You’re NOT Spiritual-1 Cor 3:1-4

1 Corinthians, New Testament, Sermons

Am I an “unspiritual Christian” [an oxymoron]? Are you BOTH spiritual and a Christian? Paul bluntly, directly and pointedly says, “You‘re NOT spiritual” (1 Cor 3:1a), and “You’re ‘fleshly‘” [worldly, NIV] (1 Cor 3:1b, 3a), because they’re quarreling and acting like “mere humans” (1 Cor 3:3b) [not spiritual]–with their party politics of pitting one leader over another (1 Cor 3:4).

(Adult) spiritual babies [an oxymoron] are full of themselves: They play politics, depend on their own wisdom, think highly of themselves [boast, act elitist, latch on to their own slogans], judge others, and cause arguments, rivalries, strife, conflicts and divisions in the church (1 Cor 1:10-12). Paul’s argument begins with the cross, God’s wisdom (1 Cor 1:23-24), which precludes boasting in men (1 Cor 1:29, 31). This wisdom is available to those who have the Spirit, so they should’ve known it as Christians (1 Cor 2:10, 12). Instead they’re carrying on with the “flesh” (1 Cor 3:1-2) and missing the meaning of the cross. Their quarreling represents the old age/ways–living as mere humans (1 Cor 3:3). [The problem with babies is that babies don’t know that they are babies because they are babies. Only mature grown ups (1 Cor 2:6) know it.]

What is intolerable is to have received the Spirit, which makes one more than merely human, and to continue to live as though one were nothing more.

 

A direct frontal attack: “You‘re NOT spiritual at all, but of the flesh” (1 Cor 3:1, 3a). Paul began his letter by addressing their quarrels and divisions (1 Cor 1:10). Then he “digressed” to a long discussion on wisdom and the cross (1:17-2:16). Yet this was their real issue, because the “wisdom” they pursued stripped the gospel of it’s power, leading to the divisions. So after grounding them in what true wisdom is, he returns to the problem of their quarrels (1 Cor 3:3) and divisions (1 Cor 3:4a). To Paul, being spiritual and divided are mutually exclusive options. So even though they think of themselves as the one–“spiritual”–while in fact they are the other–“divided.” Thus, Paul pronounces them bluntly as being “of the flesh” (1 Cor 3:1b). Paul [subject to centuries of misunderstanding] is NOT suggesting classes of Christians or grades of spirituality, but to get them to STOP thinking like the people of this present age/of the world.

Stop behaving like the people of the present age (1 Cor 3:3b). Paul doesn’t mean that they don’t have the Spirit. They do–and that’s the problem–because they are thinking and behaving otherwise. Paul’s ultimate point is: “Stop it! Christians [with the Spirit] simply must stop behaving the way you are.”

Paul goes after “unspiritual“ Christians (1 Cor 3:1a)–both true and untrue. “And I…” with the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16), Paul addressed the church as a whole, not a faction in the congregation. Not all may be guilty, but all are defiled by the actions of some. They considered themselves “spiritual” [pneumatikoi]. But Paul couldn’t regard them as spiritual because their behavior was unspiritual/unChristian. They were Christians, for one cannot be a Christian without the Spirit (Rom 8:9; Gal 3:2-3; Tit 3:5-7). Yet they’re “unspiritual” not because they lack the Spirit but because they’re thinking and living just like those who do. To Paul, they were not just not spiritual, but quite the opposite–“fleshly” [sarkinoi], with some even denying a future bodily resurrection (1 Cor 15:12). “Fleshly” emphasizes their humanness and the physical side of their existence as over against the spiritual–therefore out of one’s sinfulness from the perspective of the present age. Paul avoids accusing them of not having the Spirit, but at the same time he bitingly forces them to have to face up to their true condition.

Paul calls them babies [nepios]–“mere infants in Christ” (1 Cor 3:1b) [cf. “grown-ups” (1 Cor 2:6)]. This common imagery in antiquity reflects the theme of “progressing in understanding,” moving from an elementary grasp of truth to a more mature knowledge of the deeper things of a system. But this view doesn’t fit Paul’s use of the imagery, which is in the pejorative [disapproving] sense, cf. with being adult, and refers to thinking and behavior that’s not fitting. So Paul is continuing his argument but with a different imagery. Just as they think of themselves as “spiritual”–and are in a sense–but by their thinking and behavior demonstrate that they are “fleshly,” so too they think of themselves as “full-grown,” yet think and act like “babies.”

