Who Builds: Every Believer or Church Leaders?

[UntoHim]

Who Builds: Every Believer or Church Leaders? (1 Cor. 3:10-17)

1 Cor. 3:10-17 “is one of the most significant passages in the New Testament that warns… those responsible for ‘building’ the church of Christ,” says Prof. Gordon D. Fee. It is particularly significant in LSM’s Local Church Movement, since it mentions being “saved through fire.” This concept fits LSM’s teaching about believers’ discipline during the coming 1,000-year kingdom. Regarding this W. Lee says,1 “To be saved through fire indicates clearly that you will be saved through a certain amount of discipline… a certain kind of burning purification, a certain kind of purging. This is a suffering, a discipline, and a kind of punishment. Those who build with the wrong material will be saved through punishment.” The specter of future punishment or “burning purification,” causes anxiety among Local Church believers regarding the Lord’s return. Instead of being a “blessed (happy) hope” (Tit. 2:13), the Lord’s return produces trepidation for Local Church members who fear they aren’t “overcoming.” For them the warning in 1 Cor. 3 is another “nail in their coffin” for failing to reach the standard of the “Lord’s Recovery.” Here we examine this Scripture, asking--to whom does this warning apply? Is Paul addressing all Christian believers, as Witness Lee and LSM contend? Or is the Apostle’s warning aimed principally at leaders (apostles, ministers)?

1 Cor. 3 “warns… those responsible for ‘building’ the church”-- Gordon D. Fee

Gordon D. Fee, Prof. of New Testament at Regent College, Vancouver, BC, calls 1 Cor. 3:10-17 “one of the most significant passages in the New Testament that warns… those responsible for ‘building’ the church of Christ.” But the question arises—who are those responsible for ‘building’ the church? Is this passage (with its dire warnings) addressed to all Christian believers? Or is it addressed more specifically to Christian leaders/ ministers? Let’s look at the passage in context (1 Cor. 3:4-23, RcV):

4 “For when someone says, I am of Paul, and another, I of Apollos, are you not men of flesh? 5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Ministers through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave to each one of them. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth. 7 So then neither is he who plants anything nor he who waters, but God who causes the growth. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's cultivated land, God's building.”

10 “According to the grace of God given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid a foundation, and another builds upon it. But let each man take heed how he builds upon it. 11 For another foundation no one is able to lay besides that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 But if anyone builds upon the foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, grass, stubble, 13 The work of each will become manifest; for the day will declare it, because it is revealed by fire, and the fire itself will prove each one's work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone's work which he has built upon the foundation remains, he will receive a reward; 15 If anyone's work is consumed, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, yet so as through 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, and such are you… 21 So then let no one boast in men, for all things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all are yours, 23 But you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.”

“Each man take heed how he builds”

The sober warning occurs in 1 Cor. 3:10-17. Paul says he laid the unique foundation (Jesus Christ). He warns regarding the structure built upon his foundation. It will be tested by fire; the result will be either reward or being barely “saved through fire” (v. 15). Moreover, he cautions that anyone destroying God’s temple will be destroyed (v. 17). An obvious question is—who is the main object of these warnings?

“Each of us, every member …must take heed how we build”

At first sight the answer might appear obvious. The repeated phrases “each man,” “anyone,” “each one’s work,” etc., suggest the warnings have general application—that they apply to each and every Christian believer. However, it soon becomes clear the term, “each one,” doesn’t necessarily encompass all believers. Chapter 3:8 says, “Now he who plants [Paul] and he who waters [Apollos] are one, but each [one] will receive his own reward….” Here, the phrase “each [one]” is limited to Paul and Apollos, the two workers in view. Context determines the scope.

“The church is built …by every member”—W. Lee

Some expositors assert Paul’s warning word applies to all believers. For example, W. Lee says,2 “1 Cor. 3:10… indicates that the church is built not only by ministers of Christ such as Paul, Apollos, and Cephas, but by every member of the Body. Every one of us must be a builder…Hence, each of us, every member of the Body, must take heed how we build; that is, we must take heed with what material we build. We must build with gold, silver, and precious stones, not with wood, grass, and stubble.” Along the same lines, he says,3 “Paul's word in [1 Cor.] 3:12 …is written to every believer. …this verse is intended for all of us. It applies to you and also to me.” He also says,4 The intention of the apostle in this Epistle was to warn the believers not to build the church with the things of their natural background. They must learn to build with Christ…”

Other Bible expositors endorse this view, for e.g. the ESV Study Bible says5 “Paul’s point applies not just to church leaders but to anyone who contributes in any way to building up the church (1 Cor. 12:7, 12-31; 14:12).”

