1 Corinthians 3:11 BSB

1 Corinthians 3:11

For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

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

KJV

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

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Commentary

4 voices

Tertullian

Against Marcion Book V (220)

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.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

Can no man lay than what is laid - In the counsels of divine wisdom, in the promises and prophecies of the Old Testament, in the preaching of the apostles, St. Paul in particular. Which is Jesus Christ - Who, in his person and offices, is the firm, immovable Rock of Ages, every way sufficient to bear all the weight that God himself, or the sinner, when he believes, can lay upon him.

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

Albert Barnes

1798–1870

Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)

For 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 hopes, and by embracing which they have been converted to God.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

13 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
θεμέλιον	themelion	Foundation	G2310 →
γὰρ	gar	for	G1063 →
ἄλλον	allon	another	G243 →
οὐδεὶς	oudeis	no [one]	G3762 →
δύναται	dunatai	is able	G1410 →
θεῖναι	theinai	to lay	G5087 →
παρὰ	para	besides	G3844 →
τὸν	ton	the [one]	G3588 →
κείμενον,	keimenon	being already laid,	G2749 →
ὅς	hos	which	G3739 →
ἐστιν	estin	is	G1510 →
Ἰησοῦς	Iēsous	Jesus	G2424 →
Χριστός.	Christos	Christ.	G5547 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Isaiah 28:16
So this is what the Lord GOD says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will never be shaken.
leads to
- Psalms 118:22
  The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
- Acts 4:11–12
  This Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’
- 1 Peter 2:6–8
  For it stands in Scripture: “See, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”
- Luke 20:17–18
  But Jesus looked directly at them and said, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’?
Through
2 Timothy 2:19
Nevertheless, God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from iniquity.”
leads to
- John 10:14
  I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me,
- 1 Corinthians 8:3
  But the one who loves God is known by God.
- Nahum 1:7
  The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of distress; He cares for those who trust in Him.
- 1 John 3:7–10
  Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Christ is righteous.

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Nebuchadnezzar's Dream of the Composite Statue (Ars moriendi manuscript) — Unknown illuminator

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Moses and Aaron Appear before Pharaoh — engraving by Gustave Doré

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About 1 Corinthians

The Crucifixion — 'Christ crucified' (1 Cor 2:2) — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)

1 Corinthians: the study guide →Read chapter 3 →The featured study →

Continue: 1 Corinthians 3 →

01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

05Featured studies on this passage

06About 1 Corinthians

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

Featured studies on this passage

About 1 Corinthians