What Is The Church? What Are Her Leaders?

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Study Group meeting June 5 to study 1 Corinthians 3.  This chapter continues the discussion Paul has been having with the church in Corinth about their behavior.  In some ways, this concludes the discussion for Paul (or his side), but not entirely.  He returns to themes he started in chapter 1, refers to elements he brought up in chapter 2, and wraps them up under his essential problem with what he hears about the Corinthian believers.

Read through the chapter several times.  It may be helpful in this case to also re-read from chapter 1 through 3 to get sense of how this particular piece holds together (which it does nicely).  That way you can better see what elements he revisits here, and how he uses prior comments and positions.  In this chapter, focus on the 'imagery' Paul uses.  Look for what he considers to be of utmost importance the problems among the Corinthian believers. Jot down questions and observations as you go through the chapter several times.

After going through the chapter a few times making notes and questions, go back through using the questions below:

• If Paul's accusation against the Corinthian believers is that they are 'infants' and 'fleshly', then what problem do you think he's trying to correct?
• What 'clues' does Paul point to with the Corinthians to substantiate his assessment of them?
• Verse 4 pulls back the argument elements from Chapter 1.  So, what do you think that means for our understanding of this and previous chapters?
• Read Mark 4:26-29.  Now read verses 5 through 7 in 1 Corinthians 3.  What do you think might be similarities here?  What might be some differences?
• In Paul's use of the field and workers as imagery how much do you think he 'borrowed' from words of Jesus?  Where would he have 'heard' these words?
• What do you think Paul means by 'reward' in verse 8?  And who gets whatever the reward might be?
• Who is the 'field' and 'building? And who do they belong to?
• Why do you think Paul means by 'foundation'? How is Jesus the 'foundation' of the Corinthian church?
• So, what do you think it means to 'build' on Jesus Christ?  And what do you think it means to build with various materials?
• How will fire 'test' the quality, and what do you think Paul means by 'fire'?  What fire will test the quality?
• Paul again returns to 'reward' in verse 14.  How do you think this is or isn't similar to 'reward' in verse 8?
• In verse 15, 'loss' and 'saved' are both used, but what do you think they are referring to?
• In verses 10 through 15, who is being addressed?  Who is this for?
• Paul again returns to 'wisdom' and 'foolishness' to wrap up his argument.  How do you think he is tying 'wisdom versus foolishness' to 'building'/'planting' and various factions?  What's his point?
• How do you think 'all things' belong to the Corinthian church?  What does that mean for us?

That should keep us busy for a while.  I'm not sure we will be able to answer all these questions, some really may not be answerable.  Be sure to bring your own questions as well.