Who builds the Church—Christ, the Ministers or the Believers?

W. Lee asserts that the church is built, not by Christ Himself directly, or by the Apostles. He states repeatedly that the Church is built by all the believers. W. Lee’s exposition proceeds as follows:6 “In Matt. 16:18 the Lord said that He would build His church; yet here [in 1 Cor. 3] the apostle said that he was a builder, even a wise master builder. This indicates that the Lord builds the church not directly but through His ministers, even through every member of His Body, as revealed in Eph. 4:16…” Elsewhere he says,7 “We may think that Christ was the Builder, that the apostle Paul was a builder, and that today the leading brothers are builders, but that we ourselves are not builders. However, every member of the church should be a builder. Eventually, the church will be built not directly by Christ or the apostles but by every small member. According to Eph. 4:16, the building of the church as the Body of Christ is accomplished by every part of the Body.”

Note that W. Lee’s assertion—that the church is built by every member—is derived from Eph. 4:16; it is then extrapolated to 1 Cor. 3. Yes, Ephesians says Christ’s Body builds itself up through the operation of every part. However, in 1 Cor. 3, the church is not presented as Christ’s Body; it is God’s farm/field and God’s building. The metaphors are different; the farm/field does not plant and water itself, neither does the building/temple construct itself. We ought to ask—how would the original recipients, the Corinthians, have understood Paul’s epistle to them. Ephesians wasn’t written until a decade after this epistle (1 Cor.), so we can’t assume they would’ve interpreted Paul’s warning based on that later letter. Moreover, the two epistles address different situations. Corinthians deals with divisions over workers; Ephesians doesn’t address that problem. We can’t simply assume, a priori, that Paul’s building metaphors are being applied in exactly the same way in both epistles. Now, let’s consider the alternative view.

“Those currently leading the church take heed”

New Testament Prof. Gordon D. Fee presents a different interpretation-- that Paul’s warning is aimed primarily at church leaders. Other expositors concur. Dr. Fee calls this passage8 “one of the most significant passages in the New Testament that warns…those responsible for ‘building’ the church...” But, who are “those responsible for ‘building’ the church”? He responds,9 “In the final analysis, of course, this includes all believers, but it has particular relevance …to those with teaching/ leadership responsibilities.” More definitely he asserts that Paul’s10 “concern is singular, that those currently leading the church take heed because their present work will not stand the fiery test to come, having shifted from the imperishable ‘stuff’ of Jesus Christ and him crucified.”

Hollander concurs with this interpretation, saying,11 “It is doubtful if we should see in 3:10-15 'a reference to the work of all believers.' … it is more plausible that Paul is referring to those people who were appointed to be missionaries and teachers” Kent Yinger agrees, stating,12 “While the text certainly carries implications for the whole congregation…Paul is now addressing a warning more specifically to the leaders.” Plus, he asserts,13 “This text is not about the Corinthians’ works in general, but about the specific work of teaching/ leading.”

Based on Context

Dr. Fee concludes that Paul’s warning is focused on the Corinthian Church leaders, rather than the Corinthian believers in general. He deduces this from the context. Just prior to this passage, Paul’s first metaphor depicts the believers as God’s field/farm; God’s ministers, Paul and Apollos, “plant and water.” As coworkers they work jointly on God’s “cultivated land,” yet God rewards them according to their labors. It’s clear that in this metaphor, the workers (Paul & Apollos) are evaluated and rewarded, not the Corinthian believers (they are the “field”). When Paul switches metaphors we shouldn’t be surprised if this point carries over.

Paul then shifts metaphors from agriculture to architecture —“you are God's field, God's building” (v. 9) But, Dr. Fee says,14 “the particulars in both metaphors are the same (Paul plants/lays the foundation; Apollos waters/builds on the foundation; the Corinthian church is the field/building…).” Notice that the Corinthian believers are the ‘field /building’ in v. 9. Immediately after (in v. 16) they are “God’s temple,” also a building. In this analogy it is the workers/ leaders (Paul, Apollos, etc) who “plant, water and build;” the Corinthian church is the object of their labor. David Garland emphasizes this distinction; he says, regarding the field/farm and building/temple,15 “both images are passive…the Corinthians …are, in sharp contrast to their leaders, nothing other than objects of God’s work,’…The Corinthians are still a work in progress.”

