Read & explore together
Christ Our Foundation
These verses use the picture of building to explain careful work on a foundation already laid. They centre on Jesus Christ as the only foundation and show that later work will be tested and revealed.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
In this part of the letter, the writer speaks of a foundation laid by God’s grace and of others building on it. The passage stays with that building image from start to finish, moving from the foundation, to materials, to testing, and then to reward or loss.
1 Corinthians 3:10–15Main takeaway
Because Jesus Christ is the only foundation, each person should take care how they build on it, knowing that the Day will reveal what sort of work it is.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A foundation has been laidThe writer says that, by the grace of God given to him, he laid a foundation like a wise master builder, and another builds on it.
Explanation
The writer says that, by the grace of God given to him, he laid a foundation like a wise master builder, and another builds on it. The main instruction in this verse is a warning: each person should be careful how they build on that foundation.
02Only one true foundationThe image becomes very clear in the next verse. No one can lay any other foundation than the one already laid, and that foundation is Jesus Christ.
Explanation
The image becomes very clear in the next verse. No one can lay any other foundation than the one already laid, and that foundation is Jesus Christ. Everything else in the passage depends on this point, because the work is judged in relation to that one foundation.
03Different materials, one testThe writer names six materials: gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, and straw. He then says each person’s work will be revealed.
Explanation
The writer names six materials: gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, and straw. He then says each person’s work will be revealed. The Day will declare it, and fire will test what sort of work it is. The focus is on the quality of the work.
04What remains and what is lostTwo outcomes are described. If someone’s work remains, that person will receive a reward. If someone’s work is burned, that person will suffer loss.
Explanation
Two outcomes are described. If someone’s work remains, that person will receive a reward. If someone’s work is burned, that person will suffer loss. Yet the passage also says the person himself will be saved, though as through fire, distinguishing the work from the person.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What direct warning is given to the person who builds on the foundation?
Look at the final sentence of verse 10 and notice the instruction about care in building.
02How does the passage identify the foundation?
Answer from the verse that says no other foundation can be laid and names it clearly.
03What difference does the passage make between a person’s work and the person himself?
Compare the result when work remains or is burned with what verse 15 says about the person.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
1 Corinthians 3:10–15
10According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another builds on it. But let each man be careful how he builds on it.
11For no one can lay any other foundation than that which has been laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12But if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw,
13each man’s work will be revealed. For the Day will declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself will test what sort of work each man’s work is.
14If any man’s work remains which he built on it, he will receive a reward.
15If any man’s work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, but as through fire.