May 19, 2020
Constructing the Building and Managing the Household: 3:1 to 4:7
In chapters 3 and 4, Paul moves deeper into a discussion about ecclesiology — that is, about the the nature of the church — in response to the divisions in the church at Corinth. Paul pictures the church first as a garden and then as a building. Leaders such as Paul and Appollos might have different roles — planting, laying a foundation; watering, building a structure on the foundation — but in either case they are working together. (The Greek term here is synergoi, from which our word “synergy” derives.) And, in either case, the true foundation of the church is Jesus Christ, so whatever the worker’s role, it is only to build on what Jesus has already done.
Verses 12-15 seem to provide some more mixed metaphors. At first Paul seems to say that, after a day’s work is completed on a building and everyone goes home for the night, the quality of the work might not immediately be evident, but it will become clear the next morning when it is inspected in broad daylight. But he then talks about the work being tested by fire — perhaps by a fire that breaks as the work is being completed, or perhaps as an intentional test of the final construction as a sort of building inspection. Verses 14 and 15 might refer to the wages the builder receives when the building is finished and a fine that could be levied against a builder if shoddy construction causes damage. The phrase “as through fire” was a common idiom, like “by the skin of your teeth.”
Many commentators over the ages have seen references in this part of the text to the final judgment. The “day” in verse 13 could allude to the “Day of the Lord,” a concept often used in the Hebrew Scriptures for to refer to a time of reckoning when God would judge the kingdoms of the Earth. We should be careful, however, about using this kind of text to support elaborate theories of the final judgment. Paul’s overall point here is not about individual judgment but about the church. This is evident in verse 16: the church, to which Paul is writing, collectively, is God’s temple, a temple not comprised of a literal building, but of a community of people. The issue for Paul in this section is how the church will fare when it is tested.
In verses 19-20, Paul reiterates his theme of contrast between the wisdom of the world and the “foolishness” of God. The first quotation here is from Job 5:13, and the second is from Psalm 94:11. If you’re interested in some further thoughts on this, see here.
Verses 21-23 of Chapter 3 offer a kind of lyrical flight encompassing the cosmos that we often see in Paul’s letters: “For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world (kosmos) or life or death or the present or the future. All belong to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.” Notice that Paul, Apollos and Cephas are subordinated to the Corinthian church, which in turn is subordinated to Christ, who is subordinated to God.
In the beginning of Chapter 4, Paul introduces an important concept for his idea of church leadership: leaders are “servants of Christ” who are “stewards.” The word “steward” here is oikonomous. The oikos was the Greek household, which was the basic unit of society. The concept Paul employs, then, is of a trusted servant who is the manager of a household.
Paul says he is not concerned about human judgment of his stewardship, and that he does not even judge himself. The only judge is God, and God’s judgment reveals the purposes of the heart, which are often concealed. He tells the Corinthians they likewise should not judge each other but rather should recognize God has given them gifts that are meant to build up the church.
These words about judgment, acquittal, and distinctions all come from the Greek word dikaioó. This is another important concept that shows up throughout Paul’s letters. It is the word from which we derive the theological concept of “justification.”
In his commentary on Chapter 3, Charles Campbell says:
Ministry is a bold and risky adventure in which Christians build as faithfully as we can without fully knowing the quality of our work. Most of us wonder from time to time, ‘What if I’m wrong?’ What if I do the wrong thing or speak the wrong word?’ It is an understandable question as one occupies the space between the ages with a ‘weak’ and ‘foolish’ gospel seeking to discern fitting words and deeds. Paul provides no clear assurances. Maybe we are building with silver and gold. Maybe we are building with hay or straw. All Paul offers is the proper foundation of trust in the Spirit. Ministry remains risky. (Campbell, 68.)
Some questions on this section:
- How does the concept of stewardship inform your understanding of your place in the community of the church? What synergies do you see in your role in the church in relation to others?
- Really listen to these words: “all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the cosmos or life or death or the present or the future. All belong to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.” How does this make you feel about yourself? What insights does it give you about you role in the church, and in the universe?
- Do you judge others? Do you judge yourself — either negatively, or by seeking to justify yourself in front of others or God? What does might it mean for you to leave judgment to God?
Spectacle and Power — 4:8-21
Paul tells the Corinthians they have become “kings,” even without the Apostles’ help. Remember that the Corinthian congregation was mixed and would have included slaves and common laborers along with some more wealthy members, so in cultural context this is an astonishing statement. Paul then says the apostles have become a “spectacle” and “fools.” The word “spectacle” is theatron. The apostles are like the comic relief in a stage play. Paul then uses some crude terms to describe the apostles, translated “rubbish” and “dregs” in the NRSV, that refer to the scum and crust scraped off of things during a cleaning and thrown out.
But in verses 14-21, Paul’s tone begins to shift. He says the Corinthians might have many “guardians” (paidagogos, teachers) in Christ, but that he, Paul, is their “father” in Christ. Paul says he plans to visit soon and find out “not the talk of these arrogant people but their power.” The kingdom of God, Paul says, “depends not on talk (logo, word) but on power (dynamei).” Verse 21 seems to suggest Paul might come to them with a stick to hit them with, but the term refers to the rod or staff carried by a ruler. Paul seems to suggest, then, that he could assert his authority as an apostle after all.
Some questions on this section:
- As a member of the Church, do you feel like a king? How might it change your perspective to realize that, as a steward of God’s household, you are like a king?
- There is a tradition in some mystical Christian circles of the “holy fool” — a person who does things that seem to make no sense in the oikonomia (economy) of the world. Have you ever felt like a “holy fool,” a player in a theater of the absurd? When is this concept helpful? When is it not helpful?
- Consider these words: “the kingdom of God depends not on talk but on power.” How do these words sit with you? As you reflect, remember a key theme of chapters 1 and 2: “God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.” (1:25).
A concluding reflection:
What is one way in which anything we discussed could change how you think, pray, or act this week?