Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians John Calvin (continued)
John Calvin
17. Si quis ternplum Dei corrumpit, 188 hunc perdet Deus. Templum enim Dei sanctum est, quod estis vos.
18. Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise,
18. Nemo se decipiat, si quis videtur sapiens esse inter vos: in saeculo hoc stultus fiat, 189 ut fiat sapiens.
19. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
19. Sapientia enim mundi huius stultitia est apud Deum. Scriptum est enim (Job 5:13) Deprehendens sapientes in astutia sua.
20. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
20. Et rursum (Psalm 94:11) Dominus novit cogitationes sapientum vanas esse.
21. Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; 21. Proinde nemo glorietur in hominibus, omnia enim vestra sunt; 22. Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;
22. Sive Paulus, sive Apollos, sive Cephas, sive mundus, sive vita, sive mors, sive prmsentia, sive futura: omnia vestra sunt,
23. And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's. 23. Vos autem Christi; Christus autem Dei. 16. Know ye not, etc. Having admonished the teachers as to their duty, he now addresses himself to the pupils — that they, too, may take heed to themselves. To the teachers he had said, "You are the master-builders of the house of God." He now says to the people, "You are the temples of God. It is your part, therefore, to take care that you be not, in any way defiled." Now, the design 190 is, that they may not prostitute themselves to the service of men. He confers upon them distinguished honor in speaking thus, but it is in order that they may be made the more reprehensible; for, as God has set them apart as a temple to himself, he has at the same time appointed them to be guardians of his temple It is sacrilege, then, if they give themselves up to the service of men. He speaks of all of them collectively as being one temple of God; for every believer is a living stone, (1 Peter 2:5,) for the rearing up of the building of God. At the same time they also, in some cases, individually receive the name of temples We shall find him a little afterwards (1 Corinthians 6:19) repeating the same sentiment, but for another purpose. For in that passage he treats of chastity; but here, on the other hand, he exhorts them to have their faith resting on the obedience of 188"Viole destruit;" — "Violates, or destroys." 189"Si aucvn entre vous cuide estre sage, qu'il soit fait fol en ce monde, afin qu'il soit sage — ou, sage en ce monde, qu'il soit fait fol, afin, etc.;" — "If any one among you seemeth to be wise, let him become a fool in this world, that he may be wise — or, wise in this world, let him become a fool, that," etc.
190"De cest aduertissement;" — "Of this caution."