1 Corinthians 3:12

1 Corinthians 3:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
• New International Version (NIV)If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw,
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,

Context of 1 Corinthians 3:12

10According to the grace of God which is given to me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth upon it. But let every man take heed how he buildeth upon it. 11For other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man buildeth upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14If any man’s work abideth which he hath built upon it, he shall receive a reward.

1 Corinthians 3:12 word by word

εἰ δέ τις ἐποικοδομεῖ ἐπὶ τὸν θεμέλιον χρυσόν, ἄργυρον, λίθους τιμίους, ξύλα, χόρτον, καλάμην,Read the interlinear

• Nowδέde · thenG1161
• manεἴ τιςei tis · if anyG1536
• buildethἐποικοδομέωepoikodomeō · to build up/uponG2026
• uponἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• thisτοῦτονtouton · thisG5126
• foundationθεμέλιοςthemelios · foundationG2310
• goldχρυσόςchrusos · goldG5557
• silverἄργυροςarguros · silverG696
• preciousτίμιοςtimios · preciousG5093
• stonesλίθοςlithos · stoneG3037
• woodξύλονxulon · woodG3586
• hayχόρτοςchortos · grassG5528
• stubbleκαλάμηkalamē · straw/stubbleG2562

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 3:12

• Psalms 19:10More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
• Psalms 119:72The law of thy mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver.
• Proverbs 8:10Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
• Proverbs 16:16How much betteris it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
• Isaiah 60:17For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make thy officers peace, and thy exactors righteousness.
• 1 Timothy 4:6If thou shalt put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished by the words of faith and of good doctrine, to which thou hast attained.
• 2 Timothy 2:20But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
• 1 Peter 1:7That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though tried with fire, might be found to praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
• Revelation 3:18I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness may not appear; and anoint thy eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
• Isaiah 54:11O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.
• Revelation 21:18And the building of its wall was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.
• Proverbs 30:6Add thou not to his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
• Jeremiah 23:28The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD.
• Matthew 15:6And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free . Thus have ye made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.
• Acts 20:30Also from your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
• Romans 16:17Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them who cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 3:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12If any men build - gold, silver, etc. - Without entering into curious criticisms relative to these different expressions, it may be quite enough for the purpose of edification to say, that, by gold, silver, and precious stones, the apostle certainly means pure and wholesome doctrines: by wood, hay, and stubble, false doctrines; such as at that time prevailed in the Corinthian Church; for instance, that there should be no resurrection of the body; that a…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12Now if any man - If any teacher in the doctrines which he inculcates; or any private Christian in the hopes which he cherishes. The main discussion doubtless, has respect to the teachers of religion. Paul carries forward the metaphor in this and the following verses with respect to the building. He supposes that the foundation is laid; that it is a true foundation; that the essential doctrines in regard to the Messiah are the real basis on which the…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. 12-15Some things people build on Christ's foundation will last. Others will burn in judgment (see Malachi 4:1). On judgment day, the work of each church teacher will be evaluated (see James 3:1; also Romans 14:10–12; 2 Corinthians 5:10). Those with faithful teachings will earn a reward. Others will face great loss, not of salvation but of reward. They will be saved, but barely, like someone rescued through flames (see Amos 4:11; Zechariah 3:2; Jude 1:23).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. Now--rather, "But." The image is that of a building on a solid foundation, and partly composed of durable and precious, partly of perishable, materials. The "gold, silver, precious stones," which all can withstand fire (Re 21:18, 19), are teachings that will stand the fiery test of judgment; "wood, hay, stubble," are those which cannot stand it; not positive heresy, for that would destroy the foundation, but teaching mixed up with human philosophy and…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 3:12

• Church
• Gold
• Hay
• Judgment
• Minister, Christian

In the dictionaries

• Precious Stones
• Building
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Foundation
• Plant
• Build; Building
• Builder
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Dear; Dearly
• Grass

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