Paul puts himself and Apollos in their rightful place. After opening the letter by explaining man's inability to convey spiritual things, and that salvation is entirely a work of God, he explains that they are only channels that God has used. As believers our role is to be available to be used by God, and He will use us as a means of blessing others. Paul tries to put to rest the idea of sects forming based on following people.
The roles of Paul and Apollos are expounded upon in relation to the people of Corinth. Paul was in first to break the ground, plants seeds and see souls saved. He stayed in Corinth for a full year and half teaching the word of God (Acts 18:11). Paul planted. After a disciple of John named Apollos (Acts 18:25) was instructed concerning baptism by Aquila and Priscilla, Apollos was ready to be used by God to work with the people of Corinth. Following Paul's departure Apollos was in Corinth (Acts 19:1). No doubt he carried on the work of Paul, as he was a more than capable man since he was an eloquent man and mighty in the scriptures. (Acts 18:24) Apollos watered. But the emphasis here is not on the work of Paul and Apollos, since they could have done as much labour as they could and yet would not have seen any fruit for their labours. It is God who giveth the increase.
This verse is self explanatory, building from the verse previous, that the planter and the waterer are nothing without God who gives the increase.
"one" - neuter. This means that they are one in aim. The planter and the waterer both have the same goal. It was a tragedy no doubt to Paul and Apollos that their teaching, which was the same, and their gospel, which was the same, would divide the people of Corinth based upon who delivered it. Paul and Apollos wanted to see the blessing of God bestowed upon Corinth, and that was their intention of teaching and preaching to the people there. Their aim was not to bring glory to themselves.
"reward" - wages, hire. Though each might have the same aim and goal, each will be judged as individuals. We will all stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ where we will be rewarded according to our works.
"labourers with" - co-labourers. The worker for God and God are deemed to be co-labourers by Paul. This can be so, seeing Apollos, Paul, and God all had the same aim and desire. Each, though the same aim, had their own role in the assembly at Corinth. Paul planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.
"husbandry" - tillage or cultivated field. Paul said that "we" are labourers and "ye" are husbandry. This would indicate that this, the building and the temple of God, are descriptions of the local church and not the individuals of the universal church. This fits the analogy that Paul has been using through the first section of the chapter to paint the picture of building up the individuals in the assembly in Corinth. The church is the collection of the believers in fellowship, and is the husbandry that is in mind. The word used, husbandry, indicates that it is a field that is ready to be worked in. God's assembly (and His people) are living, breathing, and able to grow.
"building" - This is a noun. The place where the people of God gather is not the "ekklesia [church] building," but instead the people of God are a church building. When the people gather together, this is what forms the church. The building that Paul speaks about is the local assembly at Corinth. This is the analogy that Paul is about to use for the next section in the chapter.
"masterbuilder" - architect. Paul claims this place as the architect of the believers in the assembly at Corinth. By the grace of God, Paul was able to do this. Paul created the blueprints from the pattern that God had laid out to him. When building, it is important to have a good foundation. Paul laid this foundation. Others, like Apollos, had built upon that. Paul's warning is that we need to take heed how we are building on. Though the foundation is set, if the building on top of it is not good, it will fall. The building of an assembly needs to be based upon the word of God and have it's components all be quality.
There is only one foundation that can be used when building a man or woman of God, that foundation is Jesus Christ. Any other foundation, is not one that a believer can rest upon for salvation. (John 14:6)
Now concerning what is to be built upon the foundation is discussed.
"Gold, silver, and precious stones" - would be things that are costly items that can be used for building. In order to build up an assembly it will take sacrifice that will cost. Thousands of hours in the scriptures, studying the things of God, and sacrificing personal time to develop spiritual gift in order to edify the church are all a part of the costly price to build. These in their pure form are what God desires.
"wood, hay, and stubble" - are things that are not costly and are easy to come by. These building supplies are from items that were once living but are now dead. These three are a second group of building supplies that will not stand the test of God.
