1 Corinthians 3:10 kjv
According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
1 Corinthians 3:10 nkjv
According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.
1 Corinthians 3:10 niv
By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care.
1 Corinthians 3:10 esv
According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it.
1 Corinthians 3:10 nlt
Because of God's grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful.
1 Corinthians 3 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Corinthians 3:11 | For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. | Direct statement of the foundation. |
| Ephesians 2:20 | ... built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. | Christ as the ultimate cornerstone. |
| 1 Peter 2:4-5 | As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—you too, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house... | Believers as living stones built on Christ. |
| Matthew 7:24-25 | ...like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. | Parable of building on the rock. |
| Acts 4:12 | Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. | Jesus as the only name of salvation. |
| Isaiah 28:16 | So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone: a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed." | Old Testament prophecy of Christ as foundation. |
| Romans 15:20 | And so I have made it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation, | Paul's apostolic principle. |
| Galatians 1:6-7 | I am astonished that you are so quickly turning away from him who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are wanting to distort the gospel of Christ. | Warning against different gospels. |
| 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 | So then, men ought to consider us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. | Faithful stewardship of the gospel. |
| 1 Corinthians 1:10 | I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. | Plea for unity against division. |
| Hebrews 12:28 | Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, | The unshakable kingdom. |
| 2 Timothy 2:19 | Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those on the roll call.” | God's enduring foundation. |
| 1 Corinthians 3:12 | If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, | Differentiation of building materials. |
| 1 Corinthians 3:13 | each one’s work will be clearly shown; for the Day will disclose it because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each one’s work. | The testing of works by fire. |
| Colossians 2:7 | ...rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, overflowing with thankfulness. | Spiritual growth built on Christ. |
| Romans 8:35, 38-39 | Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? ... For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. | Unshakeable security in Christ. |
| 1 Corinthians 11:3 | But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. | Christ as the head. |
| 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 | Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. | Believers as temples. |
| Ephesians 4:11-12 | So Christ himself gave the apostles, prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers, to equip God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up... | Ministries equipping the church. |
| Matthew 16:18 | And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. | Christ's declaration to Peter. |
| Revelation 21:14 | The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. | Apostles' foundational role linked to Christ. |
1 Corinthians 3 verses
1 Corinthians 3 10 Meaning
This verse establishes the foundational principle of Christian ministry: Jesus Christ is the only sure foundation. Every teacher and builder in God's spiritual house must build upon this rock. The work of each individual will be tested by fire, revealing the quality of their construction, whether it be gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or stubble.
1 Corinthians 3 10 Context
In 1 Corinthians chapter 3, Paul addresses the Corinthians' divisions and their factions around different spiritual leaders (Apollo, Paul, Cephas). He contrasts human wisdom with God's wisdom, calling the Corinthians "babes in Christ" who are being nourished with milk, not solid food, due to their immaturity and partisan spirit. This verse, 1 Corinthians 3:10, follows his statement that he, as a wise master builder, laid the foundation, and others are building upon it. The immediate context highlights that Paul is the architect and initializer of the Corinthian church, establishing the gospel of Jesus Christ as its essential basis. The historical context reveals a church struggling with interpersonal conflicts and spiritual pride, requiring apostolic correction and redirection toward their true source of spiritual life.
1 Corinthians 3 10 Word Analysis
- ego (ἐγὼ): First-person singular pronoun, "I." Emphasizes Paul's personal role and responsibility as the one who initiated the church's foundation.
- de (δὲ): Conjunction, "but," "and," or "now." It introduces a statement that contrasts with or clarifies the preceding one, linking Paul's laying of the foundation to the subsequent building process.
- hōs (ὡς): Adverb, "as" or "like." Indicates manner or role, signifying Paul's function as a skilled builder or architect.
- sophos (σοφὸς): Adjective, "wise." Describes the manner of Paul's foundational work, implying a God-given wisdom in establishing the gospel.
- architēktōn (ἀρχιτέκτων): Noun, "master builder," "architect." Refers to the primary planner and designer, highlighting the strategic and foundational nature of Paul's apostolic ministry.
- didaxas (διδάξας): Aorist participle of didaskō, "to teach." Indicates the action of teaching, showing that Paul's foundation was laid through the impartation of apostolic teaching about Christ.
- katalomai (καταλαμβάνω): Aorist infinitive of katalambanō, "to lay," "to establish." Conveys the action of setting down and securing the foundation.
- themelion (θεμέλιον): Noun, "foundation." Refers to the base or groundwork upon which something is built. In this context, it signifies the core truth of the gospel centered on Jesus Christ.
- allos (ἄλλος): Adjective, "another." This is crucial: Paul states that no one else can lay another foundation, reinforcing that the one laid by him (Jesus Christ) is unique and sufficient.
- hōs (ὡς): Adverb, "as" or "for." Here it acts as a connective, introducing the exclusive nature of the foundation.
- estin (ἐστὶν): Third-person singular present indicative of eimi, "is." Affirmation of existence and identity.
- Iēsous (Ἰησοῦς): Name, "Jesus." The personal name of the Savior.
- Christos (Χριστός): Noun, "Christ," "Messiah." His title signifying His appointed and anointed role by God.
- word-group analysis: The phrase "ego de hōs sophos architēktōn themelion kathelabón" ("I, as a wise master builder, have laid a foundation") asserts Paul's divinely authorized role in initiating the church at Corinth with the gospel of Jesus Christ. The following "allos themelion outeis" ("no other foundation can anyone lay") emphatically limits the singular, indispensable nature of this foundation, which is subsequently identified as Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 3 10 Bonus Section
The concept of a "foundation" is rich in Scripture, often referring to a firm and stable basis, whether in a physical, doctrinal, or spiritual sense. In the context of the church, Christ is repeatedly identified as the cornerstone (Eph 2:20) and the living Stone (1 Pet 2:4), signifying His unique position as the essential, connecting element around which the entire structure of the church is built. Paul's strong statement here, that "no other foundation can anyone lay," serves as a vital safeguard against any syncretism or deviation from the pure gospel of Christ that might arise within the church at Corinth. It emphasizes the absolute sufficiency and non-negotiability of Christ as the basis of all Christian faith, life, and ministry. The Corinthians were falling into factionalism, preferring different teachers; Paul redirects them to the ultimate authority and unifier, Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 3 10 Commentary
Paul asserts his authoritative position as the pioneer of the Corinthian church, likening his ministry to that of an architect who lays the essential groundwork. This foundation is not of his own devising but is derived from God and centers entirely on Jesus Christ. He underscores that this singular foundation is exclusive; no one can introduce a different or supplementary basis for faith and practice in Christ's church. This foundational element is the truth of the gospel, encompassing the identity and work of Jesus Christ as the Messiah and Savior. It’s a declaration of apostolic authority rooted in divine commission. Paul’s subsequent words in 1 Corinthians 3:12 will introduce the differing qualities of materials that might be used in building upon this sole foundation, highlighting that while the foundation is one, the subsequent building activities will vary in their eternal value.