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  • 1 Corinthians 3 Meat for Ministers

    1 Corinthians 3 Meat for Ministers

    and Milk for New Babes

    In his letter to the Corinthians the Apostle typically begins with encouragement.

    I always thank my God for you because of the grace of God given to you in Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in him in every way, in all speech and all knowledge.

    Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians 1:4-5 CSB

    And Paul will, as is his custom, close this epistle written in Greek with the same personalness of the Lord Jesus.

    The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with all of you in Christ Jesus.

    I Corinthians 16:23-24 CSB

    However HERE in the meat of his message Paul addresses the Corinthian church most pointedly, especially its ministers and leaders.

    AND the Apostle also will close with a CURSE of those who would divide Christ by their own means.

    blessing of curse you can choose

    If anyone does not love the Lord [does not obey and respect and believe in Jesus Christ and His message], he is to be accursed. Maranatha (O our Lord, come)!

    1 Corinthians 16:22 AMP

    1 Corinthians 3:

    Lest we take a more common casual contemporary approach let us begin with the King James Version.

    And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

    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.

    1 Corinthians 3:1-2 KJV

    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 NKJV
    There it is: the Apostle's initial summary of the problem reported to him of the Corinthian church. 

    NOTE a few of the HEADINGS various Bibles use for their serious doctrinal issues:
    • The Church and Its Leaders
    • Divisions in the Church
    • Sectarianism Is Carnal
    • Jesus Christ, Our Foundation
    • But I cannot yet call you spiritual

    Are you Spiritual? OR Carnal?

    Christian, (brother, as Paul addresses the Corinthian readers, who would also read the Apostle’s letter to the whole church, including women) — Dear MINISTER to your Corinthian community — HAVE YOU RECEIVED CHRIST?

    or DO you just lift up the preaching of one minister over the teaching of another?

    For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?

    HEAR in your heart Paul's CONTRAST of those gathered together as the Corinthian church.

    πνευματικός – pneumatikos

    Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit

    1 Corinthians 3:1a NIV

    AND the Apostle has already brought our consequent condition IN CHRIST to the forefront.

    ANNOUNCEMENT of the Testimony of GOD
    1 Corinthians 2

    These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual…

    But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.

    1 Corinthians 2:15 NKJV
    Judge ALL things, 
     yet judge NO ONE.

    Are you and your church doing any better than the Corinthians?

    Fleshy Carnal ‘christians‘

    Paul points to those unbelievers from the world who join us to worship God.

    WE ought to influence those who are BABES in their FLESH and FAITH without including their carnality so as to be like them.

    CARNAL iS NOT a nice enough word to describe someone sitting next to you on Sunday in your evangelical 21st century C.E. ‘church‘ is it?

    Never-the-less, WE all know what WE are by NATURE 
    and what we were before confessing Christ.

    Some translations of the BIBLE describe our carnal ‘worldliness‘ as IN THE FLESH.

    The KJV translates Strong’s G4559 in the following manner: carnal (9x), fleshly (2x).

    • having the nature of flesh, i.e. under the control of the animal appetites
      • governed by mere human nature not by the Spirit of God
      • having its seat in the animal nature or aroused by the animal nature
      • human: with the included idea of depravity

    The Humanist by embracing ALL humanity denies our demonstrable depravity as godless creatures of desire.

    Roger@TalkofJesus.com

    PAUL had nurtured the Corinthians with SPIRITUAL MILK as babes at the breast. The Corinthians, a NEW church of Hellenists, naturally admired oratory and great emotional appeals. Christ through Paul adopted these children (though they were adults) drawn even as Greeks to this JESUS of the JEWS.

    Powerful Preaching to powerless Christians
    Luke describes Apollos’ preaching as eloquent

    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; for you are still carnal.

    1 Corinthians 3:2-3a NKJV
    IS IT STILL THE MILK YOU REQUIRE, BELOVED EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN OF THIS COMMON ERA TIME AND PLACE?

    What makes US Carnal?

    Paul tells the Corinthian believers what to judge — how to identify in others MINISTERS claiming Christ.

    • ζῆλος – zēlos – ENVYING
    • ἔρις – eris – STRIFE
    • διχοστασία – dichostasia – DIVISIONS among you

    After sending a second letter to the Corinthians next year, Paul will write to the Romans in A.D. 57:

    Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.

