YouTube: https://youtu.be/om-hojzJi0s

Download Audio: https://od.lk/f/MV8yOTYwMTk0NzJf
Download Video: https://od.lk/f/MV8yOTYwMTk0ODhf
Download PDF: https://od.lk/f/MV8yOTYwMTk0ODJf

Priscilla: I Corinthians 3:1-8
Misconceptions about Evangelists
and Preachers of the Word of God

1 And, brothers, I was not able to speak to you as to spiritual ones, but as to fleshly ones, as to babes in Christ.

2 I gave you milk to drink, and not food, for you were not then able, for neither are you yet able now.

3 For you are yet fleshly. For where among you is jealousy, and strife, and divisions, are you not fleshly and walk according to man?

4 For when one may say, Truly I am of Paul, and another, I of Apollos; are you not fleshly?

5 What then is Paul? And what Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, and to each as the Lord gave?

6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God made to grow.

7 So as neither he planting is anything, nor he watering, but God making to grow.

8 So he planting and he watering are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

[Literal Translation of the Holy Bible]

Dear God, my Beloved Father, today I offer You my meditation on the Word of God in I Corinthians 3:1-8.

Verses 1 and 2 state that the Apostle Paul told the people of God in the city of Corinth that he could not teach or speak in-depth with them as he would with those who had a deeper understanding of the Bible because their faith in the Lord was like that of children who could only drink milk. Therefore, he taught them how to live a new and holy life as people of God and taught them the basic doctrines of the Bible so that they could grow in their understanding of Your Word and mature in their faith.

Verse 3 states that although the Church in Corinth had heard the Apostle Paul’s teachings, he noticed that the people of God there were not strong in their faith. They lacked a deep understanding of the Word of God and lived according to the flesh. As a result, there were disputes and behavior like that of the world within the Church, which led to division and a bad example in the Church.

Verses 4 and 5 state that in the Church in Corinth, some people believed in the Lord through the teaching of the Apostle Paul, and some through the teaching of Apollos. But they all lived according to the flesh, thinking and reasoning in worldly ways. Therefore, each thought they were followers of either the Apostle Paul or Apollos. However, the Church was not led by any person but only by Christ, who is the head of the Church.

I understand that the people of God should express gratitude and respect for those who preach the Gospel or teach the Word of God to them. However, they should not see one preacher as more important than another and create divisions or factions in the Church, as this is wrong and a sin. For only Christ is the head of the Church, and every teaching of the Word of God is by the power of God. The Church offices are for serving the Church according to the gifts given by God. No one is more capable than another, as everyone works by the power of God.

Verses 6 and 7: The Apostle Paul preached the Gospel and led many people to faith, into the Church in Corinth. He called Apollos to be a waterer, that is, someone who taught the Word of God and helped the people of God grow in faith. The work of these two men was due to the will and power of God. It was God who caused people to believe in the Gospel, and understand the Word of God, and grow in faith.

Verse 8: The Apostle Paul wanted the people of God in Corinth to understand that he and Apollos, the planter and waterer, had the same purpose of serving God. They each had a different task, but the common goal was to build the Church. Each person will receive their reward based on their individual work.

Father, I pray that You grant me the ability to serve You every day, so that I may be wholehearted and devoted, doing everything according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit to build up the Church. Amen!

In the grace of Jesus Christ, my Lord.

Priscilla Christian Huynh
04/24/2023