1 Corinthians 3:14

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Corinthians 3:11-15

Here the apostle informs us what foundation he had laid at the bottom of all his labours among them?even Jesus Christ, the chief corner-stone, Eph. 2:20. Upon this foundation all the faithful ministers of Christ build. Upon this rock all the Christians found their hopes. Those that build their hopes of heaven on any other foundation build upon the sand. Other foundation can no man lay besides what is laid?even Jesus Christ. Note, The doctrine of our Saviour and his mediation is the principal... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Corinthians 3:10-15

3:10-15 According to the grace of God that was given to me, I laid the foundation like a skilled master-builder, but another builds upon it. Let each see to it how he builds upon it; for no one can lay any other foundation beside that which is already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds upon that foundation gold, silver, costly stones, wood, straw, stubble, it will become quite clear what each man's work is. The Day will show it because it is going to be revealed by fire, and the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 3:14

If any man's work abide ,.... That is, if any minister's doctrine will bear the test of daylight, to be looked into, and abide the fire of the word; as gold, silver, and precious stones will, or such doctrines as are comparable to them, which will shine the brighter for being tried by this fire: which he hath built thereupon ; upon the foundation Christ, in entire consistence with, and proportion to it, and highly becoming it: he shall receive a reward ; either from the churches of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 3:14

If any man's work abide - Perhaps there is here an allusion to the purifying of different sorts of vessels under the law. All that could stand the fire were to be purified by the fire; and those which could not resist the action of the fire were to be purified by water, Numbers 31:23 . The gold, silver, and precious stones, could stand the fire; but the wood, hay, and stubble, must be necessarily consumed. So, in that great and terrible day of the Lord, all false doctrine, as well as the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 3:14

Verse 14 14.If any man’s work remains, he will receive a reward. His meaning is, that those are fools who depend on man’s estimation, so as to reckon it enough to be approved by men, for then only will the work have praise and recompense — when it has stood the test of the day of the Lord Hence he exhorts His true ministers to have an eye to that day. For by the word remains, he intimates that doctrines fly about as it were in an unsettled state, nay more, like empty bubbles, they glitter for... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 3:5-15

The one foundation and the diverse superstructure. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 3:10-15

The true foundation of character. "According to the grace of God," etc. The words suggest certain important thoughts concerning character. I. That there is an ANALOGY BETWEEN THE FORMATION OF CHARACTER AND THE ERECTION OF A BUILDING . "If any man build," etc. It is like a building in three respects. 1. In the variety of its materials. Buildings are generally formed of a variety of materials—stone, wood, iron, etc. Moral character is built up by a variety of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 3:10-15

Christian work and its testing. I. CHRISTIAN WORK : 1. Should be rightly based. Christ is the only Foundation for the spiritual building. This Foundation may have been already laid for us by others where we are called to labour: if so, we must see that we are building upon it; if it be not laid, by "the grace of God" ( 1 Corinthians 3:10 ) we must seek to lay it without delay. All our teaching must rest upon Christ. He is not only the Omega to be ended with, but the Alpha to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 3:10-15

The Foundation and the superstructure. Under the figure of a building, the apostle continues to speak of the work of Christ's ministers, and specially of his own labours at Corinth. As the first to preach the gospel there, he had laid the foundation, upon which the teachers that succeeded him were to build. The reference is primarily to doctrine, but the principles apply to work and life as well. I. THE FOUNDATION . This is Jesus Christ the Mediator ( Isaiah 28:16 ; 1 Peter 2:6 ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 3:11-15

Workmen and their works. St. Paul affirms that he had laid just such a foundation in Corinth as became a wise master builder. Like a good architect, he had made sure of a solid basis, but had the edifice in process of erection been true to the cornerstone? There was but one Foundation—Jesus Christ—and a man might build rightly or wrongly on it in the materials used. The range of substances which might be employed in the superstructure was large. Large it must needs be, for, it' the... read more

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