How do cultivation and building images address contention?

Paul could not speak to the readers as spiritual people, but as carnal people and little ones in Christ. He gave them milk rather than meat because they were unable to receive it then, and still are. Their envy and contention show them walking according to man. When one claims Paul and another Apollo, what are those ministers through whom they believed, according to the measure the Lord gave each? Paul planted and Apollo watered, but God gave the increase. The planter and waterer are nothing beside God who gives the increase. They are one, yet each receives reward according to his own labour. They are God’s coadjutors, and the readers his husbandry and building.

According to God’s grace, Paul laid the foundation as a wise architect and another builds on it. Each should take care how he builds, for no other foundation can be laid than Jesus Christ. Building materials are gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay and stubble. The printed annotation explains the foundation as Christ and his doctrine, or true faith working through charity. Precious materials signify more perfect preaching and practice of the gospel; combustible materials include the Corinthians’ pomp of words and human eloquence, imperfections and lesser sins. It identifies the fiery trial of the Lord’s day with particular judgment immediately after death, when the quality of works, difficult to judge during life, becomes manifest. Works unable to withstand the fire bring loss. Those with the right foundation who live and die in true faith and a state of grace are saved as by fire despite imperfection, while liable to punishment for combustible material mixed into the building. These explanations remain attributed to the annotation.

Paul says each work will be manifest, for the Lord’s day will declare it and fire will try its kind. Work that remains receives reward; work that burns brings loss, though the builder himself is saved as by fire. The readers are God’s temple and his Spirit dwells in them. God will destroy anyone who violates his holy temple. No one should deceive himself: someone seeming wise in this world should become a fool to become wise, since worldly wisdom is foolishness with God. Paul cites the catching of the wise in their craft and the vanity of their thoughts. They should not glory in men. Paul, Apollo, Cephas, the world, life, death, present and future are all theirs; they belong to Christ, and Christ to God.