The manner in which our work and building will be judged is revealed: by fire. What has my life been? Gold, silver and precious stones for God? Or wood, hay and stubble: things in our life that was once good and profitable but is now dead and not able to stand the test of God? This life we have will soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last. Not only will the gold, silver and precious stones pass through the fire, but also any impurities will be taken out of them. May my life by one that is pure gold, silver, and precious stones for Thee, O Lord, that I might be something for Thee. Able to be used, able to see my works come through the fire into reward to be given to Thee.
The work that comes through the fire, will be rewarded. This testing will all be at the Judgment Seat of Christ. This is where the Christian will be judged for his work on earth, but not his sin. Each will stand before Him. Each will be rewarded accordingly.
Though we might suffer loss as our work is devoured by fire, we will endure. It is not our own merits that will bring us through the fire, but it is based upon our foundation. The Lord Jesus is one who has already passed through the fire of Calvary (From above hath he sent fire into my bones - Lamentations 1:13a). The judgment of God for us has passed upon the Son. Praise the Lord that the very fire that will take our works that are of no worth is the very fire that we will be saved (future) through. What will be left behind will be the image of Christ in us and our works that are the gold, silver and precious stones. What will pass through the fire in us will be only because of the Lord Jesus Christ, and also because He passed through the fire of the judgment of God.
A slight shift in language occurs. It is revealed that the assembly is greater than just a mere building, but the temple of God. The temple was the place where God chose to put His name and to dwell there between the cherubim on the mercy seat. The assembly of God, where Christians gather to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Matt 18:20, 1 Cor 5:4) are the temple of God because God has chosen to place His name and the Lord Jesus meets with us in the midst.
"defile" - corrupt
"temple" - inner temple
Hard language comes down from our Holy God. A warning is expressed to those who corrupt themselves. God has made sanctified us and made us holy unto Himself. He has put in us His Holy Spirit to live therein. The warning is that if we go about to "corrupt our inner temple" that God will bring judgment upon us. This destruction would include joy, fellowship with God, potential for reward and possibly eventually our life. The destruction does NOT mean that our salvation will be taken away from us.
God does not want us to be wise in things of the age. If we are wise in the things of this age then we are not walking in accordance to the will of God. In the eyes of God, though we are still holders of the blessings of sanctification, justification, adoption, etc., at conversion, we are considered to be fools like those who are wise in this age. God would require us to be "fools" in the eyes of the people of this age in order to bring blessing to himself. The things of this age are evil and foolish. Man thinks in each new generation that he has come up with something revolutionary, when it is usually just a reworking of something that has already happened. "The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done : and there is no new thing under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 1:9)
As was already explained at the conclusion of ch1, God's wisdom is much greater than man.
Man's wisdom pales in comparison to that of God.
The summation of all this chapter is found in this, "let no man glory in men." We are not followers of men. Great preachers, elders, men of God and others are not the leading authorities on the things of God. The word of God is the leading authority on the things of God. Whatever man says, it needs to be measured against scripture in order to ensure that it holds true.
"all things are yours" - it is not that just Paul, or Apollos is theirs, but all things. Both these who the division has been founded upon are one/united in the same goal. These man we are not to serve and follow, but they served us.
An expansion on the examples:
1. Paul, Apollos, Cephas: Men of God who were used of God to teach every believer, not just some.
2. the world, or life, or death: Mankind is for us to reach to, life is for us to continue in to prepare for heaven, and death is our gain to go to be with the Lord.
3. things present or things to come: God has given us these moments to use for Him, and will bless us with things in the future based on how we use the present.
All things are ours, and all things in our lives that we would know are God's will, so that we can grow and be built up and make our lives something for God.
"ye are Christ's" - All things are ours, but we are Christ's. We belong to Christ and will answer to Him at the future day of Judgment and be rewarded accordingly. Paul ensures that we do not get too full of ourselves knowing that all things are ours, but it is still necessary that we answer to Christ.
"Christ is God's" - It is remarkable to see the submission of Christ. He is equal with God, but is willing to take a position of submission to God. Through His life he was one who walked in perfect will of God, relying on His heavenly Father. He cried out to His God upon the cross (Matt 27:46), and Paul to the Ephesians states that Christ had a God, the Father of glory (Eph 1:17).
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