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"Are you not carnal?"

Text: 1 Corinthians 3:4

THE CHARGE OF CARNALITY

It must have been quite hard for the Corinthians to have read this stinging comment from the Apostle Paul charging them with carnality! To the proud, these were “fighting words”. But Paul was just being true to his calling as a faithful servant of the Lord. He could not have ignored the problems that had arisen in the church!

“For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another,
“I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?
Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos,
but ministers through whom you believed,
as the Lord gave to each one?”
1 Corinthians 3:4-5

1. Groups singled out for mention

a) “I am of Paul”

i) These were probably stalwart followers of Paul.

ii) They might have been upset that there were detractors.

iii) They stoutly defended Paul.

iv) Was this carnal?

v) In Paul’s assessment- YES!

b) “I am of Apollos”

i) Apollos was well known for his eloquence.

ii) Compared to Paul, Apollos might have been the better speaker.

iii) Some became enamoured of Apollos and formed a group around him.

iv) Was this carnal too?

v) In Paul’s assessment- Yes!

2. “But ministers through whom you believed”

a) The word translated “ministers” is taken from the humble word “diakonoi” (servants who do humble work).

b) There was nothing intrinsically worthy in themselves (Paul or Apollos).

c) It was through their humble ministry that people came to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

3. “As the Lord gave to each one”

a) The focus should always be on the Lord.

b) It is He who gives the grace and the faith to believe and find salvation.

c) It is the Lord who had sent Paul and Apollos as His ministers!