Epistles (written)

Monday, 28 April 2014

Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.1 Corinthians 3:8

In the preceding verse, Paul said “neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters…” As noted, this was not intended to mean that those who plant and those who water shouldn’t work at all, as if their work was futile, but rather their duties are pale in comparison to the supreme and overarching work of God. What the laborers do is to use what God provides so that both “he who plants and he who waters are one.” They complement each other rather than compete against one another. Therefore, to divide allegiance in the church between Paul or Apollos is misunderstanding their ultimate purpose.

They are cohesively working for the same end goal. Not only that, but one is merely building upon the other and therefore they are both filling necessary roles – not independent, but interdependent. And as noted, the tense of the verbs in verse 6 showed that they are a part of God’s overall work. Dividing loyalties as the Corinthians were doing accomplished nothing except to mar a process that is being worked, from beginning to end, by God.

A question could arise then, if these divisions are marring a process in which Paul and Apollos are engaged in, and that process is being directed by God, are the Corinthians thwarting the plan of God? The answer must be, “No.” God knows in advance all things. Therefore, the divisions had and have sound purposes. A few to be considered are –

1) The divisions in Corinth led to Paul’s letter, a part of the Bible. As it is a part of Scripture used by all who read and apply their Bible – personally and within a church, then God’s purposes were met through this schism. God provided the increase.

2) The division at Corinth, and many divisions since, have been used to turn one church into two (or more) and thus the gospel can spread more quickly. God provides the increase.

3) Such divisions may cause a church to expel those who are unsound, thus protecting the integrity of the church and causing improved spiritual growth. God provides the increase.

4) Etc.

These and many other problems which may seem to thwart God’s work, never can. In the end, the united efforts of Paul and Apollos, the supposed divisions by the Corinthians, and the continued process of spreading the gospel – both by competent people and even incompetent people has and will result in God’s plan being brought to a successful completion.

And once this wondrous church is taken home to glory, all members of it will “appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10). At that time “each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.”

Paul will receive his reward for what he did, Apollos will receive his reward for what he accomplished, and you and me… we will stand before the Lord as well. So don’t waste the time you have here, but instead whatever work your hands find to do for Him, do it with all your heart and soul. The rewards will be heavenly!

Life application: Good or bad, your actions are being used by God as He directs the building of His church. Make every effort to accomplish good and honorable results so that you will receive a good and blessed reward.

Glorious, wonderful Lord. Your church has been in the making for 2000 years. My moment here is short and will pass away quickly. So remind me that eternity’s rewards are based on this short and fleeting piece of time. Give me wisdom to contemplate this, gumption to get up and act, and the ability to persevere in this race of life to the finish line, never letting up in my determination to serve You. This is my prayer today. Amen.

Saturday, 26 April 2014

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 1 Corinthians 3:6

Paul, like many of the writers, and of hundreds of instances in the Bible, uses an agricultural theme to present a spiritual truth. He has been discussing the division of the church based on individual preferences of one person over another. Some were following Paul, some Apollos, etc. However, Paul has already asked, “Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians 1:13).

Such divisions are illogical because only Christ accomplished the work necessary to found the church. All the others did was help to relay the message. In his agricultural example, Paul begins with “I planted.” To this day, the term “planting a church” is used to indicate the starting of a new church in an area. When a farmer or a forester plants a seed, they are using something that already exists, whose original Creator was God –

“Then God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth’; and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. So the evening and the morning were the third day.” Genesis 1:11-13

Like those agricultural things, God, through Jesus Christ, began the work of the church. Jesus alludes to this in John 12 –

“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.” John 12:24

Paul merely planted what Christ had originated, having gone to Corinth to tell the good news of the gospel. There he planted a church. Eventually, Apollos came into the area and continued to build up the church. He, in essence watered the seed that Paul had planted. What Paul established, Apollos tended to and cared for. The plant was being cultivated; the church was growing.

However, despite their work, and despite the work of any other who had come to assist in the process, it was “God who gave the increase.” God is the Creator of the tree with its seed. He is the Creator of the water. He is the One who continues to provide water. He is the One who sustains the life of the tree. God is the One to provide favorable conditions for growth – wind, temperature, etc. Every aspect of the tree is completely dependent on Him. And this includes having called Paul and Apollos and provided them with their abilities, the time they would live, the place they would live, etc. In the end it is all God’s doing.

