I Corinthians 3:1-9: "Babes in Christ"
Paul has just finished telling the believers at Corinth that only those who are saved have true wisdom. Only those who are truly saved have true understanding and riches. He builds them up to show them they possess the wonderful truth that is foolish to the world. He contrasts their true wisdom with the foolish "wisdom" of the world. However, Paul is now going to specifically address the Corinthian believers and explain to them the cause of their childish division. Paul begins as he has before, by explaining to them that they are fellow brethren to show his love and care for them. Paul will often do this before he gets stern with his readers to point out sin in their life. He begins, "And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men". Not only had external, worldly foolishness affected them, but Paul wanted to show them the bigger problem came from their internal lack of maturity. Paul sternly lets them know he cannot address them as spiritual men. This may seem odd after previously explaining to them that they had the wisdom of Christ and that they were privileged in their understanding of things the world could never grasp. However, we must understand Paul's use of this word. MacArthur writes, "The New Testament uses the word spiritual in a number of ways. In a neutral sense it simply means the realm of spiritual things, in contrast to the realm of the physical. When applied to men, however, it is used of their relationship to God in one of two ways: positionally or practically. Unbelievers are totally unspiritual in both senses. They possess neither a new spirit nor the Holy Spirit. Their position is natural and their practice is natural. Believers, on the other hand, are totally spiritual in the positional sense, because they have been given a new inner being that loves God and is indwelt by His Holy Spirit. But practically, believers can also be unspiritual". Therefore, we can understand that these believers, although they had been given a new heart and the opportunity to obtain all that Christ has for them, had chosen not to go any deeper than accepting Christ. Practically, they were acting like unbelievers and Paul had to address them on the lowest possible level. He writes that he had to speak to them "as to men of flesh". The Corinthians had reverted to their old "fleshly" ways and were acting as if they had never been saved. In regards to sin, MacArthur writes, "the flesh is not eradicated when we are saved. It no longer can ultimately dominate or destroy us, but it can still greatly influence us".
Therefore, because of their actions, Paul refers to them as "babes in Christ". Paul had originally preached the gospel to them and Apollos then took over as pastor to shepherd them. However, it was as if they had just come to Christ and had never moved past that. It was as if they were still babies. It is awesome to see a baby or small child comprehend what we are telling them and for them to respond to it. Even the simplest response to show they understand it is quite rewarding. However, for an adult much more is expected. It was as if the Corinthians had had the time and opportunity to grow and learn, and were merely happy with their infantile state.
When Paul first approached them with the gospel he had to speak to them as little children for they did not understand. Paul writes, "I gave you milk to drink, not solid food". Paul knew that the Corinthians were not ready for all the deep theological truths of the Christian faith, so he had to break it down for them in its simplest form so they could digest it, because they "were not yet able to receive it". However, as time goes on and a very capable Apollos is leading them to grow, they have not grown up. They are stuck in their infantile understanding of the truth and are acting accordingly. Paul voices his disappoint to them because of their lack of growth, "Indeed, even now you are not yet able, for you are still fleshly". MacArthur writes, "Like many Christians today, the Corinthians seemed quite content to stay on milk. Some congregations do not want the pastor to get 'too deep'. Their fleshly habits are not much threatened if, for instance, the preacher sticks primarily to evangelistic messages". Paul points out the root of their problem and it is that they are "still fleshly". They have not distanced themselves from their former lives and allowed too much of their fallenness to remain attached to them.
To prove this, Paul brings up specific examples of their behavior, "For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?" One of Paul's main purposes for writing this letter was to address their fleshly living. Greatest among these was jealousy and strife. Nothing better exemplifies jealousy than a baby. The second a baby does not have what it wants it lets everybody know it needs it. To watch a young child play with another is a perfect example of watching jealousy as they always want what they do not have. As soon as a child gets a toy, they quickly move on to the next thing they don't have. However, as a young child grows up and learns it can't always have it's way and that you will never have all that you want, you hope that it grows out of this. In the same way Paul was hoping that as the people at Corinth gave their hearts to Christ, they would give up their old fleshly desires, and encourage one another in the Lord. Since this was not the case, Paul sternly writes them this letter. MacArthur explains, "Jealousy is a severe form of selfishness, begrudging someone else what we wish were ours. And selfishness is one of the most obvious characteristics of babyhood. An infant's life is almost totally self-centered and selfish. Its whole concern is with its own comfort, hunger, attention, sleep".
