1: having declared the worthiness of heavenly wisdom, and of the gospel, and having condemned the blindness of man's mind, now at length he applieth it particularly to the Corinthians, calling them carnal, that is, such in whom as yet the flesh prevaileth against the spirit. And he bringeth a double testimony of it: first, for that he proved them to be such, in so much that he dealt with them no otherwise then with ignorant men, and such as are almost babes in the doctrine of godliness, and secondly, because they showed indeed by theses dissentions, which sprang up by reason of the ignorance of the virtue of the Spirit, and heavenly wisdom, that they had profited very little or nothing. a: He calleth them carnal, which are as yet ignorant, and therefore to express it the better, he termeth them babes. b: Substantial meat, or strong meat. c: To be fed by me with substantial meat: therefore as the Corinthians grew up in age, so the apostle nourished them by teaching, first with milk, then with strong meat, which difference was only but in the manner of teaching. d: By the square and compass of man's wit and judgement. 2: After that he hath sufficiently reprehended ambitious teachers, and their foolish esteemers, now he showeth how the true ministers are to be esteemed, that we attribute not unto them more or less then we ought to do. Therefore he teacheth us, that they are they by whom we are brought to faith and salvation, but yet as the ministers of God, and such as do nothing of themselves, but God so working by them as it pleaseth him to furnish them with his gifts. Therefore we have not to make or consider what minister it is that speaketh, but what is spoken: and we must depend only upon him which speaketh by his servants. 3: He beautifieth the former sentence, with two similitudes: first comparing the company of the faithful, to a field which God maketh fruitful, when it is sowed and watered through the labour of his servants: next, by comparing it to a house, which indeed the Lord buildeth, but by the hands of his workmen, some of whom he useth in laying the foundation, others in building of it up. Now both these similitudes tend to this purpose, to show that all things are wholly accomplished by God's only authority and might, so that we must only have an eye to him. Moreover, although that God useth some in the better part of the work, we must not therefore contemn others, in respect of them, and much less may we divide or set them apart, (as these factious men did) seeing that all of them labour in God's business, and in such sort, that they serve to finish one selfsame work, although by a diverse manner of working, insomuch that they need one another's help. *: Psalms 62:12 Galatians 6:5 e: Serving under him: now they which serve under another, do nothing of their own strength, but as it is given them of grace, which grace maketh them fit to that service. Look at Chapter 15:10 and 2 Corinthians 3:6 and all the increase that cometh by their labour, doth proceed from God, that no part of the praise of it may be given to the under servant. 4: Now he speaketh to the teachers themselves, which succeeded him in the Church of Corinth, and in their person to all that were after or shall be Pastors of Congregations, seeing that they succeed into the labour of the apostles, which were planters and chief builders. Therefore he warneth them first, that they may propound and set forth anything in the Church, either in matter, or in kind of teaching, different from the apostles which were the chief builders. 5: Moreover, he showeth what this foundation is, to wit, Christ Jesus, from whence they may not turn away one jot in the building up of this building. 6: Thirdly he showeth that they must take heed that the upper part of the building be answerable to the foundation, that is, that admonitions, exhortations, and whatsoever pertaineth to the edifying of the flock, be answerable to the doctrine of Christ, as well in the matter as in form: which doctrine is compared to gold, silver, and precious stones: of which matter, Isaiah also and John in the Revelation build the heavenly city. And to these are opposite, wood, hay, stubble, that is to say, curious and vain questions or decrees: and besides to be short, all that kind of teaching which serveth to ostentation. For false doctrines, whereof he speaketh not here, are not said properly to be built upon this foundation, unless peradventure in show only. 7: He testifieth, as indeed the truth is, that all are not good builders, no not some of them which stand upon this one and only foundation: but howsoever this work of evil builders, saith he, stand for a season, yet shall it not always deceive, because that the light of the truth appearing at length, as day, shall dissolve this darkness, and show what it is. And as that stuff is tried by the fire, whether it be good or not, so will God in his time, by the touch of his spirit and word, try all buildings, and so shall it come to pass, that such as be found pure and sound, shall still continue so, to the praise of the workman, but they that are otherwise, shall be consumed and vanish away, and so shall the workman be frustrated of the hope of his labour, which pleased himself in a thing of naught. 8: He taketh not away hope of salvation from the unskilful and foolish builders, which hold fast the foundation, of which sort were those rhetoricians rather then pastors, of Corinth: but he addeth an exception, that they must notwithstanding suffer this trial of their work, and also abide the loss of their vain labours. *: Chapter 6:19 2 Corinthians 6:16 9: Continuing still in the metaphor of building, he teacheth us that this ambition is not only vain, but also sacrilegious: for he saith that the Church is as it were the temple of God, which God hath as it were consecrated unto himself by his spirit. Then turning himself to these ambitious men, he showeth that they prophane the temple of God, because those vain arts wherein they please themselves so much, are as he teacheth, so many pollutions of the holy doctrine of God, and the purity of the Church. Which wickedness shall not be suffered unpunished. f: Defileth it and maketh it unclean, being holy: and surely they do defile it, by Paul's judgement, which by fleshly eloquence defile the purity of the gospel. 10: he concludeth by the contrary, that they profess pure wisdom in the Church of god, which refuse and cast away all those vanities of men: and if they be mocked of he world, it is sufficient for them that they be wise according to the wisdom of God, and as he will have them to be wise. *: Job 5:13 g: Be they never so crafty, yet the Lord will take them when he shall discover their treachery. *: Psalm 44:11 11: He returneth to the proposition of the second verse, first warning the hearers, that henceforth they esteem not as lords, those whom God hath appointed to be ministers and not lords of their salvation: which thing they do, that depend upon men, and not upon God that speaketh by them. h: Please himself. i: Helps, appointed for your benefit. 12: He passeth from the persons to the things themselves, that his argument may be more forcible: yea, he ascendeth from Christ to the father, to show that we rest no not in Christ himself, in that that he is man, but because he carrieth us up even to the father, as Christ witnesseth of himself everywhere that he was sent of his father, that by this band we may be all knit with God himself. |
Chapter 31. He yieldeth a reason why he preached small matters unto them: 4. he showeth how they ought to esteem of ministers. 6. The ministers office. 10. A true form of edifying. 16. He warneth the Corinthians, that they be not drawn away to prophane things, 18. through the proud wisdom of the flesh. And 1 I could not speak
unto you, brethren, as unto spiritual men, but as unto a carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. |