1 Corinthians 3

Though nothing can add to God's essential glory, yet praise exalts him in the eyes of others: when we praise God we spread his fame and renown, we display the trophies of his excellence: in this manner the angels glorify God, they are the choristers of heaven, and do trumpet for…

My glory, (that is, my tongue which is the instrument of glorifying you.) The saints are temples of the Holy Ghost (1 Corinthians 3:16). Where should God's praises be sounded but in his temples?

19. If God be our Father it is comfort: 1. In case of loss of relations: Have you lost a father, yet if you are a believer you are no orphan, you have a heavenly Father, a Father that never dies, (1 Timothy 6:16) Who only has immortality. 2. It is comfort in case of death: God i…

Let them fear death, who do not fear sin: but let not God's children be overmuch troubled at the grim face of that messenger which brings them to the end of their sorrow, and the beginning of their joy. Death is yours (1 Corinthians 3:22), it is part of a believer's inventory. I…

Christ says; If a man will ever come in the Kingdom of heaven, he must be born again, John 3:3. Saint Paul says; If any man among you seem to be wise, let him be a fool that he may be wise: 1 Corinthians 3:18. Christ says, If any man will be my Disciple, he must deny himself and…

We prove it thus; First, from plain Scripture, 1 Corinthians 3:24. He that knew no sin, was made sin for us; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Our bread] First Question. How is bread ours? Answer. Paul shows how (1 Corinthians 3:22): You are Christ's, and all things are yours: So then by means of Christ, bread is called our. For God having given Christ to us, does in him and by him give all things else to us.

Just thus it is in fitting the soul for that glory: and again, that glory in heaven for that soul: God works the one for the other apart. The very similitude in the former verses does import so much; he styles glory in heaven a being clothed upon, and holiness here he compares t…

1. He is the text, to say so, of preaching; all preaching is to explain Him (Acts 10:43), To him give all the Prophets witness, and so do the four Gospels, and the Apostolic Epistles, which are as so many preachings of Him; and that preaching which stands not in relation to Him,…

Should a man remove the roof of your house, cut down the timber of it, and pick out all the fair stones in the wall, and say, Friend, I wrong not your house, see, the foundation stones are safe, and the four corner stones are sure, in the meantime, the house can fence off neithe…

Answ. 1. We are to make believers know if they believe not, and walk not worthy of Christ, in all holy duties; their faith is a fancy, and a dead faith, and the wrath of God abides on them, and they are not believers. 2. Though they be believers, wrath must be preached to them,…

3. Being drawn to Christ makes all yours; when you are hungry, all the bread of the earth is your Father's: when you are in a ship, you are in Christ's Father's waters; when you travel in summer, you see your Redeemer's fields, your Savior's woods, trees, flowers, grains, cattle…

(2.) Often in the fullest sense, not regenerated, nor wholly reprobated, are called men (Job 11:11, 12; Psalm 12:1; and 4:2; and 53:2). (3) Believers are called men (Acts 1:11; 1 Corinthians 3:21, 22). In regard of passions (Acts 14:15).

And in the fourth place, for cleansing ourselves from all superfluous and noisome lusts that we do not, neither can we be freed from them: O Jerusalem, wash your heart from your wickedness, how long shall your vain thoughts lodge within you? (Jeremiah 4:14). Purge out all those…

And truly in this case this shall you often find to be true: you come full of hopeful expectation to the congregation, but return very empty home, or full of bitterness in your souls, and all was because you trusted in lying words — in words that could not profit. You trusted in…

Secondly, we must consider whether the church errs in the foundation or no. If the error or errors be beside the foundation of religion, Paul has given the sentence that they which build upon the foundation hay and stubble of erroneous opinion, may be saved (1 Corinthians 3:15).…

Of it three cautions are to be observed. The first, that grace or power to regenerate, is not included in the word preached, as virtue to heal, in a medicine: Paul says, He that plants, and he that waters is not anything (1 Corinthians 3:7). To regenerate, is the proper work of…

