement that clearly refers to the utter destruction of one
who at one time laid claim to eternal life. So, regardless of what the apostle
meant by this statement, given the ambiguity of opinion on this verse and the
issue of suicide that has always been associated with it, this commentator is
not willing to take the chance of having blood on her hands by teaching that
suicide is OK with God.
Additional commentary pending for this
chapter. Questions and comments are welcome.
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