THE FIRST EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
2:4. And my speech and my preaching was not in the persuasive words of human wisdom, but in shewing of the Spirit and power:
2:5. That your faith might not stand on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.
2:6. Howbeit we speak wisdom among the perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, neither of the princes of this world that come to nought.
2:7. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, a wisdom which is hidden, which God ordained before the world, unto our glory:
2:8. Which none of the princes of this world knew. For if they had known it, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory.
2:9. But, as it is written: That eye hath not seen, nor ear heard: neither hath it entered into the heart of man, what things God hath prepared for them that love him.
2:10. But to us God hath revealed them by his Spirit. For the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
2:11. For what man knoweth the things of a man, but the spirit of a man that is in him? So the things also that are of God, no man knoweth, but the Spirit of God.
2:12. Now, we have received not the spirit of this world, but the Spirit that is of God: that we may know the things that are given us from God.
2:13. Which things also we speak: not in the learned words of human wisdom, but in the doctrine of the Spirit, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
2:14. But the sensual man perceiveth not these things that are of the Spirit of God. For it is foolishness to him: and he cannot understand, because it is spiritually examined.
The sensual man--the spiritual man... The sensual man is either he who is taken up with sensual pleasures, with carnal and worldly affections; or he who measureth divine mysteries by natural reason, sense, and human wisdom only. Now such a man has little or no notion of the things of God. Whereas the spiritual man is he who, in the mysteries of religion, takes not human sense for his guide: but submits his judgment to the decisions of the church, which he is commanded to hear and obey. For Christ hath promised to remain to the end of the world with his church, and to direct her in all things by the Spirit of truth.
2:15. But the spiritual man judgeth all things: and he himself is judged of no man.
2:16. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians Chapter 3
They must not contend about their teachers, who are but God's ministers and accountable to him. Their works shall be tried by fire.
3:1. And I, brethren, could not speak to you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal. As unto little ones in Christ.
3:2. I gave you milk to drink, not meat: for you were not able as yet. But neither indeed are you now able: for you are yet carnal.
3:3. For, whereas there is among you envying and contention, are you not carnal and walk you not according to man?
3:4. For while one saith: I indeed am of Paul: and another: I am of Apollo: are you not men? What then is Apollo and what is Paul?
3:5. The ministers of him whom you have believed: and to every one as the Lord hath given.
3:6. I have planted, Apollo watered: but God gave the increase.
3:7. Therefore, neither he that planteth is any thing, nor he that watereth: but God that giveth the increase.
3:8. Now he that planteth and he that watereth, are one. And every man shall receive his own reward, according to his own labour.
3:9. For we are God's coadjutors. You are God's husbandry: you are God's building.
3:10. According to the grace of God that is given to me, as a wise architect, I have laid the foundation: and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
3:11. For other foundation no man can lay, but that which is laid: which is Christ Jesus.
3:12. Now, if any man build upon this foundation, gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble:
Upon this foundation... The foundation is Christ and his doctrine: or the true faith in him, working through charity. The building upon this foundation gold, silver, and precious stones, signifies the more perfect preaching and practice of the gospel; the wood, hay, and stubble, such preaching as that of the Corinthian teachers (who affected the pomp of words and human eloquence) and such practice as is mixed with much imperfection, and many lesser sins. Now the day of the Lord, and his fiery trial, (in the particular judgment immediately after death,) shall make manifest of what sort every man's work has been: of which, during this life, it is hard to make a judgment. For then the fire of God's judgment shall try every man's work. And they, whose works, like wood, hay, and stubble, cannot abide the fire, shall suffer loss; these works being found to be of no value; yet they themselves, having built upon the right foundation, (by living and dying in the true faith and in the state of grace, though with some imperfection,) shall be saved yet so as by fire; being liable to this punishment, by reason of the wood, hay, and stubble, which was mixed with their building.
3:13. Every man's work shall be manifest. For the day of the Lord shall declare it, because it shall be revealed in fire. And the fire shall try every man's work, of what sort it is.
3:14. If any man's work abide, which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
3:15. If any mans work burn, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire.
3:16. Know you not that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
3:17. But if any man violate the temple of God, him shall God destroy. For the temple of God is holy, which you are.
3:18. Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seem to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
3:19. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written: I will catch the wise in their own craftiness.
3:20. And again: The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
3:21. Let no man therefore glory in men.
3:22. For all things are yours, whether it be Paul or Apollo or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come. For all are yours.
3:23. And you are Christ's. And Christ is God's.