1 Corinthians Chapter 3, Verse 22
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22: ειτε παυλος ειτε απολλως ειτε κηφας ειτε κοσμος ειτε ζωη ειτε θανατος ειτε ενεστωτα ειτε μελλοντα παντα υμων εστιν
22: Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or
death, or things present, or things to come; all are your's;
22: For all things are yours, whether it be Paul or Apollo or Cephas,
or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come.
For all are yours.
Whether Paul, or Apollos. The sense of this is clear. Whatever advantages result from the piety, self- denials, and labours of Paul, Apollos, or any other preacher of the gospel, are yours -- you have the benefit of them. One is as much entitled to the benefit as another; and all partake alike in the results of their ministration. You should therefore neither range yourselves into parties with their names given to the parties, nor suppose that one has any peculiar interest in Paul, or another in Apollos. Their labours belonged to the church in general. They had no partialities -- no rivalship -- no desire to make parties. They were united, and desirous of promoting the welfare of the whole church of God. The doctrine is, that ministers belong to the church, and should devote themselves to its welfare; and that the church enjoys, in common, the benefits of the learning, zeal, piety, eloquence, talents, example of the ministers of God. And it may be observed, that it is no small privilege thus to be permitted to regard all the labours of the most eminent servants of God as designed for our welfare; and for the humblest saint to feel that the labours of apostles, the self- denials and sufferings, the pains and dying agonies of martyrs, have been for his advantage.
Or Cephas. Or Peter. (Jn 1:42.)
Or the world. This word is doubtless used, in its common signification, to denote the things which God has made; the universe, the things which pertain to this life. And the meaning of the apostle probably is, that all things pertaining to this world which God has made -- all the events which are occurring in his providence were so far theirs, that they would contribute to their advantage and their enjoyment.
Or life. Life is theirs, because
(1.) they enjoy life. It is real life to them, and not a vain show. They live for a real object, and not for vanity. Others live for parade and ambition -- Christians live for the great purposes of life; and life to them has reality, as being a state preparatory to another and a higher world. Their life is not an endless circle of unmeaning ceremonies -- of false and hollow pretensions to friendship -- of a vain pursuit of happiness, which is never found; but is passed in a manner that is rational, and sober, and that truly deserves to be called life.
(2.) The various events and occurrences of life shall all tend to promote their welfare, and advance their salvation.
Death. They have an interest, a property even in death, usually regarded as a calamity and a curse. But it is theirs,
(1.) because they shall have peace and support in the dying hour.
(2.) Because it has no terrors for them. It shall take away nothing which they are not willing to resign.
(3.) Because it is the avenue which leads to their rest; and it is theirs just in the same sense in which we say that "this is our road" when we have been long absent, and are inquiring the way to our homes.
(4.) Because they shall triumph over it. It is subdued by their Captain, and the grave has been subjected to a triumph by his rising from its chills and darkness.
(5.) Because death is the means -- the occasion of introducing them to their rest. It is the advantageous circumstance in their history, by which they are removed from a world of ills, and translated to a world of glory. It is to them a source of inexpressible advantage, as it translates them to a world of light and eternal felicity; and it may truly be called theirs.
Or things present, or things to come. Events which are now happening, and all that can possibly occur to us. See "Rom 8:38".
All the calamities, trials, persecutions -- all the prosperity, advantages, privileges of the present time, and all that shall yet take place, shall tend to promote our welfare, and advance the interests of our souls, and promote our salvation.
All are your's. All shall tend to promote your comfort and salvation.
