As chapter 2 revealed, mankind is divided into two categories (1Cor 2:14-16):
the 'natural' {GK=psuchikos, soulish, sensual} man -
This is the natural state of Adam's descendants. Because of sin, mankind is spiritually dead and separated from God. Our fallen minds, comfortably conformed to the wisdom of the world, cannot comprehend the Wisdom of God (His Word and ways).
he that is 'spiritual' {GK=pneumatikos, pertaining to the Spirit} -
This is the state of those who have been born-again of God's Spirit, through faith in Jesus Christ.
Because of the indwelling Holy Spirit, believers are able to discern God's Word and purposes.
Now, Paul sadly observes that this second category (born-again believers) is also divided.
1. And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, [even] as unto babes in Christ.
2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able [to bear it], neither yet now are ye able.
3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas [there is] among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I [am] of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
And I... could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal...
Paul addresses his readers as 'brethren,' because he is writing to true believers. But they were unprepared to receive God's wisdom (which can only be discerned by spiritual {GK=pneumatikos} believers), because they were carnal {GK=sarkikos, fleshly} believers. Although they had been born into the family of God, their minds were still captive to worldly ways.
...even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat...
New born babes need milk in order to grow (1Pet 2:2,3). But as they mature, they should develop the ability to digest deeper aspects of God's Wisdom (Heb 5:11-14). Regretfully, the Corinthian believers were too immature for the 'meat' of God's Word (cp. 1Cor 2:6).
But their carnality was also evident in their fleshly behavior toward one another.
...for whereas [there is] among you envying {jealousies}, and strife {contention}, and divisions {disunion}, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? (cp. 1Cor 1:11,12)
Believers who live according to a fleshly mindset, like the unbelieving world around them, are a major source of division within any local church. Too often, self-promotion and power struggles foment factions which harm the children of God and hinder the work of Christ.
For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I [am] of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
5. Who then is Paul, and who [is] Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? {eg., Paul was given grace for ministry, v.10}
6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. {eg., 1Cor 1:27,30; cp. Joh 15:5; Isa 55:10,11}
It is foolish to form factions behind various servants of God, because the servant is 'nothing' (regardless of his role), and God's work depends entirely upon His power (eg., 1Cor 2:4,5).
8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, [ye are] God's building.
Far from advancing their individual ministries, Paul and Apollos were "one" in purpose, as "laborers together with God." Both of these men were seeking to advance the spiritual growth of God's people. They were like farmers tending God's fields (v.6; Mat 13:3-9), and like carpenters building God's house (v.16; Eph 2:20-22).
Yet, each of God's servants will be individually rewarded, according to the quality of his or her service. In the remainder of this chapter, Paul emphasizes the accountability of workers employed in building God's house.
10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
11. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
...as a wise masterbuilder {GK=architekton, architect, chief builder} I have laid the foundation...
Paul is not boasting of his ability or position. His ministry as an apostle was a gift of God's grace, which was received contrary to his own unworthiness (v.10a; 1Cor 15:9-11; 1Tim 1:11-14).
Yet, he was wise, for he proclaimed the Wisdom of God, upon which the church of God is built.
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
...I have laid the foundation... another buildeth thereon...
Paul had led the Corinthian believers to faith in Christ (1Cor 4:15). But the apostle had work to do elsewhere and was not able to remain permanently in Corinth. Therefore, the work of building the local church had become the responsibility of local leaders. They had Paul's instruction and example of godly ministry. He would have warned them concerning ministerial dangers (eg., Acts 20:17-32; cp. 1Pet 4:11). How would they build?
...if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble...
This passage is often applied to the responsibily of the individual believer to build his life upon Christ, in a manner worthy of Him. Certainly, every believer will be held accountable for that. However, in context, the primary application appears directed at church leaders who are charged with building up the assembly of believers, who are founded upon Christ. How will they care for God's people? (cp. 1Pet 5:1-4)
The Foundation Stone is unshakeable. All who stand upon Him are eternally secure (Acts 4:11,12). But do the workers build upon Him with the gold of God's Word, and the silver of His Wisdom (eg., Psa 19:7-10; 119:72; Prov 8:10; 16:16)? Are they moved with love for God's people, the precious living building blocks of God's house (1Pet 2:5)?