And this is seen all the more clearly in the tense of the verbs Paul uses. The first two, “planted” and “watered,” are aorist indicative active verbs. They mark definite acts done at set times. However, the third verb, “gave the increase,” is imperfect indicative active. It reveals a continued activity which certainly encompasses the work of Paul and Apollos.

God is always the agency behind the worker and He is the agency behind all aspects of the growth or decline of any church which belongs to Him. However, there is also the simultaneous activity conducted by the devil to thwart the work of those in the church. This is seen in the parable of the sower in Matthew 13. As Jesus says in verse 19, “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.” Paul likewise speaks of the continued work of the devil in Ephesians 6:10-20.

Life application: To God alone be the glory for the church and all it does and continues to do.

Lord God, thank You for the church I attend and those I worship with. Thank You for having established us and for continuing to be with us. I know that any good thing which comes from it is ultimately from You. Use us then, to Your glory, and help us to be a light in our neighborhood and a continued source of fellowship, learning, and love. To You be the glory as we continue on in Your good graces. Amen.

Friday, 25 April 2014

Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 1 Corinthians 3:5

There is the thought of individual subordination by Paul all over this verse. He begins with “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos…?” The word used for “who” is ti. It is an indefinite pronoun which means “who,” “what,” “which,” or “why” based on the context. Though translated “who” by the NKJV, it is more likely “what” as many others so translate. It is a personal subordination that is intended as a deprecation of the ones being named.

He is referring again back to the first chapter of the letter where there were divisions based on individuals who carried the message of Christ. Some wanted to follow Paul, some Apollos, and some Cephas. But Paul prompts the Corinthians to think their allegiances through to their logical end. To help them along, he says that they are “but ministers.”

In this, the word “ministers” is diakonoi. It is intended to convey the idea of “servants” rather than “lords” or “masters.” Jesus uses the term in Mark 9:35 –

“And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, ‘If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.'” Mark 9:35

If Paul and Apollos (and any other person) is a servant, then they are ultimately responsible to a higher authority. In the case of a Christian, they are servants of the Lord Jesus. So how can someone rationally throw an unfounded allegiance behind the servant of the Lord? Within a military or political structure, there are many levels of responsibility, but there is ultimately a leader over all.

In the case of the United States government, there are hundreds and even thousands of levels within the government, but their authority ultimately rests in the three branches of government which derive their power from the people. And each person is under a higher authority. The choice for selecting leaders comes down to choices about what direction the nation should go and therefore, whether we logically think it through or not, moral choices are made in each election. As God is the ultimate moral Being, our political choices are actually choices for or against over-arching moral principles that we feel should go in one direction or another.

Therefore, even our political choices involve a sense of “servant hood.” We don’t always think this way, but this is what Paul is relaying to the Corinthians. And in turn, his letter is asking us to think the same way when elevating those in the ministry to positions which are actually unreasonable. And how many of us do this as we watch figures on TV or talk about the pastor that we follow in our home town!

Next Paul, when speaking of such ministers, uses the term “through whom you believed.” If you have believed the message of Christ “through” someone, then they obviously aren’t the source of the message. Rather, in the case of Paul and Apollos, they are servants of the Source for the transmission of the message. If they aren’t the Source, then what sense does it make to elevate them to an exalted status? It is Christ who saves and it is the message of Christ that they convey.

Paul finishes this thought with the fact that they are ministers of the message “as the Lord gave to each one.” It is the Lord who gave the authority; it is the Lord who is the Source of the message; and it is the Lord that the message proclaims. Nothing about Paul or Apollos is worthy of boasting or misdirected allegiance. It is the Lord in whom we boast, and it is the message of the Lord that we should hold fast to. The minister is but a servant. He has a duty to perform, he is to be recompensed for his duty (Galatians 6:6), and he can even be accorded “double honor” (1 Timothy 5:17), but he is not to be elevated in an unhealthy way.

Life application: Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.

Lord Jesus, I ask for the wisdom to remember that all pastors, elders, and ministers are merely servants who carry a message. Help me to keep from getting so caught up in the messenger that I forget where my allegiance is actually due. You are the Source of the message and You are the one who grants the ability for the message to be proclaimed. It is You in whom I will boast, only You. Amen.

