"THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS"
Chapter Three
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER
1) To see the proper place of preachers and teachers in relation to
their work
2) To appreciate God's view of the church as the temple of God
SUMMARY
Paul continues to deal with the problem of division in this chapter.
Its seriousness is seen in its carnality, which prevented Paul from
being able to speak as to spiritually mature people (1-4). To help
them see the folly of exalting preachers over each another, Paul shows
their relation to one other and to their work, which is building the
temple of God (5-17). To the warning not to defile the temple of God,
Paul adds another not to glory in the wisdom of this world nor in men
(18-23).
OUTLINE
I. THE CARNAL NATURE OF DIVISION (1-4)
A. CARNAL CHRISTIANS AT CORINTH (1-2)
1. Prevented Paul from speaking to them as to spiritual people
(1a)
2. Their carnality indicated that they were still babes in
Christ, unable to receive solid food (1b-2)
B. EVIDENCE OF THEIR CARNALITY (3-4)
1. The envy, strife, and divisions among them (3)
2. As expressed in their calling themselves after men (4)
II. RELATION OF PREACHERS TO THEIR WORK (5-17)
A. PREACHERS ARE SERVANTS, USED BY GOD (5-7)
1. Ministers given the opportunity to serve God in various ways
(5-6a)
2. But it is God who gives the increase (6b-7)
B. THEIR RELATION TO ONE ANOTHER AND THEIR WORK (8-17)
1. United in their work, though their labor and rewards may
differ (8)
2. Fellow workers with God, they work on God's building (9)
a. Laying the foundation (as Paul did) of Jesus Christ (10-11)
b. Building upon the foundation, using various materials to be
tested at the Last Day (12-15)
3. A strong warning, since this building is the temple of God and
indwelt by the Spirit (16-17)
III. AVOID GLORYING IN WORLDLY WISDOM OR MEN (18-23)
A. REASONS NOT TO GLORY IN WORLDLY WISDOM (18-20)
1. You will only deceive yourself (18)
2. The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God (19-20)
B. REASONS NOT TO GLORY IN MEN (21-23)
1. All things (including men) are yours (21-22)
2. You are Christ's, and Christ is God's (23)
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER
1) List the main points of this chapter
- The Carnal Nature Of Division (1-4)
- Relation Of Preachers To Their Work (5-17)
- Avoid Glorying In Worldly Wisdom Or Men (18-23)
2) What prevented Paul from speaking to the Corinthians as unto
spiritual people? (1-3)
- They were carnal, still babes in Christ
3) What manifested their carnality? (3-4)
- Their envy, strife, and divisions, as manifested in calling
themselves after men
4) Who was more important, he that planted, or the one that watered?
(6-7)
- Neither, it was God who gave the increase
5) Upon what foundation is the church built? (11)
- Jesus Christ
6) When will the work of ministers be fully made manifest? (13)
- At the last Day
7) If those converted by preachers are lost, will the preachers be
lost? (14-15)
- No, but their reward will not be as great
8) What sort of building is the church? (16)
- The temple of God, indwelt by His Spirit
9) What is the wisdom of this world to God? (19)
- Foolishness
10) Why should we not glory in men? (21-22)
- Because they are but instruments of God used to benefit us
11) And to whom do we belong? (23)
- Christ
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