yáp loμev ovvepyoi.)-We are God's co-workers. tion that they were joint-labourers with him. A similar expression occurs in 2 Cor. vi. 1, "We While, therefore, the Greek would bear the inthen as workers together with him," &c. This terpretation conveyed in our translation, the sense passage is capable of two significations; first, as may perhaps be, that the apostles were joint-lain our translation, that they were co-workers bourers with each other in God's service; that with God; engaged with him in his work, that they were united in their work, and that God he and they co-operated in the production of the was all in all; that they were like servants emeffect; or that it was a joint-work; as we speak ployed in the service of a master, without saying of a partnercy, or of joint-effort among men. So that the master participated with them in their many interpreters have understood this. If this work. This idea is conveyed in the translation is the sense of the passage, then it means that as of Doddridge: "We are the fellow-labourers of a farmer may be said to be a co-worker with God." So Rosenmüller. Calvin, however, GroGod when he plants and tills his field, or does tius, Whitby, and Bloomfield, coincide with our that without which God would not work in that version in the interpretation. The Syriac rencase, or without which a harvest would not be ders it, "We work with God." The Vulgate, produced, so the Christian minister co-operates "We are the aids of God." Ye are God's huswith God in producing the same result. He is bandry, (yɛwoyɩov;) margin, tillage.—This word engaged in performing that which is indispens- occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It able to the end; and God also, by his Spirit, co- properly denotes a tilled or cultivated field; and operates with the same design. If this be the the idea is, that the church at Corinth was the idea, it gives a peculiar sacredness to the work field on which God had bestowed the labour of of the ministry, and indeed to the work of the tillage, or culture, to produce fruit. The word farmer and the vinedresser. There is no higher is used by the LXX in Gen. xxvi. 14, as the honour than for a man to be engaged in doing translation of y, "For he had possession of the same things which God does, and participat- flocks," &c. ; in Jer. xli. 23, as the translation of ing with him in accomplishing his glorious plans., a yoke; and in Prov. xxiv. 30, xxxi. 16, as But doubts have been suggested in regard to this the translation of "w, a field: “I went by the interpretation. (1.) The Greek does not of nefield of the slothful," &c. The sense here is cessity imply this. It is literally, not we are his that all their culture was of God; that, as a co-partners, but we are his fellow-labourers, i. e. church, they were under his care; and that all fellow-labourers in his employ, under his direc- that had been produced in them was to be traced tion as we say of servants of the same rank, to his cultivation. God's building.-This is anthey are fellow-labourers of the same master, other metaphor. The object of Paul was to show not meaning that the master was engaged in that all that had been done for them had been working with them, but that they were fellow-really accomplished by God. For this purpose. labourers one with another in his employment. (2.) There is no expression that is parallel to this. There is none that speaks of God's operating jointly with his creatures in producing the same result. They may be engaged in regard to the same end; but the sphere of God's operations and of their operations is distinct. God does one thing; and they do another, though they may contribute to the same result. The sphere of God's operations in the growth of a tree, is totally distinct from that of the man who plants it. The man who planted it has no agency in causing the juices to circulate, in expanding the bud or the leaf: that is, in the proper work of God.-In 3 John 8, Christians are indeed said

to be " fellow-helpers to the truth;" (ovveрyoi ry dλnesia,) that is, they operate with the truth, and contribute by their labours and influence to that effect. In Mark also, (xvi. 20,) it is said that the apostles "went forth and preached every where, the Lord working with them," (rov Kupiov σvνERYоuvтos,) where the phrase means, that the Lord co-operated with them by miracles, &c. The Lord, by his own proper energy, and in his own sphere, contributed to the success of the work in which they were engaged. (3.) The main design and scope of this whole passage is to show that God is all-that the apostles are nothing; to represent the apostles, not as jointworkers with God, but as working by themselves, and God as alone giving efficiency to all that was done. The idea is, that of depressing or humbling the apostles, and of exalting God; and this idea would not be consistent with the interpreta

he first says that they were God's cultivated field; then he changes the figure; draws his illustration from architecture, and says that they had been built by him as an architect rears a house. It does not rear itself, but it is reared by another. So he says of the Corinthians: “Ye are the building which God erects." The same figure is used in 2 Cor. vi. 16, and Eph. ii. 21. See also Heb. iii. 6; 1 Pet. ii. 5. The idea is that God is the supreme agent in the founding and establishing of the church in all its gifts and graces. VER. 10. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master-builder,/ I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

f Rom. xii. 3.