    Romans 16:17 NKJV
    In essence, give them back to the world and the enemy of Christ.

    Mere Men, Mere Ministers

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

    The rhetorical QUESTION of personal accountability in Greek reads:

    οὐκ ἄνθρωποί ἐστε

    (I imagine that you will recognize the word.)
    more literally:

    eimi [are you] ou [not] anthrōpos

    • LSB v.3 for you are still fleshly [sarkikos]
    • .. are you not fleshly [sarkikos]
    • are you not walking like mere men? [anthrōpos]?
    • are you not carnal [sarkikos] and behaving like mere men [anthrōpos]?
    • v.4 .. ARE YOU NOT anthrōpos?

    The Apostle goes on to point out through his apologia that PERSONALITIES do not matter OR who it was that BAPTIZED you (where you publically confessed to ALL that JESUS CHRIST is LORD!)

    Ministers of Christ

    5 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 NKJV

    The Apostle had pointed to their divisions by minister and he will mention Peter [Cephas] even more in his rebuke of their schisms.

    • Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I of Apollos,” and “I of Cephas,” and “I of Christ.” – 1 Cor. 1:12
    • whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, – 1 Corinthians 3:22 LSB

    Paul uses imagery of sowing [planting a new church in various places] and watering [the very symbol of baptism, cleansing and in a sense the milk of pure nourishment required for growth].

    I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.

    So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.

    8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one..

    one? (as opposed to divided?)

    What does the Apostle mean by this?

    Paul will later emphasize the ONENESS of spirit in ministers of the church writing later in this letter:

    But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

    For even as the body is one G1520  and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one G1520 body, so also is Christ.

    1 Corinthians 6:17; 12:12 LSB

    3:8b ..and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

    9a For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field..

    the Reward of your Labor

    The Apostle now changes the metaphor and picture of faith for the Corinthian church to visualize in his Epistle.

    For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building. - 1 Cor. 3:9 NLT

    ..and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

    θεοῦ γάρ ἐσμεν συνεργοί θεοῦ γεώργιον θεοῦ οἰκοδομή ἐστε

    1 Cor. 3:9 TEXTUS RECEPTUS 
    For those of us who do not understand Paul's eloquent GREEK text, rather than leaning on a single ENGLISH translation let's observe some of what we know from Paul's Greek words in this verse.

    For we are laborers together

    synergos – συνεργός

    • Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers G4904 in Christ Jesus – Romans 16:3
    • Timotheus my workfellow, G4904 – Romans 16:23a

    with God [THEOS], you are God’s

    geōrgion – γεώργιον

    I didn't know this one. a (presumed) derivative of γεωργός (G1092) husbandman

    husbandry – a cultivated field, husbandry (as in the animal husbandry of tending sheep), tillage (tilling soil for planting and growth)

    It is the WORK -early work – BEFORE the harvest.

    You are God’s farming, translates the HNV and in most English translations: you are God’s field.

    SO Paul has been preaching that it does not matter to YOU THE SOIL in Corinth (or in your home church) the names of the MINISTERS who labored in you.

    EACH will have their separate reward.

    The Apostle then builds on this:

    You are God’s [Theos]

    oikodomē – οἰκοδομή

    metaph. edifying, edification

    the act of one who promotes another’s growth in Christian wisdom, piety, happiness, holiness

    ..and each shall receive his wages according to his labor. 1 Cor. 3:8b RSV

    What wage have you earned for edifying other Christians?

    (Paul will speak more to this later.)

    NEXT: Christ’s Contractor

    According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation..

    1 Corinthians 3:10a NKJV – Paulos klētos apostolos iēsous christos

    Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel

  • Doctrines of the Common Era

    Doctrines of the Common Era

    2025 Common Era christians only

    Are christian pulpits erasing Christ’s line in the shifting sands of Biblical DOCTRINE?

    Is our Church proclaiming JESUS Christ in these last days?

    SATURDAY Series – Biblical Jargon for Common Era Christians

    JAN & FEB 2025 CE

    FOR the first two months of 2025 C.E. we examined true teachings of the Bible to understanding a few COMMON christian terms.

