1 Corinthians 3:11

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

King James Version · Read in your translation · Open the Explore console

Word by word — the Greek

Word	Greek	Strong’s	Meaning
For	γὰρ gar	G1063	properly · conjunction
other	ἄλλον allon	G243	"else · adjective — accusative singular masculine
foundation	θεμέλιον themelion	G2310	something put down · noun — accusative singular masculine
can	δύναται dunatai	G1410	to be able or possible · verb — present middle or passive deponent indicative, 3rd person singular
man	οὐδεὶς oudeis	G3762	not even one (man · adjective — nominative singular masculine
lay	θεῖναι theinai	G5087	to place (in the widest application · verb — second aorist active infinitive
than	παρὰ para	G3844	properly · preposition
laid	κείμενον, keimenon	G2749	to lie outstretched (literally or figuratively) · verb — present middle or passive deponent participle, accusative singular masculine
which	ὅς hos	G3739	the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun · relative pronoun — nominative singular masculine
is	ἐστί estí	G2076	he (she or it) is
Jesus	Ἰησοῦς Iēsous	G2424	Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua) · noun — nominative singular masculine, a proper name
Christ	Χριστός. Christos	G5547	anointed · noun — nominative singular masculine, a title

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

Ephesians 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation…
2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the n…
Acts 4:11-12 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
1 Peter 2:6-8 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him s…
Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it…
Galatians 1:7-9 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
2 Corinthians 11:2-4 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

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

Commentary

Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 3:11-15

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 doctrine of Christianity. It lies at the bottom, and is the foundation, of all the rest. Leave out this, and you lay waste all our comforts, and leave no foundation for our hopes as sinners. It is in…

Read the whole note in the console

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Corinthians 3:11

(Isa 28:16; Act 4:12; Eph 2:20). For--my warning ("take heed," &c. Co1 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 recognized by God has been already laid.

Adam Clarke on 1 Corinthians 3:11

Other 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.

John Gill on 1 Corinthians 3:11

For other foundation can no man lay,.... Men may attempt to lay other foundations than Christ, and build upon them, but to no purpose; they will be of no avail; all besides him are sandy foundations; such as fleshly privileges, a carnal descent, a religious education, an external profession of religion, a man's own righteousness, and the absolute mercy of God; but men ought to lay no other, nor can they, that will be of any advantage to themselves or others: than that which is laid; by Jehovah the Father, both in his eternal counsels and covenant, when he set forth and appointed Christ to be the Saviour and Redeemer of his people; and in the fulness of time, when he sent him forth under the…

The Church Fathers

The other apostles laid this foundation among the Jews, while Paul and Barnabas laid it among the Gentiles.
— Origen of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 1.15.41-42

Nobody can lay another foundation, because even if some people are heretics, they do not teach except in the name of Christ. They cannot commend the inventions of their error in any other way. So through the dignity of his name they try to make contradictory and absurd ideas acceptable.
— Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES

And was it not Paul himself who was there foretold, destined "to be taken away from Judah"-that is, from Judaism-for the erection of Christianity, in order "to lay that only foundation, which is Christ? " Of this work the Creator also by the same prophet says, "Behold, I lay in Sion for a foundation a precious stone and honourable; and he that resteth thereon shall not be confounded.
— Tertullian, Against Marcion Book V

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…
Church, The · Christ, the foundation-stone of — Christ, the foundation-stone of
Cornerstone · .Of Christ — .Of Christ
Doctrines · FALSE — FALSE
Foundation · Illustrative of: Christ — Illustrative of: Christ
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 3:11

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 3:11-15

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Corinthians 3:11

Adam Clarke on 1 Corinthians 3:11

John Gill on 1 Corinthians 3:11

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

1 Corinthians 3:11

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 3:11-15

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Corinthians 3:11

Adam Clarke on 1 Corinthians 3:11

John Gill on 1 Corinthians 3:11

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

John Calvin on 1 Corinthians 3:10-15

Tyndale Open Study Notes on 1 Corinthians 3:11