According to the grace of God.-By the favour of God which is given to me. All that Paul had done had been by the mere favour of God. His appointment was from him; and all the skill which he had shown, and all the agency which he had employed, had been from him. The architectural figure is here continued with some striking additions and illustrations. By the grace of God" here, Paul probably means his apostleship to the Gentiles, which had been conferred on him by the mere favour of God, and all the wisdom, and skill, and success which he had evinced in founding the church. As a wist master-builder.-Gr. Architect. The word does

the corn as it springs up; who should sow
his fields, and then think that all is well,
and leave it to be overrun with weeds and
thorns? Piety is often stunned, its early shoot-
ings blighted, its rapid growth checked for the
want of early culture in the church.
And per-
haps there is no one thing in which pastors more
frequently fail, than in regard to the culture
which ought to be bestowed on those who are
converted, especially in early life. Our Saviour's
views on this were expressed in the admonition
to Peter-" Feed my lambs.” (John xxi. 15.)
VER. 11. For other foundation can no man lay
than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Isa. xxviii. 16. Matt. xvi. 18. Eph. ii. 20. 2 Tim. ii. 19.
For other foundation. It is implied by the
course of the argument here, that this was the
foundation which had been laid at Corinth, and
on which the church there had been reared.
And it is affirmed that no other foundation can be
laid. A foundation is that on which a building
is reared: the foundation of a church is the
doctrine on which it is established; that is, the
doctrines which its members hold-those truths
which lie at the basis of their hopes, and by
embracing which they have been converted to
God. Can no man lay. That is, there is no
other true foundation. Which is Jesus Christ.

not imply that Paul had any pre-eminence over his brethren, but that he had proceeded in his work as a skilful architect, who secures first a firm foundation. Every builder begins with the foundation; and Paul had proceeded in this manner in laying first a foundation on which the church could be reared. The word wise here means skilful, judicious. Comp. Matt. vii. 24. I have laid the foundation.-What this foundation was, he states in ver. 11. The meaning here is, that the church of Corinth had been at first established by Paul. See Acts xviii. 1, &c. And another. Other teachers. I have communicated to the church the first elements of Christian knowledge. Others follow out this instruction, and edify the church. The discussion here un-j dergoes a slight change. In the former part of the chapter, Christians are compared to a building; here the doctrines which are taught in the church are compared to various parts of a building.-Grotius. See similar instances of translation in Matt. xiii. Mark iv. John x. But let every man, &c.-Every man who is a professed teacher. Let him be careful what instructions he shall give to a church that has been founded by apostolic hands, and that is established on the only true foundation. This is designed to guard against false instruction, and the instructions of false teachers. Men should take heed what instruction they give to a church, (1.) Because of Christ is often called the foundation; the the fact that the church belongs to God, and they stone; the corner stone on which the church is should be cautious what directions they give to it; reared. Isa. xxviii. 16. Matt. xxi. 42. Acts (2.) Because it is important that Christians should iv. 11. Eph. ii. 20. 2 Tim. x. 19. 1 Pet. ii. 6. not only be on the true foundation, but that they The meaning is, that no true church can be should be fully instructed in the nature of their reared which does not embrace and hold the religion, and the church should be permitted to true doctrines respecting him those which rise in its true beauty and loveliness; (3.) Be- pertain to his incarnation, his divine nature, his cause of the evils which result from false instruc-instructions, his example, his atonement, his tion. Even when the foundation is firm, incal- resurrection and ascension. The reason why no culable evils will result from the want of just and true church can be established without embracing discriminating instruction. Error sanctifies no the truth as it is in Christ is, that it is by him one: the effect of it, even on the minds of true only that men can be saved; and where this docChristians, is to mar their piety, to dim its lustre, trine is wanting, all is wanting that enters into and to darken their minds. No Christian can enjoy religion except under the full-orbed shining of the word of truth; and every man, therefore, who gives false instruction, is responsible for all the darkness he causes, and for all the want of comfort which true Christians under his teaching may experience. (4.) Every man must give an account of the nature of his instructions; and he should therefore "take heed to himself, and his doctrine," (1 Tim. iv. 16,) and preach such doctrine as shall bear the test of the great day. And from this we learn, that it is important that the church should be built on the true foundation; and that it is scarcely less important that it should be built up in the knowledge of the truth. Vast evils are constantly occurring in the church for the want of proper instruction to young converts. Many seem to feel, that provided the foundation be well laid, that is all that is needed; but the grand thing which is wanted at the present time, is, that those who are converted should, as soon as possible, be instructed fully in the nature of the religion which they have embraced. What would be thought of a farmer who should plant a tree, and never water or trim it; who should plant his seed, and never cultivate