    Take ANY commonly used christian jargon such as: gospel, grace, saved, redeemed, soul, flesh, sanctified, justified, forgiven, hell, heaven, lord, king, priest, prophet.. and MANY MORE..

    2024 C.E.

    Here’s a QUESTION for fellow believers about our terms of teaching, preaching and our personal fruit of the faith:

    Christian Doctrine —What’s the Point?

    WHAT teachings did YOUR ‘christian‘ church preach in 2024 of the Common Era?

    How has DOCTRINE from Scripture evolved in two millennia of Church teaching into a blurred line in the sand erasing Biblical Truth?

    Which doctrines will fit into a Common Era culture that no longer lives in Truth or desires a relational church?

    Is YOUR Gospel simply GOOD NEWS for a COMMON ERA AUDIENCE to APPLAUD?

    IS corporate worship of JESUS Christ as God our Savior, the One Redeemer from SIN INCLUDED in YOUR Common Era evangelism?

    As a Christian follower of the Lord JESUS Christ, Roger invites you to examine our evolving COMMON ERA culture in ‘christian‘ worship and practice.

    Roger@TalkofJesus.com
    • Does worship by your church resist the temptation to ERASE Christ’s DOCTRINES commanded by Scripture?

    Compare and apply the teaching and preaching of

    • The Life of the Common Era church 
      • to Scripture

    God-willing, we will continue our focus on preaching in 2025 C.E. by defining, applying and comparing the TEACHING of the church with the Word of the BIBLE.

    Find the Way, the Truth and the Life in our Everlasting Savior the Lord Jesus Christ.

    For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. –

     Hebrews 5:12

    2025 CE Doctrine

    SATURDAY POST SERIES – Biblical Jargon

    January & February

    Biblical Jargon for Common Christians

    Category: Doctrines CE

    Comment on Scripture (you who believe).

    MORE looks back at DOCTRINE 

    Although we began this category in 2023 C.E. as an updated look at DOCTRINE, in our travels with the Apostle Paul in ACTS and re-reading some of his LETTERS to the churches I have once again begun ASKING US the QUESTIONS of our Biblical Christian Doctrine and hope to hear your answers about these foundational beliefs. - RH

    Proclaim the scriptural doctrines of the Gospel.

    Followers of Christ must always expect an attack against Scripture. Church doctrine is a line in the sand. - How will a leader or council of leaders choose what the Church will teach?
    About Roger – TalkofJESUS.com Doctrine & teaching
    Do you REALLY believe? Is DOCTRINE of the Bible a line in the sand for you? OR has DOCTRINE of the COMMON ERA become a blurred line in the sand of 21st century CE?
    2024 of the COMMON ERA DOCTRINE

    Please comment on any DOCTRINES C.E. post listed chronologically below:

    DOCTRINE DEFINED
    GOD
    SCRIPTURE
    THE DOCTRINE [teaching] of JESUS CHRIST [3-post SERIES].

    (Perhaps the most controversial of all BIBLICAL revelation of GOD.)

    JESUS
    JESUS – 2
    JESUS – 3

    Don’t miss our look at the Trinity

    Holy Spirit
    Trinity

    Talk of JESUS . com

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  • NO Divisions in our Church ?

    NO Divisions in our Church ?

    I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other.

    Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.

    1 Corinthians 1:10 New Living Translation

    ‘IMPOSSIBLE !’ you say. Impossible in Corinth.. and certainly impossible in our local Common Era Church.

    This is the challenge of the Apostle in his exhortation for the Corinthians who Paul has addressed so graciously in his introduction.

    1 Corinthians 1 – 4

    The Apostle’s approach, translated variously in 1 Corinthians 1:10 sets both the tone and outline of his epistle:

    • Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.. – KJV
    • Now I plead with you.. – NKJV
    • I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ.. – NLT
    • Now I urge you, brothers and sisters.. – CSB
    • Now I exhort you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you.. – 1 Cor 10a LSB

    παρακαλέω – parakaleō – Lexicon :: Strong’s G3870 – parakaleō

    to call near, i.e. invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation):—beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort(-ation), intreat, pray.

    How to sustain a CHURCH in the Gospel

    Paul loves these people of the Corinthian church to whom the apostle writes from Ephesus.

    He is beholden to this church he started across the Aegean in a city embracing every imaginable sin – Corinth, where many Greeks and some Jews received the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ by the Spirit through his witness.

