1Corinthians is not a very “happy” letter. There were many problems in this church that Paul had started. Those problems are the occasion of this inspired epistle. Yet even in spite of those difficulties, Paul still opens this letter by thanking God for these believers. The ground for his thanks is the grace of God that had been given to them (1:4). They had been given so much that Paul describes them as having everything that they needed (1:5,7). Their problem was that they just weren’t using what they had wisely or well. This is a good reminder to us that we truly do have everything that we need for life and godliness, yet we must appropriate what we have in the right way and at the right time for the glory of God.
In addressing the difficulty of divisiveness, Paul makes a powerful statement in 1:17-18. First, he makes it very clear that “baptism” is not part of the gospel. This certainly should deal the “death-blow” to the false idea of baptismal regeneration! Paul specifically says that God did not send him to baptize, but to preach the gospel! He then goes on to point out the power of preaching. This too should be a corrective to the current-day lack of confidence in preaching. The preaching of the cross is the power of God! Preaching is where the power is. There is no life-changing power in emotionally-packed stories, moving dramas, etc. Life-changing power comes through the power of the preaching of the cross of Jesus Christ!
The manner of preaching is important to Paul as well as the content of the preaching. He makes this abundantly clear in the beginning of chapter 2. Apparently to Paul (and to God, seeing He inspired Paul to pen these words) there is a way to present the truth about Jesus Chris in a way that puts the focus on the messenger instead of the message. Paul strove to avoid that type of presentation. The result was that the faith of the people to whom he ministered was grounded in God and not Paul. O that we would have a return to this type of ministry where the preaching is about God and not the preacher! As a follow-up to that, Paul adds 2:14. The natural man doesn’t receive the things of the Spirit of God. If that is the case, then why do so many “preachers” attempt to make the things of the Spirit of God palatable to the unbeliever? This is an exercise in futility!
Paul again demonstrates his understanding that if anything of lasting value is to be done, then God is going to have to do it. He sees himself as a planter, others as “waterers,” and God as the One who causes growth (3:7-8). Truly life is all about God and His glory. Fruitful ministry is as well!
The next section is an often misunderstood passage of Scripture. The foundation of Jesus Christ that Paul has laid is the foundation of the church, not the individual Christian (at least in this passage of Scripture – 3:10-15). Therefore, the building of gold, silver and precious stones or wood, hay and straw is done by the ministers of the Church of Jesus Christ. We who strive to build the Church, must give diligent heed to how we do it. Paul has already identified in this letter some of the bad building materials (human wisdom) as well as the good (the preaching of the cross of Jesus). Let’s take care how we build the Church!
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