Not only were they full of jealousy, but they were full of strife, causing dissension in the church. For example, Paul writes, "For when one says, 'I am of Paul,' and another, 'I am of Apollos,' are you not mere men?" Paul, wanting to prove his point and bring up specific sin going on in the church he again brings up what he had heard was going on in the church. MacArthur writes, "When a congregation develops loyalties around individuals, it is a sure symptom of spiritual immaturity and trouble. It was sinful for factions to develop around Paul and Apollos, and it is sinful for divisive factions to develop around any leader in the church today. Are you not walking like mere men? is another way of saying, 'You are thinking and behaving in a fleshly way".
Paul will now take the problem that is going on and redirect them in the right direction. That is, to all glory to God whom it is due. Paul writes, "What then is Apollos? And what is Paul?". Paul wants them to see the foolishness and child-like behavior they are partaking in. Paul wants them to see himself and Apollos for who they really are so that they can see their praise and honor were misplaced. Paul explains that he and Apollos are merely "servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one". Paul wants them to see just as foolish as it would be for someone to follow after a slave or servant, or peasant, so it is that they would lift himself and Apollos up above God. Paul and Apollos were the servants of God, used as instruments to bring the Corinthians to Christ. However, the Corinthians got hung up on mere men and did not look past them to see the one who deserves all the glory: God. Paul, earlier in the epistle reminded the Corinthians that he had neither died for them nor had they been baptized in his name.
To remind his readers where salvation had come from, Paul explains the process, "I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth". Although it is necessary that a seed be planted and water be applied to the seed. No growth can occur unless God gives the plant life and growth. Paul again wants to make sure they understand where there dependency and worship should lie. It belongs with God- the one who caused salvation to occur in each one of them. The one who had actually died on the cross and saved them from their sins. Paul continues, "so neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth". Here Paul clearly states his point. Neither himself nor Apollos did anything praise worthy. All praise should go to God. If the Corinthians could get past their infantile understanding of their faith, and recognize that it is in God and God alone that they have received salvation, they would not fight and argue over who planted or watered them.
To continue to fight against the disunity going on, Paul finishes up his agricultural metaphor. He writes, "Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building". MacArthur explains,"All of God's workers are one in Him, and to Him all glory should go. Recognition of our oneness in the Lord is the sure and only remedy for divisiveness. It leaves no place for the flesh and its jealousy, strife and division. God does not fail to recognize the faithful work of His servants. Each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. God will 'give their reward to [His] bond-servants the prophets and to the saints and to those who fear [His] name, the small and the great' (Rev. 11:18)". Paul is addressing their possible desire to hold themselves greater than others, or the one who brought them to Christ over the other. Paul wants them to understand that they are all working together for the same thing, and that is labor for our master: God.
Therefore, because of their actions, Paul refers to them as "babes in Christ". Paul had originally preached the gospel to them and Apollos then took over as pastor to shepherd them. However, it was as if they had just come to Christ and had never moved past that. It was as if they were still babies. It is awesome to see a baby or small child comprehend what we are telling them and for them to respond to it. Even the simplest response to show they understand it is quite rewarding. However, for an adult much more is expected. It was as if the Corinthians had had the time and opportunity to grow and learn, and were merely happy with their infantile state.
When Paul first approached them with the gospel he had to speak to them as little children for they did not understand. Paul writes, "I gave you milk to drink, not solid food". Paul knew that the Corinthians were not ready for all the deep theological truths of the Christian faith, so he had to break it down for them in its simplest form so they could digest it, because they "were not yet able to receive it". However, as time goes on and a very capable Apollos is leading them to grow, they have not grown up. They are stuck in their infantile understanding of the truth and are acting accordingly. Paul voices his disappoint to them because of their lack of growth, "Indeed, even now you are not yet able, for you are still fleshly". MacArthur writes, "Like many Christians today, the Corinthians seemed quite content to stay on milk. Some congregations do not want the pastor to get 'too deep'. Their fleshly habits are not much threatened if, for instance, the preacher sticks primarily to evangelistic messages". Paul points out the root of their problem and it is that they are "still fleshly". They have not distanced themselves from their former lives and allowed too much of their fallenness to remain attached to them.