    SO HOW IS PAUL TO APPROACH THESE CORINTHIANS SIMPLY BY SENDING A LETTER TO THEIR CHURCH?

    Corinth is a large administrative capital where important policies of ROME must be managed wisely every day.

    Even well-educated Roman Centurions and well-to-do families recognized the benefits of applying a Greek-style wisdom and logic to the goals of their everyday lives.

    The Jews and their religious traditions have an acceptable presence in Corinth as well.

    ANSWER:
    "The Wisdom of the Cross Purifies and Unites Believers, the Wisdom of the World Pollutes and Divides." 
    - Kress Biblical Resources Overview Outline of 
    1 Corinthians

    The Wisdom of the Cross

    TODAY we will examine Paul's initial approach ONLY from the beginning of 1 Corinthians.

    The Apostle will address more relationships of Christians and the CROSS later in his epistle, but Paul begins with the ROLES of certain people (ministers).

    The wisdom of the cross and Christian ministers

    Problem #1

    For I have been informed concerning you, my brothers, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you.

    1 Corinthians 1:11 LSB

    Rumor?

    Hearsay?

    YOU heard THAT about OUR church?

    A.D. 55 – the Corinthian Church

    What is evident here is that the Apostle has been and is in communication with this church he started back in Corinth. His sources are both reliable and concerned for the right outcomes of their church ministry.

    Kress Biblical Resources provides a helpful outline of Paul's approach to this problem of CHURCH QUARRELS.

    The Apostles first states
    • the report of divisions over Christian ministers, THEN
    • rebukes their divisions over Christian ministers, and finally
    • Paul provides the remedy for divisions over Christian ministers 
    ἔρις quarrels

    BEWARE, Christian leader (minister), these divisions could divide and conquer a church once faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ.

    ἔρις éris, er'-is; of uncertain affinity; a quarrel, i.e. (by implication) wrangling:—contention, debate, strife, variance.
    Note the gravity of some headings from 1 Corinthians:
    • Sectarianism Is Sin – NKJV
    • Divisions in the Church – ESV
    • Taking Sides – Contemporary English Version
    • A Church Divided Over Leaders – NIV
    A.D. 49 – Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians

    Paul, in writing to the Galatians six years ago back in A.D. 49 included the same Greek word, translated as ‘strife,’ in a list of what NOT to do.

    Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

    Paul’s Letter to the Galatians 5:19-21 LSB

    Whether is was the ‘foolish‘ Galatians, these Corinthians or YOUR CHURCH, quarreling and strife are serious challenges of the flesh which work against ministers of the Gospel.

    Paul contrasts OUR expected behavior to such foolish quarrels.

    Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

    Galatians 5:24 LSB

    1 Corinthians 1:10-

    Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 1:12 NKJV

    https://talkofjesus.com/apollos-and-paul-apostles-crossing-paths

    Note Paul’s list from divisions include Christ in addition to Peter and Apollos, the powerful preacher who had followed Paul in Corinth.

    The Apostle then asks:

    • Has Christ been divided?
    • Was Paul crucified for you?
    • Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

    ALL with the same implication for Peter or Apollos or whatever PREACHER they might follow in the place of CHRIST.

    Paul disavows any loyalty to any other than Christ, taking no side of any Corinthian (or any other) claimant of the Lord Jesus Christ.

    Paul’s summary of the Corinthian Report

    I thank God that I baptized none of you…

    Paul mentions a recalled exception [v.14] of Crispus, Gaius, and [v.16] also the household of Stephanas which mentions later in his epistle.

    For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom or words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

    gar christos apostellō me ou baptizō alla euangelizō ou en sophia logo ina mē ho stauros christos kenoō

    1 Corinthians 1:17  οὐ γὰρ ἀπέστειλέν με Χριστὸς βαπτίζειν ἀλλ᾽ εὐαγγελίζεσθαι οὐκ ἐν σοφίᾳ λόγου ἵνα μὴ κενωθῇ ὁ σταυρὸς τοῦ Χριστοῦ

    Again, the context of Corinth is Greek as an international language and philosophy of an authoritarian ROMAN EMPIRE which created the culture of the Corinthians and Judeans and everybody else.

    NEXT, God-willing, the Apostle’s rebuke of ministers

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