1 Cor. 3:1–3 Flesh can mean different things in Scripture. In Paul’s letters it often refers to unredeemed human nature, along with its desires and typical behaviors.
1 Cor. 3:2 not ready. Paul thinks it is dangerous to give advanced teaching to spiritually immature Christians.
1 Cor. 3:8 wages according to his labor. See note on vv. 14–15.
1 Cor. 3:12 Gold, silver, precious stones symbolize what will survive the final judgment, unlike wood, hay, and straw. Work that Christians do in Christlike faith and obedience (vv. 10–11) will survive and be rewarded. Work done in the “flesh” (v. 1) or in disobedience to Scripture (4:6) will not.
1 Cor. 3:14–15 reward. . . . loss . . . saved . . . as through fire. See also v. 8 and 4:4–5. Believers in Jesus have already been justified by faith (Rom. 5:1). They will not be condemned on judgment day (John 5:24; Rom. 8:1), but God will still judge their works (Rom. 14:10–12; 2 Cor. 5:10) and reward them accordingly (Matt. 6:1–6; 16; 18; 10:41–42).
1 Cor. 3:16 On the temple and God’s dwelling, see 1 Kings 6:1–38.
1 Cor. 3:21–23 let no one boast in men. Arrogance causes division in Corinth (4:6, 18). The Corinthians need to learn that they belong to God, not to the leaders who baptized them (1:13–17).
1 Cor. 3:21 All things are yours means that they are given by God to benefit his people.
The ESV Global Study Bible
Copyright © 2012 by Crossway.
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Used by permission.
The Blue Letter Bible ministry and the BLB Institute hold to the historical, conservative Christian faith, which includes a firm belief in the inerrancy of Scripture. Since the text and audio content provided by BLB represent a range of evangelical traditions, all of the ideas and principles conveyed in the resource materials are not necessarily affirmed, in total, by this ministry.
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