the essential idea of a church. The fundamental doctrines of the Christian religion must be embraced, or a church cannot exist; and where those doctrines are denied, no association of men can be recognised as a church of God. Nor can the foundation be modified or shaped so as to suit the wishes of men. It must be laid as it is in the Scriptures; and the superstructure must be reared on that alone.

VER. 12. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

Now if any man.-If any teacher in the doctrines which he inculcates; or any private Christian in the hopes which he cherishes. The main discussion, doubtless, has respect to the teachers of religion. Paul carries forward the metaphor in this and the following verses with respect to the building. He supposes that the foundation is laid; that it is a true foundation; that the essential doctrines in regard to the Messiah are the real basis on which the edifice is reared. But, he says, that even admitting that, it is a subject of vast importance to attend to the

proved, and seen to be genuine piety in the day of judgment. Wood. That might be easily burned. An edifice reared of wood instead of marble, or slight buildings, such as were often | put up for temporary purposes in the East-as cottages, places for watching their vineyards, &c.-(See my Note on Isa. i. 8.) Hay, stubble.

kind of structure which shall be reared on that; dwell; or to lay too much stress. Gold is the whether it shall be truly beautiful, and valuable emblem of that which is valuable and precious, in itself, and such as shall abide the trial of the and may be the emblem of that truth and holiness last great day; or whether it be mean, worthless, which shall bear the trial of the great day. In erroneous, and such as shall at last be destroyed. relation to the figure which the apostle here uses, There has been some difference of opinion in it may refer to the fact that columns or beams in regard to the interpretation of this passage, an edifice might be gilded; or perhaps, as in the arising from the question whether the apostle temple, that they might be solid gold, so as to designed to represent one or two buildings. bear the action of intense heat; or so that fire The former has been the more common inter- would not destroy them. So the precious docpretation, and the sense according to that is, trines of truth, and all the feelings, views, "the true foundation is laid; but on that it is opinions, habits, practices, which truth produces | improper to place vile and worthless materials. in an individual or a church, will bear the trial It would be absurd to work them in with those of the last great day. Precious stones.-By the which are valuable; it would be absurd to work stones here referred to, are not meant gems in, in rearing a building, wood, and hay, and which are esteemed of so much value for ornastubble, with gold, and silver, and precious ments, but beautiful and valuable marbles. The stones; there would be a want of concinnity and word precious here (riuiovç) means those which beauty in this. So in the spiritual temple. There are obtained at a price, which are costly and is an impropriety, an unfitness, in rearing the valuable; and is particularly applicable, therespiritual temple, to interweave truth with error; fore, to the costly marbles which were used in sound doctrine with false."-See Calvin and building. The figurative sense here does not Macknight. Grotius renders it, "Paul feigns differ materially from that conveyed by the silver to himself an edifice, partly regal, and partly and gold. By this edifice thus reared on the rustic. He presents the image of a house whose true foundation, we are to understand, (1.) The walls are of marble, whose columns are made true doctrines which should be employed to build partly of gold, and partly of silver, whose beams up a church-doctrines which would bear the are of wood, and whose roof thatched with straw.” test of the trial of the last day; and, (2.) Such Others, among whom are Wetstein, Doddridge, views in regard to piety, and to duty; such feelRosenmüller, suppose that he refers to two buildings and principles of action, as should be apings that might be reared on this foundationeither one that should be magnificent and splendid: or one that should be a rustic cottage, or mean hovel, thatched with straw, and made of planks of wood. Doddridge paraphrases the passage, "If any man build, I say, upon this foundation, let him look to the materials and the nature of his work; whether he raise a stately and magni- | ficent temple upon it, adorned as it were like the house of God at Jerusalem, with gold and silver, and large, beautiful, and costly stones; or a mean hovel, consisting of nothing better than planks of wood roughly put together, and thatched with hay and stubble. That is, let him look to it, whether he teach the substantial, vital truths of Christianity, and which it was intended to support and illustrate; or set himself to propagate vain subtilties and conceits on the one hand, or legal rites and Jewish traditions on the other; which although they do not entirely destroy the foundation, disgrace it, as a mean edifice would do a grand and extensive foundation laid with great pomp and solemnity." This probably expresses the correct sense of the passage. The foundation may be well laid; yet on this foundation an edifice may be reared that shall be truly magnificent, or one that shall be mean and worthless. So the true foundation of a church may be laid, or of individual conversion to God, in the true doctrine respecting Christ. church or that individual may be built up and adorned with all the graces which truth is fitted to produce; or there may be false principles and teachings superadded; doctrines that shall delude and lead astray; or views and feelings cultivated as piety, and believed to be piety, which may be no part of true religion, but which are mere delusion and fanaticism. Gold, silver.-On the meaning of these words it is not necessary to

