God’s Word Translation
1 Corinthians 3:11
11After all, no one can lay any other foundation than the one that is already laid, and that foundation 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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is 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.
Context of 1 Corinthians 3:11
9We are God’s coworkers. You are God’s field. You are God’s building. 10As a skilled and experienced builder, I used the gift that God gave me to lay the foundation ⌞for that building⌟. However, someone else is building on it. Each person must be careful how he builds on it. After all, no one can lay any other foundation than the one that is already laid, and that foundation is Jesus Christ. 12People may build on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw. 13The day will make what each one does clearly visible because fire will reveal it. That fire will determine what kind of work each person 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 28:16This is what the Almighty Lord says: I am going to lay a rock in Zion, a rock that has been tested, a precious cornerstone, a solid foundation. Whoever believes ⌞in him⌟ will not worry.
- Matthew 16:18You are Peter, and I can guarantee that on this rock I will build my church. And the gates of hell will not overpower it.
- Acts 4:11He is the stone that the builders rejected, the stone that has become the cornerstone.
- 2 Corinthians 11:2I’m as protective of you as God is. After all, you’re a virgin whom I promised in marriage to one man—Christ.
- Galatians 1:7But what some people are calling good news is not really good news at all. They are confusing you. They want to distort the Good News about Christ.
- Ephesians 2:20You are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Christ Jesus himself is the cornerstone.
- 2 Timothy 2:19In spite of all that, God’s ⌞people⌟ have a solid foundation. These words are engraved on it: “The Lord knows those who belong to him,” and “Whoever worships the Lord must give up doing wrong.”
- 1 Peter 2:6That is why Scripture says, “I am laying a chosen and precious cornerstone in Zion, and the person who believes in him will never be ashamed.”
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries