Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians John Calvin (continued)
Commentary on the Corinthians on our own account, or with a view to advantage to accrue to us, but have devoted our service to the Lord. In our endeavors to build you up, we have not been influenced by a view to our own advantage, but with a view to your being God's planting and building. This latter interpretation I rather prefer, for I am of opinion, that Paul meant here to express the idea, that true ministers labor not for themselves, but for the Lord. Hence it follows, that the Corinthians were greatly to blame in devoting themselves to men, 168 while of right they belonged exclusively to God. And, in the first place, he calls them his husbandry, following out the metaphor previously taken up, and then afterwards, with the view of introducing himself to a larger discussion, he makes use of another metaphor, derived from architecture. 169
1 Corinthians 3:10-15
1 Corinthians 3:10-15 10. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
10. Ut saplens architectus, secundum gratiam Dei mihi datam, fundamentum posui, alius autem superaedificat: porro unusquisque videat, quomodo superaedificet.
11. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
11. Fundamentum enim aliud nemo potest ponere, praeter id quod positum est, quod est Iesus Christus.
12. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
12. Si quis autem superstruat super fundamentum hoc aurum, argentum, lapides pretiosos, ligna, faenum, stipulam,
13. Every man's work shall be made manifest: 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.
13. Cuiuscunque opus manifestum fiet: dies enim manifestabit, quia in igne revelabitur, et cuiuscunque opus quale sit, ignis probabit.
14. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
14. Si cuius opus maneat quod superaedificaverit, mercedem accipiet. 15. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
15. Si cuius opus arserit, jacturam faciet: ipse autem salvus fiet, sic tamen
168"De se rendre suiets aux hommes, et attacher la leurs affections;" — "In making themselves subject to men, and placing their affections there."
169"De la massonerie, ou charpenterie;" — "From masonry, or carpentry."