So, who “builds upon the foundation”? The emphasis is not on Paul; he, as the “master builder,” (v. 10) laid the foundation. As Hollander states, Paul,16 “excludes himself. Verses 12-15 deal exclusively with the builders or, in the words of the apostle in the previous section, with those who watered, not with the one who planted.” Who builds? One immediately thinks of Apollos; but Paul doesn’t name Apollos, specifically. As Hollander states,17 “it is clear that Paul, again, does not only have Apollos in mind but all those who were involved in the building up of the Christian church in Corinth, in short all the 'heroes' [Apollos, Cephas (Peter), etc].” Garland concurs saying,18 “Paul uses indefinite terms—‘anyone, each one,’ etc— to allow them to apply what he says to any teacher or leader, since they have ‘countless guides’ (4:5).”

Based on a carefully reasoned exposition of 1 Cor. 3, these scholars conclude that the “builders” being warned in 1 Cor. 3 are not the Corinthian believers in general, but rather the workers, leaders, and ministers. Hollander says,19 “All builders, all authorities in the Christian community, are servants of God, whose works cannot be approved or disapproved by the members of the church. The Christians in Corinth are not in a position to judge apostles and missionaries. It is God who, at the Final Judgment, will disclose their work and will administer justice to each of them individually.” Dr. Fee states that20 “The point of 3:10-15 is clearly expressed in verse 10, ‘But each one should build with care.’…What Paul does here is …to warn those who lead the [Corinthian] church that they must do so with great care because a day of testing is coming.” Plus, Paul’s warning word about damaging God’s temple (vv. 16-17) “focus[es] more specifically on those few who seem to be the prime movers of the present quarrelling,” says Fee.21

Warning Leaders of Corinth’s Factions

Dr. Bob Utley, Professor of Hermeneutics, reaches similar conclusions, with slight modification. After considering various interpretations, he says,22 “It seems best to me not to relate this text to all Christians, but also, neither to restrict it to leaders. This text specifically relates to those who promote factions and divisions within the [Corinthian] church.” He deduces that Paul’s warning is geared to the leaders of the various factions, who declare “I’m of Paul or Apollos, etc.” Hence, Dr. Utley states that “It is the leaders of these factious groups that Paul is comparing to himself and Apollos in 3:6-9. The immediate context relates vv. 10-15 to leaders, to how they use their spiritual gifts in serving the church. This is the thrust of the warning of v. 17.”23 So Dr. Utley concurs that Paul’s warnings “relate to those leaders in the [Corinthian] church who were promoting a factious spirit.”

Prof. Utley points out that this conclusion does not rely on an unscriptural distinction between “clergy and laity.” In Scripture,24 “there is no spiritual distinction between clergy and laity, leader and follower, but there is a task distinction (cf. Num. 16:3). Leaders are more accountable (Jam. 3:1),” Utley observes. James writes, “We who teach will be judged with greater strictness” (3:1). Plus Church leaders must “give an account” for the believers under their care (Heb. 13:17), something not required of all believers. Hence to limit the focus of Paul’s warning to church leaders does not violate Scripture. We note, in this context, that LSM identifies two “classes” of believer—the “gifts” (apostles, prophets, evangelists, etc Eph. 4:11) or “joints of supply” (Eph. 4:16), on one hand, and the believers in general, “each one part” (Eph. 4:16) referring to each member of the Body, on the other. The second view, described above, is that the “builders” being warned in 1 Cor. 3 correspond to the first category--the “gifts” (apostles, prophets, evangelists, etc), and not the second, each and every believer.

Anticipating LSM’s Rebuttal

Loyal members of LSM’s Local Church find it difficult to entertain any interpretation of Scripture which doesn’t match Witness Lee’s exposition and LSM’s Recovery Version notes. In their view, Witness Lee’s teaching is the “interpreted Word,” on par with God’s “written Word,” Scripture itself. On this topic W. Lee said, “Paul's word in [1 Cor. 3] 3:12 …is written to every believer. …this verse is intended for all of us. It applies to you and also to me.” LSM loyalists will respond, “If W. Lee says so, that’s the only acceptable interpretation!”

In view of LSM’s entrenched position, it’s worth asking—“Who does LSM blame for division in the Church?” In LSM’s Recovery Version outline the context of 1 Cor. 3 is Paul “Dealing with Divisions” (1:10 to 4:21). These divisions were manifested in the Corinthians aligning with workers, declaring, “I’m of Paul, I’m of Apollos, I’m of Cephas, and I’m of Christ” (1:12, cf. 3:4). According to W. Lee’s exposition of 1 Cor., Paul addresses this problem by warning all the Corinthian believers—“beware how you build” (1 Cor. 3:10-15). But, more generally, when LSM addresses the issue of division in the “Lord’s Recovery,” where is blame assigned, who is warned?

