"upon this rock I will build My church" (Mt 16:18)
"do not say 'I am of Peter'" (1 Cor 1:10)
"as gardeners and builders... each man must be careful how he builds on it." (1 Cor 3:10)
"I used the gardener and builder figures to that you learn not to exceed what is written" (1 Cor 4:6)
Jesus intended his church to built upon scripture, not Peter or oral traditions.

1. The larger context of 1 Cor 4:6 is in a section of 1 Corinthians we call, "preacheritus" (Chapters 1-4.) The church was beginning to follow men rather than scripture. Of course Roman Catholics today say, "I am of Peter" ... the pope. This directly violates what Paul said here.
2. These four chapters are a contextual unit. We connect Mt 16:18 + 1 Cor 1:10-13 + 1 Cor 3:5-17 + 1 Cor 4:6.
3. "upon this rock I will build My church" Mt 16:18 + "as gardeners and builders... each man must be careful how he builds on it." (1 Cor 3:10) "I used the gardener and builder figures to that you learn not to exceed what is written" (1 Cor 4:6)
4. Paul did not say, "The things are to teach you not to exceed my oral teachings." Instead the emphasis is on showing the supremacy of scripture over oral tradition.
5. What makes this even more powerful, is the fact that in 54 AD, only a few of the New Testament books were written, yet the church was still warned to abide within the scripture she had.
6. In the time of transition (50 - 96 AD) between 100% oral (30- 50 AD) and 100% written (96 AD - present), we find the highest standard is written. This is most troubling to traditionalists in their myth making claims the church did not have the Bible until the 4th century.

A. Context: of connected passages: Matthew 16:18 + 1 Cor 1:10-13 + 1 Cor 3:5-17 + 1 Cor 4:6.

1. "I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it." Matthew 16:18
2. "Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe's people, that there are quarrels among you. Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, "I am of Paul," and "I of Apollos," and "I of Peter," and "I of Christ." Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?" 1 Corinthians 1:10-13
3. "What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are." 1 Corinthians 3:5-17
4. "Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us you may learn not to exceed what is written, so that no one of you will become arrogant in behalf of one against the other." 1 Corinthians 4:6

1. There are two figures: The figure mentioned in 4:6 directly refers to the "planting, watering" of 3:6 and the "master builder" figure of 3:10.
2. Notice the figure is designed to impress the reader not to exceed what is written.
3. In 3:6 it is speaking about making the church grow. Remember Jesus said, "Upon this rock I will build my church" Matthew 16:18.
4. In other words, in being God's workman, in finding new members, making the local church prosper, church government, doctrine and the like, we must not exceed what is written!

"upon this rock I will build My church" (Mt 16:18)

"do not say 'I am of Peter'" (1 Cor 1:10)

"as gardeners and builders... each man must be careful how he builds on it." (1 Cor 3:10)

"I used the gardener and builder figures to that you learn not to exceed what is written" (1 Cor 4:6)

Jesus intended his church to built upon scripture, not Peter or oral traditions.

1. 1 Cor 4:6 so clearly refutes the Roman Catholic and Orthodox church's doctrine of oral tradition, they do not know what to do with it!
2. Jesus said, "upon this rock I will build My church" and Paul warned: "in building the church, do not exceed scripture!"

by Steve Rudd

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