That

Used for thatching the building, or for a roof. Perhaps, also, grass was sometimes employed in some way to make the walls of the building. Such an edifice would burn readily; would be constantly exposed to take fire. By this is meant, (1.) Errors and false doctrines, such as will not be found to be true in the day of judgment, and as will then be swept away. (2.) Such practices and mistaken views of piety, as shall grow out of false doctrines and errors. The foundation may be firm. Those who are referred to, may be building on the Lord Jesus, and may be true Christians. Yet there is much error among those who are not Christians. There are many things mistaken for piety which will yet be seen to be false. There is much enthusiasm, wildfire, fanaticism, bigotry; much affected humility; much that is supposed to be orthodoxy; much regard to forms and ceremonies; to "days, and months, and times, and years,” (Gal. iv. 10;) much over-heated zeal, and much precision, and solemn sanctimoniousness; much regard for external ordinances where the heart is wanting, that shall be found to be false, and that shall be swept away in the day of judgment.

VER. 13. Every man's work shall be made ma

nifest for the day shall declare it, because it
shall be revealed by fire; and the 'fire shall
try every man's work, of what sort it is.
i Zech. xiii. 9. 2 Pet. i. 7; iv. 12.

h is.

this. He shall receive a reward.-According to the nature of his work. See Note on ver. 8. This refers, I suppose, to the proper rewards on the day of judgment, and not to the honours and the recompense which he may receive in this world. If all that he has taught and done shall be proved to have been genuine and pure, then his reward shall be in proportion.

VER. 15. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

k Zech. iii. 2. Jude 23.