For if you be the child of God, you can have no great loss. For all things are yours, you Christ's, and Christ God's (1 Corinthians 3:22). Lastly, this meditation must stir up in us, a care to lead a heavenly and spiritual life (1 John 3:3), that we may be like our eldest brothe…

To the pure, all things are pure (Romans 14:14). And the reason is, because the dominion over the creatures, lost by Adam, is restored by Christ (1 Corinthians 3:22). And hence it is, that Paul calls the forbidding of marriage, and of meats, with obligation of conscience, a doct…

The third thing to be considered, is, the persons that are to restore their brethren, laid downe in these words, yee that are spirituall. Spiritual men are opposed to carnal, as (1 Corinthians 3:1): I could not speak to you brethren, as to spiritual men, but as to carnal: and to…

It is a stone then; yet so as it fills the whole corner: and is so the corner stone, that the whole building is laid upon it. For as no man can lay any other foundation (1 Corinthians 3:11) so must all the Church and her members rest and be built upon it only. Some translate the…

In a word, it is as much as if he should have said; What will become of this goodly wisdom of yours in the end; will it bereave God of his Spirit? Nay, contrariwise in reproving you for your deceit and vanity, he will show by the effects, that he catches the wise in their crafti…

But this false persuasion, is not condemned only, for that it makes men disobedient to God, and so causes their ruin: but also because it is intolerable in itself. For we must become fools, if we will be the disciples of God (1 Corinthians 3:18). It is also certain, that whereve…

And yet I willingly consent, that the Levites and Ministers of the Temple are here mentioned by way of excellence, for all the people. Thus this doctrine then pertains at this day not only to the Ministers of the word, but to all Christians in general, who are also called a roya…

But we are to note, that God is here made the master workman of this building, for the whole work must be attributed to him. Some may ask what the Prophet means by Carbuncles, Sapphires (verse 11), Pearls, and other precious stones: for Saint Paul has noted out the doctrine of t…

Some understand it, as if the preaching of the Gospel were never in vain, but that it always brings forth some fruit. Which I grant to be a truth, for the Lord works by his Spirit, and gives increase (1 Corinthians 3:7), that the labor of his Ministers may not be in vain. But th…

For first it would have been obscure to us, if he had concealed the cause, why God had given him his Spirit: but now we may evidently perceive his meaning, when he shows the use thereof: namely, that he exercises a public office, that so he may not be taken as some private perso…

and therefore Augustine judiciously reminds the reader that it is not πέτρα (petra, a stone or rock) that is derived from Πέτρος, (Peter,) but Πέτρος (Peter) that is derived from πέτρα, (petra, a stone or rock ) But not to be tedious, as we must acknowledge the truth and certain…

We know with what blind love men naturally regard themselves, how much they are devoted to themselves, how highly they estimate themselves. But if we desire to enter into the school of Christ, we must begin with that folly to which Paul (1 Corinthians 3:18) exhorts us, becoming…

Nor is it without reason that Paul bids men become fools, that they may be wise to God, (1 Corinthians 3:18;) for no darkness is more dangerous for quenching the light of the Spirit than reliance on our own sagacity.

And yet by this mode of expression he does not represent them as sharing their work or labor with the grace of God, as if they contributed anything to it of themselves; but simply means that they were assisted by God, because, according to the flesh, they would in vain have atte…

It may now be asked, How does the Spirit call those men builders, who are so strongly bent on the ruin and destruction of the temple of God? For Paul boasts of having been an honest builder, because he founded the Church on Christ alone, (1 Corinthians 3:10, 11.) The answer is e…

And this issues forth and proceeds from faith, and is the work of love, that we should mutually be mortised and joined one to another, that we all together may make one building. The same reason has Saint Paul also, 1 Corinthians 3, however not altogether after the same manner t…

Of this also Saint Paul says (2 Thessalonians 1): When the Lord Jesus shall show himself from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, rendering vengeance to them that do not know God, and which do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Again (1 Corinthians 3): Eve…

He calls that another man's foundation, which was laid by another man's hand. Otherwise Christ is the only stone on which the Church is founded (1 Corinthians 3:11; Ephesians 1:20). 21 But according as it is written.