“Most of the divisions …brought in by the workers”—W. Lee

In Church history according to the “Lord’s Recovery,” Witness Lee assigned blame for division, not on the saints in general, but on the workers. He said,25 “Most of the divisions among Christians were brought in by the workers. The history of the church shows that the more workers were raised up by the Lord, the more divisions were created.” He also applied this principle within the “Lord’s Recovery.” He said,26 “All the workers are in a dangerous position of bringing in a sect …We have to be very careful. Otherwise, perhaps after 15 years there will be as many sects as the number of full-time co-workers we have here today. If we have 7 or 8 workers today, we could have 7 or 8 sects 15 years from now. From history we can see that nearly all the gifted persons were sect creators. There was hardly any exception.”

Witness Lee certainly blamed workers for division—Max Rappaport & Sal Benoit for the 1977/8 “turmoil.”; John Ingalls, Bill Mallon, John So, & Joseph Fung were credited with “fermenting rebellion” in the 1986/7 “turmoil.” LSM’s “blended brothers” followed W. Lee’s example—Titus Chu & Yu-Lan Dong are blamed for the 2007 “turmoil.” My point is not whether LSM’s accusations were justified (I don’t think they are). The point is that in practice, Witness Lee and LSM attribute division to workers, rather than the believers in general. Thus the history of the “Lord’s Recovery” contradicts Witness Lee’s own interpretation of Paul’s 1 Cor. 3 warning made in the context of “Dealing with Division.” Stated differently, LSM’s practice of attributing division to workers contradicts Witness Lee’s own teaching in 1 Cor. 3.

Conclusions

The purpose of this note is not to reach a definitive conclusion. It points out alternative interpretations and presents their merits. W. Lee interprets Paul’s warnings in 1 Cor. 3 as aimed at all believers; that’s how believers in the Lord’s Recovery heard this passage expounded on many occasions. Seldom (if ever) was this warning passage applied specifically to workers (ministers, leaders) within the Recovery. Yet the history of the “Lord’s Recovery” and LSM’s own practice of attributing blame for division to workers, imply that their interpretation of this Scripture is misaimed. LSM’s history and practice contradict their own interpretation of 1 Cor. 3. Moreover, I think a compelling case can be made that Paul’s warnings in 1 Cor. 3 are aimed specifically at church leaders—both workers (apostles, ministers, etc) and local church leaders. This is consistent with the Lord’s word, “to whom much is given …much will be required” (Luke 12:48).

Nigel Tomes, Toronto, CANADA
Jan. 2013

The author is solely responsible for the views expressed here. They should not be attributed to the church, church elders or Christian workers with whom he is associated. In order to be brief, this article is focused on one specific Scripture (1 Cor. 3) and its interpretation. Wider issues (e.g. other “warning passages”) are not addressed. The question, “Who Builds?” is addressed specifically in the context of 1 Cor. 3. It does not deny that in other Scriptures (e.g. Eph. 4 or 1 Cor. 12) all believers contribute to building Christ’s Body (universally &/or locally). These other issues are not addressed here.

Notes:

1. W. Lee, Elders' Training, Book. 7: One Accord for the Lord's Move, Chapter 7, Section 1

2. W. Lee, Life-Study of 1 Cor., Chapter 23, Section 2, emphasis added

3. W. Lee, Life-Study of 1 Corinthians, Chapter 31, Section 2. The quote in context reads: “Paul's word in 3:12 is not only for elders or co-workers. On the contrary, it is written to every believer. This is included in an Epistle addressed to the church in Corinth, with all those who call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ in every place. Thus, this verse is intended for all of us. It applies to you and also to me.” [W. Lee, Life-Study of 1 Corinthians, Chapter 31, Section 2, emphasis indicates portions quoted in the main text above.] Immediately prior to the quote above, W. Lee says, “We in the Lord's recovery all are doing the work of building. Thus, we must take heed how we build. Are we building with gold, silver, and precious stones, or with wood, grass, and stubble? [W. Lee, Life-Study of 1 Corinthians, Chapter 31, Section 2, emphasis added]