Every man's work shall be made manifest.What every man has built on this foundation shall be seen. Whether he has held truth or error; whether he has had correct views of piety or false; whether what he has done has been what he should have done or not. For the day. -The day of judgment. The great day which shall reveal the secrets of all hearts, and the truth in regard to what every man has done. The event will show what edifices on the true foundation are firmly, and what are weakly built. Perhaps the word day here may mean time in general, as we say, "time will show"-and as the Latin adage says, dies docebit; but it is more natural to refer it to the day of judgment. Be- If any man's work shall be burned.—If it shall || cause it shall be revealed by fire.-The work, the not be found to bear the test of the investigation edifice which shall be built on the true founda- of that day-as a cottage of wood, hay, and tion shall be made known amidst the fire of the stubble would not bear the application of fire. If great day. The fire which is here referred to is, his doctrines have not been true; if he has had doubtless, that which shall attend the consumma- mistaken views of piety; if he has nourished tion of all things-the close of the world. That feelings which he thought were those of religion; the world shall be destroyed by fire, and that the and inculcated practices which, however well solemnities of the judgment shall be ushered in meant, are not such as the gospel produces; if he by a universal conflagration, is fully and fre- has fallen into error of opinion, feeling, practice, quently revealed. See Isa. lxvi. 15. 2 Thess. however conscientious, yet he shall suffer loss. He i. 8. 2 Pet. iii. 7, 10, 11. The burning fires of shall suffer loss.-(1.) He shall not be elevated to as that day, Paul says, shall reveal the character of high a rank and to as high happiness as he otherevery man's work, as fire sheds light on all wise would. That which he supposed would be around, and discloses the true nature of things. regarded as acceptable by the Judge, and reIt may be observed, however, that many critics warded accordingly, shall be stripped away, and suppose this to refer to the fire of persecution, &c. shown to be unfounded and false; and, in conse-Macknight. Whitby supposes that the apostle quence, he shall not obtain those elevated rerefers to the approaching destruction of Jeru- wards which he anticipated. This, compared salem. Others, as Grotius, Rosenmüller, &c. with what he expected, may be regarded as a suppose that the reference is to time in general; loss. (2.) He shall be injuriously affected by it shall be declared ere long; it shall be seen this for ever. It shall be a detriment to him to whether those things which are built on the true all eternity. The effects shall be felt in all his foundation are true by the test of time, &c. But residence in heaven-not producing misery-but the most natural interpretation is that which re- attending him with the consciousness that he fers it to the day of judgment. And the fire shall might have been raised to superior bliss in the try every man's work.-It is the property of fire to eternal abode.-The phrase here literally means, test the qualities of objects. Thus, gold and I he shall be mulcted." The word is a law term, silver, so far from being destroyed by fire, are and means that he shall be fined, i. e. he shall purified from dross. Wood, hay, stubble, are suffer detriment. But he himself shall be saved. consumed. The power of fire to try or test the -The apostle all along has supposed that the nature of metals, or other objects, is often re- true foundation was laid, (ver. 11,) and if that is ferred to in the Scripture. Comp. Isa. iv. 4; laid, and the edifice is reared upon that, the perxxiv. 15. Mal. iii. 2. 1 Pet. i. 7. It is not to son who does it shall be safe. There may be be supposed here that the material fire of the last much error, and many false views of religion, day shall have any tendency to purify the soul, and much imperfection, still the man that is or to remove that which is unsound; but that the building on the true foundation shall be safe. investigations and trials of the judgment shall His errors and imperfections shall be removed, remove all that is evil, as fire acts with reference and he may occupy a lower place in heaven, but to gold and silver. As they are not burned, but he shall be safe. Yet so as by fire (we dià πvọóc). purified; as they pass unhurt through the intense-This passage has greatly perplexed commenheat of the furnace, so shall all that is genuine pass through the trials of the last great day, of which trials the burning world shall be the antecedent and the emblem. That great day shall show what is genuine and what is not. VER. 14. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

If any man's work abide, &c.-If it shall appear that he has taught the true doctrines of Christianity, and inculcated right practices and views of piety, and himself cherished right feelings: if the trial of the great day, when the real qualities of all objects shall be shown, shall show

66

tators; but probably without any good reason. The apostle does not say that Christians will be doomed to the fires of purgatory; nor that they will pass through fire; nor that they will be exposed to pains and punishment at all; but he simply carries out the figure which he commenced, and says that they will be saved, as if the action of fire had been felt on the edifice on which he is speaking. That is, as fire would consume the wood, hay, and stubble, so on the great day every thing that is erroneous and imperfect in Christians shall be removed, and that which is true and genuine shall be preserved as if it had passed through fire. Their whole cha

D