To prove this, Paul brings up specific examples of their behavior, "For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?" One of Paul's main purposes for writing this letter was to address their fleshly living. Greatest among these was jealousy and strife. Nothing better exemplifies jealousy than a baby. The second a baby does not have what it wants it lets everybody know it needs it. To watch a young child play with another is a perfect example of watching jealousy as they always want what they do not have. As soon as a child gets a toy, they quickly move on to the next thing they don't have. However, as a young child grows up and learns it can't always have it's way and that you will never have all that you want, you hope that it grows out of this. In the same way Paul was hoping that as the people at Corinth gave their hearts to Christ, they would give up their old fleshly desires, and encourage one another in the Lord. Since this was not the case, Paul sternly writes them this letter. MacArthur explains, "Jealousy is a severe form of selfishness, begrudging someone else what we wish were ours. And selfishness is one of the most obvious characteristics of babyhood. An infant's life is almost totally self-centered and selfish. Its whole concern is with its own comfort, hunger, attention, sleep".
Not only were they full of jealousy, but they were full of strife, causing dissension in the church. For example, Paul writes, "For when one says, 'I am of Paul,' and another, 'I am of Apollos,' are you not mere men?" Paul, wanting to prove his point and bring up specific sin going on in the church he again brings up what he had heard was going on in the church. MacArthur writes, "When a congregation develops loyalties around individuals, it is a sure symptom of spiritual immaturity and trouble. It was sinful for factions to develop around Paul and Apollos, and it is sinful for divisive factions to develop around any leader in the church today. Are you not walking like mere men? is another way of saying, 'You are thinking and behaving in a fleshly way".
Paul will now take the problem that is going on and redirect them in the right direction. That is, to all glory to God whom it is due. Paul writes, "What then is Apollos? And what is Paul?". Paul wants them to see the foolishness and child-like behavior they are partaking in. Paul wants them to see himself and Apollos for who they really are so that they can see their praise and honor were misplaced. Paul explains that he and Apollos are merely "servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one". Paul wants them to see just as foolish as it would be for someone to follow after a slave or servant, or peasant, so it is that they would lift himself and Apollos up above God. Paul and Apollos were the servants of God, used as instruments to bring the Corinthians to Christ. However, the Corinthians got hung up on mere men and did not look past them to see the one who deserves all the glory: God. Paul, earlier in the epistle reminded the Corinthians that he had neither died for them nor had they been baptized in his name.
To remind his readers where salvation had come from, Paul explains the process, "I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth". Although it is necessary that a seed be planted and water be applied to the seed. No growth can occur unless God gives the plant life and growth. Paul again wants to make sure they understand where there dependency and worship should lie. It belongs with God- the one who caused salvation to occur in each one of them. The one who had actually died on the cross and saved them from their sins. Paul continues, "so neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth". Here Paul clearly states his point. Neither himself nor Apollos did anything praise worthy. All praise should go to God. If the Corinthians could get past their infantile understanding of their faith, and recognize that it is in God and God alone that they have received salvation, they would not fight and argue over who planted or watered them.
To continue to fight against the disunity going on, Paul finishes up his agricultural metaphor. He writes, "Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building". MacArthur explains,"All of God's workers are one in Him, and to Him all glory should go. Recognition of our oneness in the Lord is the sure and only remedy for divisiveness. It leaves no place for the flesh and its jealousy, strife and division. God does not fail to recognize the faithful work of His servants. Each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. God will 'give their reward to [His] bond-servants the prophets and to the saints and to those who fear [His] name, the small and the great' (Rev. 11:18)". Paul is addressing their possible desire to hold themselves greater than others, or the one who brought them to Christ over the other. Paul wants them to understand that they are all working together for the same thing, and that is labor for our master: God.
posted by amesfam | 3:44 PM
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