1 Corinthians 3:10

According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

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Word by word — the Greek

Word	Greek	Strong’s	Meaning
to	κατὰ kata	G2596	(prepositionally) down (in place or time) · preposition
grace	χάριν charin	G5485	graciousness (as gratifying) · noun — accusative singular feminine
God	θεοῦ theou	G2316	figuratively · noun — genitive singular masculine, a title
which	τὴν tēn	G3588	the (sometimes to be supplied · article — accusative singular feminine
given	δοθεῖσάν dotheisan	G1325	to give (used in a very wide application · verb — aorist passive participle, accusative singular feminine
me	μοί moí	G3427	to me
as	ὡς hōs	G5613	which how · particle
wise	σοφὸς sophos	G4680	wise (in a most general application) · adjective — nominative singular masculine
masterbuilder	ἀρχιτέκτων architektōn	G753	a chief constructor · noun — nominative singular masculine
laid	ἔθηκα, ethēka	G5087	to place (in the widest application · verb — aorist active indicative, 1st person singular
foundation	θεμέλιον themelion	G2310	something put down · noun — accusative singular masculine
and	δὲ de	G1161	but · conjunction
another	ἄλλος allos	G243	"else · adjective — nominative singular masculine
thereon	ἐποικοδομεῖ. epoikodomei	G2026	to build upon · verb — present active indicative, 3rd person singular
But	δὲ de	G1161	but · conjunction
let	βλεπέτω blepetō	G991	to look at (literally or figuratively) · verb — present active imperative, 3rd person singular
man	ἕκαστος hekastos	G1538	each or every · adjective — nominative singular masculine
heed	βλέπω blépō	G991	to look at (literally or figuratively)
how	πῶς pōs	G4459	an interrogative particle of manner · particle — interrogative
thereupon	ἐποικοδομεῖ. epoikodomei	G2026	to build upon · verb — present active indicative, 3rd person singular

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

Cross-references

1 Corinthians 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Romans 15:20 Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation:
Daniel 12:3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and eve…
Matthew 24:45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
Matthew 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
1 Corinthians 3:5-6 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
1 Corinthians 9:2 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.

Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).

Commentary

Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 3:5-10

Here the apostle instructs them how to cure this humour, and rectify what was amiss among them upon this head, I. By reminding them that the ministers about whom they contended were but ministers: Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom you believed? Even as the Lord gave to every man, Co1 3:5. They are but ministers, mere instruments used by the God of all grace. Some of the factious people in Corinth seem to have made more of them, as if they were lords of their faith, authors of their religion. Note, We should take care not to deify ministers, nor put them into the place of God. Apostles were not the authors of our faith and religion, though they were authorized and qu…

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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Corinthians 3:10

grace . . . given unto me--Paul puts this first, to guard against seeming to want humility, in pronouncing himself "a WISE master builder," in the clause following [CHRYSOSTOM]. The "grace" is that "given" to him in common with all Christians (Co1 3:5), only proportioned to the work which God had for him to do [ALFORD]. wise--that is, skilful. His skill is shown in his laying a foundation. The unskilful builder lays none (Luk 6:49). Christ is the foundation (Co1 3:11). another--who ever comes after me. He does not name Apollos; for he speaks generally of all successors, whoever they be. His warning, "Let every man (every teacher) take heed how," &c., refers to other successors rather tha…

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Adam Clarke on 1 Corinthians 3:10

As a wise master builder - Ὡς σοφος αρχιτεκτων. The design or plan of the building is from God; all things must be done according to the pattern which he has exhibited; but the execution of this plan was entrusted chiefly to St. Paul; he was the wise or experienced architect which God used in order to lay the foundation; to ascertain the essential and immutable doctrines of the Gospel - those alone which came from God, and which alone he would bless to the salvation of mankind. Let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon - Let him take care that the doctrines which he preaches be answerable to those which I have preached; let him also take heed that he enjoin no other practice than th…

The Church Fathers

We need to build on the foundation, not overthrow it.
— Theodoret of Cyrus, COMMENTARY ON THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 181

This warning applies to you and me as well. If I do not build properly on the foundation already laid for me, then the fire will consume my work on the day of judgment.
— Origen of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 1.15.18-20

For "the Lord of Sabaoth hath taken away, among the Jews from Jerusalem," among the other things named, "the wise architect" too, who builds the church, God's temple, and the holy city, and the house of the Lord.
— Tertullian, An Answer to the Jews

The Church Fathers: public-domain translations (Ante-Nicene and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers), verse-indexed by SermonIndex (CC BY 4.0).

Dictionary and topics

Building — Among the Jews was suited to the climate and conditions of the country. They probably adopted the kind of architecture for their dwellings which they found already existing when they entered Canaan…
Grace · Specially given: To ministers — Specially given: To ministers
Master Workman · General scriptures concerning — General scriptures concerning
Mechanic · General scriptures concerning — General scriptures concerning
Union With Christ · Illustrated: Foundation and building — Illustrated: Foundation and building

Dictionary: Easton's (1897) and Smith's (1863), public domain. Topics: Nave's Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey's Topical Textbook (1897), public domain. Both as parsed by NEUU (CC BY 4.0).

1 Corinthians 3:10

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 3:5-10

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Corinthians 3:10

Adam Clarke on 1 Corinthians 3:10

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

1 Corinthians 3:10

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 3:5-10

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Corinthians 3:10

Adam Clarke on 1 Corinthians 3:10

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

John Gill on 1 Corinthians 3:10

John Calvin on 1 Corinthians 3:10-15

Tyndale Open Study Notes on 1 Corinthians 3:10-17