Or, do they supply their own perishable materials borrowed from man's worldly wisdom? cp. Prov 30:6; Jer 23:28; Col 2:8,18-23
Every man's work shall be made manifest... the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
In the day of Christ's return for His own, He will judge the works of every believer. Our fleshly methods, ministries and programs cannot please Him, but will be purged away, when tested by His holy eyes (Rev 1:13-15).
At the Judgment Seat of Christ (2Cor 5:10), He will evaluate those, who are saved, concerning the way they served Him. (This judgment is not to be confused with the Great White Throne judgment, where unbelievers will suffer eternal loss, because their names are not found in the Lamb's book of Life. Rev 20:11-15)
If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
At Christ's judgment of believers, workers who have built well, using the materials He supplied, will receive a reward {GK=misthos, compensation} for their service. cp. v.8; 1Cor 4:5; Mat 25:21-23; 1The 2:19,20
If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss {GK=zemioo, injury, damage}:
but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
All true believers in Christ, are saved by grace, not through any merit of our own. We rest upon Him for salvation. But in the day that He takes us into His presence, will we regret how poorly we have served Him? cp. 1Pet 4:17,18; 2Joh 1:8
16. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which [temple] ye are.
18. Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
21. Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;
23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ [is] God's.
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
In this letter to the Corinthians, Paul refers to a temple, in which the Holy Spirit dwells, in two different places and in two different ways.
Actually, in 1Cor 6:15-20, he identifies multiple temples, which are 'the bodies' (v.15) of individual believers. As 'members of Christ,' we are in Christ's Body, the church. However, because the Holy Spirit dwells within each believer, my body (like every believer's body) is a distinct temple, which belongs to God and must be kept holy, for His glory.
Here, in ch.3 (v.16-23), Paul speaks of one Temple, which includes all believers. Note that while the word 'temple' is singular, every occurrence of 'ye' and 'yours' is plural.
In ch.3, Paul has been speaking to local church leaders, concerning their responsibility, as 'laborers together with God' on His 'building' {singular} (v.9), which is the church, the assembly of believers, whose salvation rests upon Christ, the one foundation. In v.12-15, Paul counseled the laborers to build with the materials which the Lord supplies, lest an individual worker 'suffer loss' ('but he himself shall be saved').
Now in v.16-23, he addresses workers who damage the church.
If any man defile {GK=phtheiro, ruin, cause to wither, corrupt} the temple of God, him shall God destroy {GK=phtheiro}; for the temple of God is holy, which [temple] ye are.
'Christian' leaders, who 'depart from the faith,' undermine the church's one foundation, to the ruin of their followers and themselves (eg., 1Tim 4:1-3; Jude 1:3,4). Such leaders corrupt the Word of Truth (2Pet 2:1-3) and promote, by word and example, a corrupt way of life (2Pet 2:18-22).
Let no man deceive himself. (cp. Mat 7:21-23; 2Tim 3:13; Jam 1:22,26; 1Joh 1:8) If any man among you seemeth {ie., supposes himself} to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
Religious leaders, who think God's Word is too simple and narrow, often take pride in their 'broadminded' embrace of the world's distorted concepts of justice, morality and love. They could be wise, if they would return to the beginning of wisdom. (See Psa 111:10; Prov 3:5,7; 9:10; 26:12.)
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. cp. 1Cor 1:18-19,25 For it is written (in Job 5:13), He taketh {ie., entraps} the wise in their own craftiness.
Their own 'craftiness' {ie., cunning, sophistry} is the cause of their downfall (eg., Psa 9:15,16).
And again [it is written] (in Psa 94:11), The Lord knoweth the thoughts {ie., reasonings, purposes} of the wise, that they are vain {ie. empty}.
Therefore, let no man glory {ie., boast} in men. (v.21-23)
The factions which the Corinthians had formed behind certain church leaders, were not only fleshly (v.4-7), but also foolish, for Paul has demonstrated that fallible men may follow fleshly methods, or even fall from Grace by departing from the faith. True servants of the Lord, will not promote themselves, but rather point their hearers to Christ (2Cor 4:5).
Like Paul, believers are to boast in the Lord, not in other men (Gal 6:14; 1Cor 1:31).
For all things are yours... and ye are Christ's; and Christ [is] God's.
Verse 22 cites a range of things which belong to God's children. God's true ministers (like Paul, Apollos, and Peter) serve Him by serving His people. Through faith in Christ, believers have entered into eternal life, and death has become a portal into the presence of God, who is presently accomplishing His purposes in the hearts of His children, who will soon rejoice in the fulfillment of all of God's promises. cp. Rom 8:28-39