Text:

9 For we are God’s fellow workers, and you are God’s farmland, God’s building blocks. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But let each one see how he can build on it. 11 For no one can lay any other foundation than the one that has been laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 But if anyone builds on this foundation: with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble, 13 each one’s work will become apparent, because Yahweh He will explain it. For it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test each one’s work. 14 If anyone's work remains that he built on it, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, but as by fire. 16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, which you are.

the explanation:

The Apostle Paul spent a year and six months teaching the word of the Lord in the city of Corinth (Acts 18:9), during which he faced opposition from the Jews (Acts 18:12-17), which eventually forced him to leave this city. Later, he heard that there were disputes and divisions among the believers in Corinth, as some said, “I am of Paul, I am of Apollos, I am of Cephas, and I am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:12; see 3:3-4). Then the Apostle Paul wrote to them, saying: “Who is Paul and who is Apollos?” Rather, they are servants through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one” (1 Corinthians 3:5-6). Thus, it is clear that the mission of the apostle is to serve the good news according to the gift given to him by God. As for this good news, it falls within the context of God’s work of salvation, as Paul says, “I planted and Apollos watered, but God caused the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:5-6).

The call to faith in Jesus Christ flows into the work of salvation, which is the beginning of God’s work and which is accomplished through His direct intervention. That is why the Apostle said: “We are co-workers with God.” This does not mean that God and the Messenger are equal partners in the work, but rather that the Messenger is entirely directed to the good news and that all his efforts flow into the work that originally belongs to God. As for the achievements that the Apostle achieves, they are not for himself, but for God. That is why he says: “You are God’s farm and God’s building.” Thus, the Apostle Paul explains to the believers in Corinth that what was accomplished in them is from God Himself, and therefore their belonging is to God and not to humans. Here the Apostle says: “Let them not boast.” One of the people. For all things are yours...but you are Christ's, and Christ is God's” (1 Corinthians 3:21-23).

The Apostle is completely immersed in God’s work through the divine gifts and blessings bestowed on him. The Apostle Paul fulfilled his mission “according to the grace of God given to him” and preached salvation through Jesus Christ, thus laying the foundation “which is Jesus Christ.” “No one can lay another foundation,” that is, the one who believes in Jesus cannot change the foundation, for by doing so he loses his salvation. Here the Apostle returns and alerts those who are steadfast in Jesus to pay attention to their actions and behavior, as he says to them, “Let each one consider how he builds on the foundation.”

Here the Apostle Paul explains that a person will be judged according to his deeds, and he used the image of metals being refined by fire to depict the “Day of the Lord,” meaning the last day, the Day of Judgment. If the achievements of faith are as solid as gold, silver, and precious stones, then they will be purified by fire and their brilliance will shine, and thus the believer will receive his reward and remain and continue to shine. As for “whoever’s work is burned, he will lose and he himself will be saved, but it is like one who passes through fire.” The Apostle Paul did not say, “He will be saved,” and he stopped speaking so that the listener would not think that the sinner would be saved. Rather, he continued, saying: “It is like one who passes through fire.” St. John Chrysostom comments on this verse to the effect that the Apostle Paul does not speak of physical fire, and with this expression he wants to instill fear in the souls of sinners. When he says, “It is like one who passes through fire,” he means that sins on the last day will go away, while sinners will remain constant. In fire forever.

 “Do you not know that you are the temple of God...” The temple of God is an expression of God’s presence. If God is present in believers, this necessarily calls for their holiness, “because the temple of God is holy.” “The Spirit of God dwells in you,” and this happens with the coming of the Holy Spirit in baptism, as the body becomes “the temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:19). Thus, the Apostle indicates that the believer is the one who completes the works of the Spirit of God. “Whoever corrupts the temple of God will be corrupted by God.” That is, whoever defiles himself with acts of sin will face retribution in the end.

Quoted from Ratai Bulletin
Sunday, August 8, 1993 / Issue No. 32