Whereby it follows that whereas the law does wound us to death, that is accidental: as if an incurable disease should be stirred up the more by a wholesome medicine. Indeed I confess it is an inseparable accident, and therefore the law in another place in respect of the Gospel,…

John 15:1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8. 1 Corinthians 3:9. Hebrews 6:7, 8.

Ye are the Temple of the Living God, as God has said, I will dwell in them, and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my People. How and by whom is this done? 1 Cor. 3. 16, 17. Know you not that ye are the Temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelles i…

Acts 3. 21. Mat. 18. 19. 1 Cor. 6. 16. 1 Cor. 3. 16. compared. (6.) The Holy Spirit works the Work of Christ; John 16. 13, 14, 15. opened. (7.) The Holy Spirit the peculiar Author of all Grace. (8.) The Holy Spirit workes all this according to his own Will. 1. His Will and Pleas…

Gal. 4. 19. Tit. 2. 11, 12. 1 Cor. 3. 11. 2 Cor. 3. 18. This Foundation being laid, without which it has as it were nothing to do with the Souls of Men, nor will proceed to any other thing, with them by whom this its first Work is refused, it then grafts all Duties of Moral Obed…

For it is our Persons that are sanctified and made Holy, (sanctifie them throughout); and although our Souls are the first proper Subject of the infused Habit or Principle of Holiness, yet our Bodyes as essential parts of our Natures are Partakers thereof. (2) By a peculiar Infl…

Matthew 10:42: 'Whosoever shall give to drink, unto one of these little ones, a cup of cold water, only in the name of a disciple, he shall in no wise lose his reward.' 1 Corinthians 3:8: 'Every man shall receive his own reward, according to his own labor.' And in many other pla…

About these there can be no hesitation; but things of a lower nature and lesser concern are left more obscure. (2.) As to the persons to whom God reveals his Will, there is great difference; some are strong men, others babes, 1 Corinthians 3:1 Some have senses exercised, others…

THe due observation of Providence will endear Jesus Christ every day more and more to your souls. Christ is the Channel of grace and mercy: through him are all the dcursus & recursus gratiarum, all the streams of mercy that low from God to us, and all the returns of praise from…

Do natural Causes unite and associate themselves for the good of Gods people? Why, this is no more than what is contained in the Promises, and is but the ulilling of that Scripture, 1 Corinthians 3:22 All is yours, for ye are Christs; (i. e.) the use, benefit and service of all…

(6.) Eye the Way and Method in which your mercies are conveyed to you. They all slow to you through the blood of Christ and Covenant of grace, 1 Corinthians 3. 22, 23. Mercies derive their sweetness from the Channel through which they run to us.

And Isaiah says likewise in the 45th chapter in the person of God: Turn you to me all you ends of the world, and you shall be saved: for I am God, and there is else none. To this agrees also Paul (1 Corinthians 3), saying: Other foundation can no man lay, than that which is laid…

For some presumptuous spirits will help others, chiefly such as live and die without God's own working: even as though they had too many good works. Where Paul says (1 Corinthians 3): that every man shall be rewarded according to his works: therefore not after another man's work…

Or rather, we, the Father, Son and Spirit (as we took the like expression, Chapter 1:11) for, this work which is undertaken and engaged for in the promise, does belong especially to them. 3. The promise is in two expressions (as is also the condition): 1. We will build upon her…

God forbid. And the Apostle thinks this sacrilegiousness of uncleanness so high an aggravation of the sinfulness of it, that he insists on it again (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). Do you not know that you are the temples of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?