English Standard Version
1 Corinthians 3:11
11For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:11 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
- New International Version (NIV)For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
- New Living Translation (NLT)For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.
Context of 1 Corinthians 3:11
9For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building. 10According 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. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.
Read all of 1 Corinthians 31 Corinthians 3:11 word by word
θεμέλιον γὰρ ἄλλον οὐδεὶς δύναται θεῖναι παρὰ τὸν κείμενον, ὅς ἐστιν Ἰησοῦς Χριστός.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- otherἄλλοςallos · anotherG243
- foundationθεμέλιοςthemelios · foundationG2310
- canδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
- no manοὐδείςoudeis · noneG3762
- layτίθημιtithēmi · to placeG5087
- thanπαράpara · from/with/besideG3844
- that is laidκεῖμαιkeimai · to lay/be appointedG2749
- whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
- ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 3:11
- Isaiah 28:16therefore thus says the Lord God, "Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: 'Whoever believes will not be in haste.'
- Matthew 16:18And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
- Acts 4:11This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.
- 2 Corinthians 11:2For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
- Galatians 1:7not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.
- Ephesians 2:20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,
- 2 Timothy 2:19But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity."
- 1 Peter 2:6For it stands in Scripture: "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame."
Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 3:11
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11Other foundation can no man lay - I do not speak particularly concerning the foundation of this spiritual building; it can have no other foundation than Jesus Christ: there cannot be two opinions on this subject among the true apostles of our Lord. The only fear is, lest an improper use should be made of this heavenly doctrine; lest a bad superstructure should be raised on this foundation.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11For other foundation - It is “implied” by the course of the argument here, that This was the foundation which had been laid at Corinth, and on which the church there had been reared. And it is affirmed that no other foundation can be laid. A foundation is that upon which a building is raised; the foundation of a church is the doctrine on which it is established; that is, the doctrines which its members hold - those truths which lie at the basis of their…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-15Verses 10-15 The apostle was a wise master-builder; but the grace of God made him such. Spiritual pride is abominable; it is using the greatest favours of God, to feed our own vanity, and make idols of ourselves. But let every man take heed; there may be bad building on a good foundation. Nothing must be laid upon it, but what the foundation will bear, and what is of a piece with it. Let us not dare to join a merely human or a carnal life with a Divine…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11The church's only foundation is Jesus Christ himself (see Isaiah 28:16; 1 Peter 2:4–8; compare Romans 9:33). However, the Corinthians risked making a human teacher their foundation.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. (Is 28:16; Ac 4:12; Ep 2:20). For--my warning ("take heed," &c. 1Co 3:10) is as to the superstructure ("buildeth thereupon"), not as to the foundation: "For other foundation can no man lay, than that which has (already) been laid (by God) Jesus Christ," the person, not the mere abstract doctrine about Him, though the latter also is included; Jesus, God-Saviour; Christ, Messiah or Anointed. can--A man can not lay any other, since the only one…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Corinthians 3:11
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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