BibleProject | One Story That Leads to JesusSample

Continuing his discussion from yesterday about factions within the church, today Paul shoots straight with the Corinthians: They’re being immature. Ouch.

Paul is not trying to wound but to spur the Corinthians on toward maturity. You can almost imagine Paul giving them a tussle of their hair and throwing his arm around them as he says, “Listen, Corinth, I love y’all, but when you rally around favorite teachers like children around pop stars, elevating some as greater than others, you create envy and strife.”

After explaining what not to do, Paul shows them a better way. Think of your teachers as gardeners cultivating God’s field, or like construction workers building upon the foundation God laid. Gardeners are great, and builders are necessary. Like teachers, they serve God’s single purpose, not personal goals.

It’s God’s field and God’s house. These teachers serve the Messiah; they are not the Messiah.

Divisions around these leaders prolong immaturity, Paul says, but following their example will lead to maturity. Listen to and follow what they’re teaching. Stop fighting about who teaches best. And let’s face it, common culture says it’s much easier to love your tribe than it is to love everyone. You’re taking sides to avoid suffering.

Heed the apostles who teach the Gospel’s countercultural message of love and blessing for all. Like Jesus, embrace the suffering and humility necessary to love everyone in an unloving culture.

As a city, Corinth had a long history of lust for wealth and honor. Corinthians praised social status and honor above all, so “let’s be humble” sounded like “let’s be stupid.” Willfully accepting suffering, hunger, and slander—accepting dishonor—would have horrified the Corinthians.

Paul’s point: You’re glorifying and elevating favorite leaders because you assume their honor brings you honor. However, these leaders consistently live and teach the opposite. They suffer, willingly accepting dishonor, in order to truly love. The apostles are walking, talking parables of the cross, displaying God’s upside-down wisdom.

Leave behind your divisions caused by immaturity and fear of suffering, says Paul. Instead, grow strong and mature, following the footsteps of apostles who, together, walk in step with Jesus.

Reflection Questions

• Paul makes a bold claim about the Corinthian church: You are God’s temple, and God’s Spirit lives in you. Reflect on the role of the temple for God’s people in the biblical story. What do you think Paul means when he describes the church as the dwelling place for God’s holy presence? How might Christians live like mobile temples today?
• Paul calls the apostles “stewards of the mysteries of God.” Read Colossians 2:2-3 and Ephesians 1:9-10. What is the mystery? What does it mean to steward this mystery?