4. New Testament Recovery Version (RcV) Note 1 on 1 Cor. 3:12, emphasis added

5. ESV Note on 1 Cor. 3:14-15 We note however, that this version recoils at the idea of judgment on believers damaging God’s temple (v. 17), saying, “The one who destroys God’s temple (…the church) is not part of God’s people and so faces eternal destruction on the final day...” [ESV Note on 1 Cor. 3:17]

6. RcV. Note 1 on 1 Cor. 3:10 also in W. Lee, Divine Dispensing of the Divine Trinity, Chapter 29, Section 1, emphasis added

7. W. Lee, Building of the Church, Chapter 4, Section 2

8. Gordon D. Fee, 1 Corinthians, p. 145

9. Fee, 1 Corinthians, p. 145, emphasis added

10. Fee, 1 Corinthians, p. 137, emphasis added

11. Harm W. Hollander, “The Testing by Fire of the Builders’ Works: 1 Corinthians 3:10-15” NT Studies, vol. 40, 1994, Note #15, p. 92. The quote in context reads: “It is doubtful if we should see in 3:10-15 'a reference to the work of all believers.' It is true that in 1 Corinthians there are references to the individual responsibility for the up-building of the Christian community (see e.g. 12.7; 14.3—5, 12, 26). But in view of the direct context, esp. 3.4-5 and 3.21-22, it is more plausible that Paul is referring to those people who were appointed to be missionaries and teachers” [Harm W. Hollander, “The Testing by Fire of the Builders’ Works: 1 Corinthians 3:10-15” NT Studies, vol. 40, 1994, Note #15, p. 92]

12. Kent L. Yinger, Paul, Judaism & Judgment according to Deeds, 1999, p. 215, emphasis added. The quote in context erads: “While the text certainly carries implications for the whole congregation’s view of their leaders, Paul is now addressing a warning more specifically to the leaders.” [Kent L. Yinger, Paul, Judaism & Judgment according to Deeds, 1999, p. 215]

13. Kent L. Yinger, Paul, Judaism & Judgment according to Deeds, 1999, p. 221, emphasis added. The quote in context reads: “This text is not about the Corinthians’ works in general, but about the specific work of teaching/ leading.” [Kent L. Yinger, Paul, Judaism & Judgment according to Deeds, 1999, p. 221] Yinger also writes “Having admonished the Corinthians against judging one leader at the expense of another in vv. 5-9, Paul switches metaphors and tone in vv. 10-15 and warns the leaders themselves…” [Kent L. Yinger, Paul, Judaism & Judgment according to Deeds, 1999, p. 222]

14. Gordon D. Fee & Douglas Stuart, How to Read the Bible for all its Worth, p. 66, emphasis added

15. David E. Garland, 1 Corinthians, Baker Exegetical Commentary (2003) p. 113. The quote in context reads: God’s field & God’s building “Both images are passive (Ker, 2000, p. 87) ‘Whereas the Corinthians might imagine that they are in a position to discriminate between the leaders of their [church] community, Paul implies, for the purposes of this discussion, that they are, in sharp contrast to their leaders, nothing other than objects of God’s work,’… The Corinthians are still a work in progress.” [David E. Garland, 1 Corinthians, Baker Exegetical Commentary (2003) p. 113]

16. Harm W. Hollander, “The Testing by Fire of the Builders’ Works: 1 Corinthians 3:10-15” NT Studies, vol. 40, 1994, p. 92

17. Harm W. Hollander, “The Testing by Fire of the Builders’ Works: 1 Corinthians 3:10-15” NT Studies, vol. 40, 1994, p. 92

18. David E. Garland, 1 Corinthians, Baker Exegetical Commentary (2003) p. 113

19. Harm W. Hollander, “The Testing by Fire of the Builders’ Works: 1 Corinthians 3:10-15” NT Studies, vol. 40, 1994, p. 96, emphasis added

20. Gordon D. Fee, 1 Corinthians, p. 137

21. Gordon D. Fee, 1 Corinthians, p. 148

22. Dr. Bob Utley, Paul's Letters to a Troubled Church; 1 & 2 Cor. (1 Cor. 3) emphasis added

23. Dr. Bob Utley, Paul's Letters to a Troubled Church; 1 & 2 Cor. (1 Cor. 3) emphasis added

24. Dr. Bob Utley, Paul's Letters to a Troubled Church; 1 & 2 Cor. (1 Cor. 3) emphasis added

25. W. Lee, Life & Way for the Practice of the Church Life, Chapter 13, Section 1, emphasis added

26. W. Lee, Life & Way for the Practice of the Church Life, Chapter 13, Section 1, emphasis added