This week's study looked at 1 Cor 2:6-16 through 1 Cor 3:1-23 and focused especially on 1 Cor 3:11-16 wherein we read:
For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
The group discussed whether the context of 1 Cor 2:6-16 through 1 Cor 3:1-23 was about general Christians or was about Paul attempting to demonstrate that the apostles "have the mind of Christ", or inspiration. There was some talk about 1 Cor 2:15 as to what it means. Does it mean Christians can't be judged or is this Paul again asserting his authority as an apostle, which is often the theme with Paul?
As the group focused on 1 Cor 3:11-16, it was agreed that the "foundation" is the basic Gospel message and that the "building upon" it is when someone adds more doctrine to the basic Gospel. Further that the hay, wood, and stubble and gold, silver, and precious stones AREN'T "bad works" versus "good works" but rather bad doctrines versus good doctrines. The contention is, per 1 Cor 3:15, that a person who is truly saved, may hold to incorrect doctrines and yet still be saved.
Although the group did not have commentaries to check how theologians have interpreted these verses, here I shall provide some of those commentaries on 1 Cor 3:11-16.
GENEVA
"That is that admonitions, exhortations, and whatever pertains to the edifying of the flock, is answerable to the doctrine of Christ, in the matter as well as in form. This doctrine is compared to gold, silver, and precious stones: of which material Isaiah also and John in the Revelation build the heavenly city. And to these are the opposites, wood, hay, stubble, that is to say, curious and vain questions or decrees: and to be short, all the type of teaching which serves to vain show. For false doctrines, of which he does not speak here, are not correctly said to be built upon this foundation, unless perhaps in show only...He [Paul] does not take away the hope of salvation from the unskillful and foolish builders, who hold fast the foundation, of which sort were those rhetoricians, rather than the pastors of Corinth. However, he adds an exception, that they must nonetheless suffer this trial of their work, and also abide the loss of their vain labours." - source
CALVIN
"The sum is this — that the Church must by all means be founded upon Christ alone, and that Paul had executed this department of duty so faithfully that nothing could be found to be wanting in his ministry. Hence, whoever may come after him, can in no other way serve the Lord with a good conscience, or be listened to as ministers of Christ, than by studying to make their doctrine correspond with his, and retain the foundation which he has laid. Hence we infer, that those are not faithful workmen for building up the Church, but on the contrary are scatterers of it, (Matthew 12:30) who succeed faithful ministers, but do not make it their aim to conform themselves to their doctrine, and carry forward what has been well commenced, so as to make it quite manifest attempting no new work...Now the fundamental doctrine, which it were unlawful to undermine, is, that we learn Christ, for Christ is the only foundation of the Church; but there are many who, while they make use of Christ’s name in pretense, tear up the whole truth of God by the roots...By gold, then, and silver, and precious stones, he means doctrine worthy of Christ, and of such a nature as to be a superstructure corresponding to such a foundation...by wood, stubble and hay, is meant doctrine not answering to the foundation, such as is forged in men’s brain, and is thrust in upon us as though it were the oracles of God." - source
So, as you can see, our group's conclusions on the interpretation of this text are at least in line with historic, Reformed Christian thinking. Paul was indeed talking about how he "executed this department of duty so faithfully that nothing could be found to be wanting in his ministry", or by speaking of having the mind of Christ, he was speaking of having authority and inspiration of an apostle. Further, we see it was correct to contrast the lesser things such as wood with the greater such as gold as being not works bad or good, but doctrines as they are built upon the basic Gospel.
Thus, our group concluded it is important to build good doctrine on the Gospel rather than "such as is forged in men’s brain, and is thrust in upon us" as Calvin called bad doctrines.
