1 Corinthians 3:15-17

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 3:15

Verse 15 15.If any man’s work shall be burned. It is as though he had said: Let no man flatter himself on the ground that, in the opinion of men, he is reckoned among the most eminent master-builders, for as soon as the day breaks in, his whole work must go utterly to nothing, if it is not approved of by the Lord. This, then, is the rule to which every one’s ministry requires to be conformed. Some explain this of doctrine, so that ζημιουσθαι (181) means simply to perish, and then what... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 3:16

Verse 16 16.Know ye not, etc. Having admonished the teachers as to their duty, he now addresses himself to the pupils — that they, too, may take heed to themselves. To the teachers he had said, “You are the master-builders of the house of God.” He now says to the people, “You are the temples of God. It is your part, therefore, to take care that you be not, in any way defiled.” Now, the design (190) is, that they may not prostitute themselves to the service of men. He confers upon them... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 3:17

Verse 17 17.If any man corrupts the temple of God. He subjoins a dreadful threatening — that, as the temple of God ought to be inviolably sacred, that man, whoever he may be, that corrupts it, will not pass with impunity. The kind of profanation of which he now speaks, is, when men intrude themselves, so as to bear rule in the Church in the place of God. For as that faith, which is devoted to the pure doctrine of Christ, is called elsewhere spiritual chastity, (2 Corinthians 11:2,) so it also... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 3:5-15

The one foundation and the diverse superstructure. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 3:10-15

The true foundation of character. "According to the grace of God," etc. The words suggest certain important thoughts concerning character. I. That there is an ANALOGY BETWEEN THE FORMATION OF CHARACTER AND THE ERECTION OF A BUILDING . "If any man build," etc. It is like a building in three respects. 1. In the variety of its materials. Buildings are generally formed of a variety of materials—stone, wood, iron, etc. Moral character is built up by a variety of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 3:10-15

Christian work and its testing. I. CHRISTIAN WORK : 1. Should be rightly based. Christ is the only Foundation for the spiritual building. This Foundation may have been already laid for us by others where we are called to labour: if so, we must see that we are building upon it; if it be not laid, by "the grace of God" ( 1 Corinthians 3:10 ) we must seek to lay it without delay. All our teaching must rest upon Christ. He is not only the Omega to be ended with, but the Alpha to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 3:10-15

The Foundation and the superstructure. Under the figure of a building, the apostle continues to speak of the work of Christ's ministers, and specially of his own labours at Corinth. As the first to preach the gospel there, he had laid the foundation, upon which the teachers that succeeded him were to build. The reference is primarily to doctrine, but the principles apply to work and life as well. I. THE FOUNDATION . This is Jesus Christ the Mediator ( Isaiah 28:16 ; 1 Peter 2:6 ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 3:11-15

Workmen and their works. St. Paul affirms that he had laid just such a foundation in Corinth as became a wise master builder. Like a good architect, he had made sure of a solid basis, but had the edifice in process of erection been true to the cornerstone? There was but one Foundation—Jesus Christ—and a man might build rightly or wrongly on it in the materials used. The range of substances which might be employed in the superstructure was large. Large it must needs be, for, it' the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 3:13-15

Final testings of our life work. In treating this passage it should be noted that the first and chief reference of it is to Christian teachers and their work, and that it can only in a second sense be applied to the ordinary Christian, and the kind of influence for good which he strives to exert. Still, a great principle is enunciated in St. Paul's counsel to the teachers, and we may give that principle a wide and general application. The apostle is, in this part of the Epistle, dealing... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 3:13-23

The cure for the party spirit. Having still in mind the difficulty occasioned by those who claimed to be superior teachers; and gathered parties round them, the apostle proceeds to show that merely human wisdom is in itself worthless for spiritual purposes, and, therefore, that the possession of it alone is no reason for the exaltation of the teacher who is endowed with it." A man over confident in his superior knowledge is always a dangerous man. The most learned are always the most... read more

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