The gospel of the crucified one is both “milk” and “solid food” (1 Cor 3:2a), as implied by Paul’s argument of 2:6-16. Paul’s concern is not that they “progress” into deeper teaching from the rudimentary, but that they abandon their present “childish” behavior altogether so that they may appreciate the “milk” for what it is, “solid food.” As milk it is the good news of salvation; as solid food it is understanding that the entire Christian life is predicated on the same reality–and those who have the Spirit should so understand the “mystery” (1 Cor 2:10, 12). Paul likely uses their language, yet the fundamental contrast in Paul’s mind is not between 2 quite different diets which he offers, but between the true food of the Gospel that he has fed them [whether milk or meat] and the substitutes [worldly wisdom] they prefer. Paul’s point is to move them from their fascination with wisdom back to the pure gospel of the crucified Christ.

“You‘re not ready” [past tense] and “you‘re still not ready” [present tense] (1 Cor 3:2b,c). If they fail to see the wisdom of the gospel, the problem is theirs, not Paul‘s. Paul is saying, “I couldn’t explain the cross as God’s wisdom in mystery, because you couldn’t understand it, given your ‘advancement’ in the wrong direction.” The problem is not with the message at all, but with those who put themselves in a position so as not to be able to hear and understand what was being said to them. What’s the evidence that they’re not ready?

Paul confronts them with their “jealousy [rivalry] and quarreling” (1 Cor 3:3a; 1:11)–by bickering over their leaders. These are not the activities of those who live in the Spirit, but are the behavior of those who are still living “in the flesh” [sarkikoi]. They are not only not giving evidence of life in the Spirit, but far worse, their quarrels and rivalry confirm that their behavior belongs to the present [perishing] age, with its fallen, twisted values. They may indeed be “spiritual;” unfortunately they are “living like the devil.”

Living from the old age point of view is evidenced by their rivalry and quarreling. He asks rhetorically again, “Are you not acting [behaving/walking] like mere humans [according to human inclinations] (1 Cor 3:3b). Those who don’t have the Spirit are mere humans; thus they consider the cross folly/kinda stupid, and their behavior stems from a thoroughly self-centered point of view. They have the Spirit, but are behaving precisely like people who do not–like “mere humans.” Being human is not a bad thing in itself, any more than being fleshly (1 Cor 3:1). What is intolerable and unacceptable is to have the Spirit–which makes one more than merely human–and yet to continue to live as though one were nothing more than merely human. To Paul, the basic imperative of the Christian life is “Walk [live] by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh [sinful nature]” (Gal 5:16). Paul has no patience for belief that doesn’t lead to proper behavior.  

Wrong/bad application. Paul brings the argument back to where it began (1 Cor 3:4; 1:10-12) with their slogans illustrating their quarrels, thus confirming that they are walking/acting according to the flesh (1 Cor 3:3). An unfortunate horrible application is that since these people are believers, yet “carnal,” thus it’s permissible to be “carnal Christians.” Yes, Paul considers them Christians and that they are acting like non-Christians. But Paul’s entire thrust is to get them to change from “babies” [fascinated, seduced and hijacked with worldly wisdom] to “grown–ups” [who see God’s beauty, glory, mystery and wisdom in the cross]. Paul’s language is ironic, not permissive. In this text Paul is not speaking to the question of their eternal destiny. To do so is to use it for a theological concern of our own making.

Remaining worldly is not an option. Spiritual people are to walk in the Spirit. If they do otherwise, they are “worldly” and are called to desist.

Reference:

  1. Richard B. Hays. First Corinthians. Interpretation. A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching. 1997.
  2. Gordon D. Fee. First Corinthians. The New International Commentary on the NT. 1987.

Sermon Divisions:

  1. 7/12/20: Always Thank God (1:1-9) [1 Cor 1:4].  Cosmic Epic Calling [1 Cor 1:2].
  2. 7/19/20: The Devil Divides, God Unites (1:10-17) [1 Cor 1:10]. All Agree. No Divisions. Perfect Unity.
  3. 7/26/20: The Cross—God‘s Way—is Dumb (1:18-25) [1 Cor 1:18]. The Cross Stumbles. The Cross is like a Cop Out. Foolish Cross.
  4. 8/2/20: What You Were, Who Christ Is (1:26-31) [1 Cor 1:26, 30]. The Necessity of Lack. No Boasting  [1 Cor 1:31].
  5. 8/9/20: Nothing but Jesus (2:1-5) [1 Cor 2:2].
  6. 8/16/20: Wise vs. Stupid (2:6-16) [1 Cor 2:6]. True Wisdom is Only for the Mature. The Mind of Christ [1 Cor 2:16].
  7. 8/23/20: Spiritual, Yet Not Spiritual (3:1-4) [1Cor 3:1].
  8. Babies or Servants (3:1-4, 5-9) [1 Cor 3:5]. Field Laborers.
  9. Construction Workers (3:10-15) [1 Cor 3:10-11].
  10. God’s Temple (3:16-22) [1 Cor 3:16].
  11. True Self (4:1-5) [1 Cor 4:4].
  12. Become Scum (4:6-13) [1 Cor 4:13].
  13. Final Warning (4:14-21) [1 Cor 4:19].
Number of Views: 30