John,
Thanks! As I began to read your message I realized the mistake. Too many late nights! My point is still basically the same, was Paul making a veiled reference to those who were coming in behind him and seeking to win the affection of the Cor. over? Their presence is much more prominently shown, of course, in the second epistle.
I am still mixed. Given Paul's ability to say what he means by making general statments to his readers, I would tend to believe still that he is making reference to some specific individuals that he has in mind, and who are building on the foundation he has laid at Cor. However, I was more interested in how the grammar played out here. Is it clearly a generic statement, or can it be construed more specifically. The seemingly emphatic "According... I laid..." followed by the "another builds" almost begs a specific referent.
Thanks again!
Paul F. Evans
Pastor
Thunder Swamp Pentecostal Holiness Church
MT. Olive, NC
evans@esn.net
http://ww2.esn.net/~evans
"Endeavouring to make use of NT Greek in real life ministry!"
----------
> From: John M. Sweigart <jsweiger@CSWNET.COM>
> To: evans@esn.net
> Subject: Re: Re. 1 Cor. 3:10-17
> Date: Wednesday, May 21, 1997 9:33 AM
>
> Paul F. Evans wrote:
> >
> > List,
> >
> > I am hot on the trail of another exegesis and would like some advice.
> >
> > There are several things about this passage that puzzle me, given my
> > rather rudimentary knowledge of koine.
> >
> > In the opening verse Paul speaks of laying a foundation and then
> > speaks of ALLOS EPOIKODOMEI. The NASB translates this "and another is
> > building upon it," the NIV "and someone else is building on it."
> > Obviously the English prep. phrase is understood. Is this a general
> > statement of the sort, "I planted the seed, Apolos watered..." (1 Cor.
> > 3:6)? In other words, is Paul observing that in a general sense that
> > others are building on the foundation he has laid, or is there someone
> > specific in mind. That is, is the ALLOS somewhat emphatic (is that
> > the right term?)?. Paul was having problems in Corinth with
> > Judaizers, and I was wondering if this construction seems to hint at
> > it, ie. "another (singular) is building...." I ask this because he
> > makes reference the possibility of sub-std. building materials.
> >
> > I seem to see a much less complicated "...another builds," here. In
> > which case I feel as though the DE is somewhat adversative, "I
> > laid..."...but another builds," one of Paul's barbed statements that
> > makes a point ever so subtly!
> >
> > Some guidance would be appreciated.
> >
> > This passage is full of interesting constructions. Another is at the
> > end of this paragraph.
> >
> > ...GAR HO NAON HAGIOS ESTIN TOU QEOU HOITINES ESTE HUMEIS
> >
> > I am struggling with the ambuguity of this. Is paul saying "whose
> > temple you are" or is he saying "whose you are" in the sense of
> > belonging to God?
> >
> > One last question. What are we to make of the structure of:
> >
> > ...EPI TO QEMELION XPUSON, ARGURON, ETC.
> >
> > How are QEMELION and the other nouns linked grammatically, is it an
> > attributive arrangement, where the the nouns serve as adjectives
> > describing the foundation? I can't seem to grasp it!
> >
> > Please forgive me if these questions seem to be very elementary, but I
> > seem to detect in this paragraph a veiled attempt by Paul to describe
> > his position with respect to those who seem to be undermining his work
> > at Corinth. I wonder if I may be reading more into the text than is
> > really there.
> >
> > Paul F. Evans
> > Pastor
> > Thunder Swamp Pentecostal Holiness Church
> > MT. Olive, NC
> >
> > E-mail: evans@esn.net
> > Web-page: http://ww2.esn.net/~evans
> >
> > "Endeavouring to make use of NT Greek in real life ministry!"
>
> Dear Paul;
>
> Just a few non-Greek thoughts on the passage. The issue is not as much
> Judaizers as following human personalities or teachers. Compare "I am
> of Paul. I am of Apollos. I am of Cephas. I am of Christ." So when we
> come to 3:10-17 we are seeking to clarify the real role of the
> messaeger. According to 3:5-9 the messengers are servants. One laid
> the foundation=evangelizing; another built upon the
> foundation=edification or building up the body. But there is a warning
> attached. The only foundation that can be laid is the message of the
> centrality of Chirst and His atoning death. Anything other is false
> doctrine. But subsequent teachers of converts have the potential to
> build with gold, silver, etc. or wood, hay and stubble. And the teacher
> will be rewarded for his accuracy in teaching. So the passage is more
> directed to the messenger whose teaching will be evaluated by the Lord.
> The learners must be careful that they do not form factions around their
> favorite pastor-teacher (3:18-23).
>
> John of Dover