Thursday, 24 April 2014

For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?1 Corinthians 3:4

This is a fuller explanation of verse 3. He noted that there was “envy, strife, and divisions among” those at Corinth and then he reminded them of what he wrote in Chapter 1, verses 10-13. They were claiming allegiance to one person over another when the two proclaimed the same message. Some liked Apollos, maybe because he had better speaking skills. Some liked Paul, maybe because he was the first to bring the message to the lost in Corinth. Whatever the reason for their divisions, Paul says it is “carnal” thinking.

By placing a person in higher esteem than another when both are conducting the same service – a proclamation of the gospel, they were actually lowering their standards to that of the messenger rather than the message. Their allegiance was no longer to Christ, but on the one who was proclaiming Christ.

Has anything different arisen in the past 2000 years? No. And it has only increased with the advent of radio, TV, and now the internet. We long for flashy orators, great concerts of music set to lights and showmanship, and comfy side rooms where lattes are served. The vast majority of people don’t come to church to worship the Lord and learn the word. Instead, they come to be allured by flash.

Life application: Let us remember what the purpose of church is. Above all, it is to worship the Creator and Redeemer of our souls. It is also intended for us to learn the word that He has given to us. And church is for fellowship and participation with others in the worship and instruction. Those things which divert our attention from these only cause a return to the carnal side of who we are.

Glorious and beautiful Creator – You who fashioned man to bear Your image. Help me to reflect Your goodness, Your majesty, and Your glory to others. When people see me, let them look past my faults and failures and see You instead. Keep me from secret faults and open rebellion. Instead, let me radiate You… only You. Amen.

Wednesday, 23 April 2014

…for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 1 Corinthians 3:3

This verse explains the comments of the preceding verse very clearly. Paul just stated, “I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able.” He notes that they “are still carnal” which indicates that though they are saved, they are immature believers who are living in the flesh more than under the influence of the Spirit. To explain what he means, he then provides three specific examples of their carnality:

1) There is envy. When someone possess something that another desires in an unhealthy way, it causes them to resent the one who possesses that thing – be it a physical attribute such as beauty, strength, hair color, etc., or be it a tangible possession, such as jewelry, clothing, etc. It can also involve positions of power, social standing, and so on. Whatever leads one to be envious of another is unhealthy and this will surely lead to strife. In the case of the church, envy can lead to a whole host of problems which includes both of the other two examples Paul mentions.

2) Strife. This involves in-fighting and contention. It is an outward demonstration of people unwilling to live in harmony with each other. Proverbs speaks about strife in great detail. One example is the cause of it –

“A perverse man sows strife, And a whisperer separates the best of friends.” Proverbs 16:28

Another proverb shows it’s effect, but also provides a remedy –

“The beginning of strife is like releasing water; Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts.” Proverbs 17:14

Studying strife in the book of proverbs is a recommended tool for churches such as those at Corinth who are still living in a carnal manner.

3) Divisions. Paul spoke in chapter 1 about some of the divisions he was aware of at Corinth. Thus, his note to them about being carnal is supported by what he has already said. Divisions, if not resolved, will naturally lead to people quitting the church, completely separating the church into smaller bodies, or a host of other sad situations. It takes care, prayer, and wisdom to overcome them.

Because of these things occurring right there in the church, it demonstrated that they weren’t living by the Spirit. And so Paul asks rhetorically, “are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?” The answer is “Yes.” Instead of living in the Spirit and relying on the wisdom of God, they were living in the flesh and failing to pursue what was right and appropriate for holy living within the body.

Life application: Are you spending your time and energy within the church as a part of the problem or a part of the solution? Paul identifies those things which are disruptive and then he explains how to properly conduct oneself. Without reading and applying his epistles to our lives, we will inevitably find ourselves being a part of the problem.

Lord Jesus… You are the Head of the church and You have given us the Bible to understand how to responsibly conduct ourselves within it. Help me Lord to apply what You have given us so that I will be a part of what is good and right, rather than a part of the problems which arise. Help me to be discerning in all matters of right faith and practice Lord. Thank You for hearing me. Amen.