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1 CORINTHIANS 3
1Co_3:1,2 Paul showeth that he could not instruct the
Corinthians in the higher doctrines of Christianity
because of their carnal mind,
1Co_3:3,4 which temper discovered itself in their factions.
1Co_3:5-9 The most eminent preachers of the gospel are but
instruments employed by God in building his church.
1Co_3:10-15 Paul hath laid the only true foundation, Christ Jesus;
and others must take heed what they build thereon.
1Co_3:16,17 Christians are God’s temple, not to be defiled.
1Co_3:18-20 Worldly wisdom is foolishness with God.
1Co_3:21-23 They that are Christ’s must not glory in men.
The apostle plainly returneth in this chapter to reprove them for their divisions and factions, for which he had begun to reprove them, 1Co_1:11; and (as some think) here he anticipateth an objection, which they might have made against him, against his reproving and judging of them, whereas he that is spiritual (as he had now said) is judged of no man.
I, ( saith he), brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, that is, as to Christians who had made any great proficiency in the ways of God, and had arrived to any just degrees of spiritual perfection;
but as unto carnal, that is, persons who, though you axe not under the full conduct and government of your flesh and sensitive appetite, yet are far from being perfect, either in faith or holiness.
In Christ, but not as grown men, but as babes, as the apostle fully explaineth this term, Heb_5:12,13, such as had need be taught again which are the first principles of the oracles of God; and have need of milk, and not of strong meat: for every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness; for he is a babe.