Thank you for the interpretative question on I Cor. 3:3 and Exodus 34:14.
As one reads I Corinthians 3:3 and Exodus 34:14, there seems to be a contradiction or conflict whereby God says that he is a jealous God and Paul rebukes the Corinthians for their jealous behaviors. Thus, one may be asking, “Is it wrong to be jealous?”
Let’s look at the context and the text of the verses cited:
Exodus 34 says this in the NIV: “10 Then the LORD said: “I am making a covenant with you. Before all your people I will do wonders never before done in any nation in all the world. The people you live among will see how awesome is the work that I, the LORD, will do for you. 11 Obey what I command you today. I will drive out before you the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 12 Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land where you are going, or they will be a snare among you. 13 Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and cut down their Asherah poles.[a] 14 Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.”
I Corinthians 3 says this in the NIV: “Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?”
I. Defining the term, jealous.
The Hebrew word for jealous is qanna, based on Strong’s Concordance.
Original Word: קַנָּא
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: qanna
Phonetic Spelling: (kan-naw’)
Definition: jealous
The Greek word for jealous is zelos, which may be defined as zeal, “envy” or strong desire from Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words by Vine.
Merriam’s Dictionary defines or describes jealous in this manner:
1: a jealous disposition, attitude, or feelinga marriage destroyed by jealousy petty jealousies
2: zealous vigilance cherish their official political freedom with fierce jealousy— Paul Blanshard
Thus, the word, jealous can be used in a positive or in a negative manner depending on the context of the usage.
As one reads Exodus 34 and I Corinthians 3, the context helps us to understand the definition or description of its usage.
A. As I read Exodus 34, the word, jealous, refers to the zeal of God in fulfilling the conditional contract between himself and Israel.
The LORD God promises that he will drive out the Canaanites for them. The Israelites part of the contract is to destroy the idols of the Canaanites and to worship him only. For the nation of Israel, there can be only one God-YHWH. Theirs can’t be a polytheistic society. The reason for this exclusive devotion to God is that he is the one who delivered them from Egypt, provided for them in the Wilderness, and defeated their enemies. They were to have no other gods before him (Exodus 20).
When the LORD God declared to Israel that he is a jealous or zealous God, he is stating that this conditional contract is paramount and foundational in their relationship together. Fulfilling of it will bring blessings and failure will bring curses on them. God is righteous and has obligated himself to fulfill the blessings and curses.
Thus, in this context, the word, jealous, refers to the zealousness of God in fulfilling the covenant. He will not tolerate idolatry in any form. The Israelites are to have only one God-YHWH and no other gods.
B. As I read I Corinthian 3:1–4, the word, jealous refers to envy, having selfish contention.
The Apostle Paul states that the some of the Corinthians believers are self-centered and comparing themselves with each other. Their exaltation is not God, but the exaltation of Paul or Apollos. Their allegiance was to a man, comparing the greatness of Paul or Apollos in the Christian community and their successful ministries.
The jealousy is associated with quarrelling. Theirs was a sharp dispute causing division instead of harmony. They failed to understand that Paul and Apollos were both servants of God with different functions, not that one is greater in fame, eloquence, or position within the Christian community. Their zeal or jealousy was misplaced on man instead of God.
Summary: The proper attitude should have been thanking God for Paul and Apollos, not comparing their personhood or ministry. Only God is worthy to be exalted or glorified not man.
-Kingston