1 Corinthians 3:12 BSB

1 Corinthians 3:12

If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw,

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

But if any man buildeth on the foundation gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, stubble;

KJV

Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

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Commentary

2 voices

Origen of Alexandria

COMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 1.15.46-55 (253)

If we think what is right and good, then we are building on a foundation of gold. If we repeat every holy word that has been spoken without corrupting it, then we are building on a foundation of silver. If all our works are good, then we are building on precious stones. But if I sin after laying the foundation, then I am building on wood; if I continue, I am building on hay, and finally, if I still go on, I am building on straw.

The record, by era

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

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 Judaism, curious rather than useful.

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

14 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
εἰ	ei	If	G1487 →
δέ	de	now	G1161 →
τις	tis	anyone	G5100 →
ἐποικοδομεῖ	epoikodomei	builds	G2026 →
ἐπὶ	epi	upon	G1909 →
τὸν	ton	<the>	G3588 →
θεμέλιον	themelion	foundation	G2310 →
χρυσόν,	chruson	gold,	G5557 →
ἄργυρον,	arguron	silver,	G696 →
λίθους	lithous	stones	G3037 →
τιμίους,	timious	precious,	G5093 →
ξύλα,	xula	wood,	G3586 →
χόρτον,	chorton	hay,	G5528 →
καλάμην,	kalamēn	straw,	G2562 →

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
2 Timothy 4:3
For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires.
leads to
- 2 Peter 2:1–3
  Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on…
- 2 Timothy 3:1–6
  But understand this: In the last days terrible times will come.
- 1 Timothy 4:1–3
  Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons,
- 1 Timothy 1:10
  for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave traders and liars and perjurers, and for anyone else who is averse to sound teaching
- Galatians 4:16
  Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?
Through
2 Timothy 2:20
A large house contains not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay. Some indeed are for honorable use, but others are for common use.
leads to
- Romans 9:21–23
  Does not the potter have the right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special occasions and another for common use?
- 1 Peter 2:5
  you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Through
2 Timothy 3:7
who are always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.
leads to
- 2 Timothy 4:3–4
  For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires.

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About 1 Corinthians

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

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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