Apostle Paul expands upon another of Jesus’ teachings as he explains his point that the Corinthian congregation needs to stop arguing and idolizing human teachers. Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” God dwells in the believers’ souls. We are like the temple of God.
When Paul first arrived in Corinth, he laid the foundation of Christ and him crucified (2:2). Others like Apollos, through sound doctrine, continued the work of building them up, just as a good mason and carpenter build floors, walls, and ceilings. Sound doctrine and righteous living were like using gold, silver, and costly stones.
However, others were not teaching sound doctrine. They were twisting the gospel. They countered Jesus’ teachings like, “If a person follows me, they must carry their cross.” The false builders were teaching the prosperity gospel. They did not deny themselves. They were building with wood, hay, and straw, which will burn on the day of divine judgment (13). Paul is writing only to Christians.
Paul, in his second letter to the Corinthian congregation, will make this point clear again, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10)
Teach truth and be rewarded. Teach half-truth, which is not the truth, and lose the reward. “He will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames” (15). Jesus said similarly about losing one’s intended reward, “Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents.” (Matthew 25:28) Sincerity does not verify doctrine, but it saves the man.
