1 Corinthians 3:12 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw —

NIV: If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw,

NASB: Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw,

CSB: If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw,

NLT: Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials — gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw.

KJV: Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

NKJV: Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,

Paul is still working with the metaphor of constructing a building. In that metaphor, the community of Christians in Corinth is the building. They are being built up in their numbers, perhaps, but also in their spiritual maturity through teaching and instruction in the way of Christ. Paul, describing himself as a skilled master builder, has laid the foundation of the building, which is Jesus Christ. It's the only foundation on which any church can stand. With that foundation in place, Paul has left the scene and new builders have come in to continue the construction. These builders are the teachers and leaders of the church in Corinth.

Paul begins an if/then statement in this verse that is completed in the following verse. Continuing the building metaphor, he describes various materials. These new builders, those who lead the Corinthians to grow in Christ, might use these to continue the building project. Will they use quality building materials such as gold, silver, and precious stones? Will they build using sturdy, valuable, resilient stock, which will result in a robust structure? Or will they use wood, hay, and straw: cheap, easily acquired and inferior materials in order quickly raise walls that cannot stand the test of time?

What makes for good or poor building materials? In this case, teaching about Christ that is true and helpful would be quality material for growing the church. Teaching that distorts the message of Christ or waters down the truth would be the cheap stuff. The following verses will reveal the results of using either.

First Corinthians 3:10–15 expands on Paul's earlier point that only God, not any fallible human being, is worthy. Each person must build their ''works'' on a foundation of Christ. Those works will be subject to judgment, to see what has eternal value. Lasting works are based in valuable, durable, precious things like wisdom and truth. Cheap and fragile materials won't stand the fire of God's judgment.

Paul cannot call the Corinthian Christians ''spiritual'' people. Though they are in Christ, they continue to live to the flesh. They are spiritual infants, not ready for solid food. Divisions among them prove they are still serving themselves, picking sides in a senseless debate between Christian teachers. Paul insists that both he and Apollos are mere servants of the Lord and co-workers. They are not in competition. Those who lead the Corinthians must build carefully because their work will be tested on the day of the Lord. Christian leaders who build the church will have their work judged by Christ to see if they have built on the foundation of Christ. All human wisdom will be shown to be futile and worthless.

First Corinthians 3 follows Paul's teaching that only spiritual people can understand the wisdom of God. Paul cannot fully call the Corinthian Christians spiritual people, though, because they continue to live of the flesh, as if they were still infants trapped in an immature condition. Evidence includes the divisions among them. Paul insist that he and Apollos are both servants of the same master. The Corinthians should follow God, not them. Those whose work is worthless will suffer loss, but they will be saved. After this, Paul will expound on the idea that believers ought to set Christ as their example, rather than being defined in terms of their earthly leaders.

First Corinthians is one of the more practical books of the New Testament. Paul writes to a church immersed in a city associated with trade, but also with corruption and immorality. These believers are struggling to properly apply spiritual gifts and to resist the ungodly practices of the surrounding culture. Paul's letter gives instructions for real-life concerns such as marriage and spirituality. He also deals with the importance of unity and gives one of the Bible's more well-known descriptions of love in chapter 13.