1 Corinthians 3:10
New International Version
By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care.

New Living Translation
Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful.

English Standard Version
According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it.

Berean Standard Bible
By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one must be careful how he builds.

Berean Literal Bible
According to the grace of God having been given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, but another is building upon it. But let each one take heed how he builds upon it.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.

New American Standard Bible
According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each person must be careful how he builds on it.

NASB 1995
According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it.

NASB 1977
According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But let each man be careful how he builds upon it.

Legacy Standard Bible
According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it.

Amplified Bible
According to the [remarkable] grace of God which was given to me [to prepare me for my task], like a skillful master builder I laid a foundation, and now another is building on it. But each one must be careful how he builds on it,

Christian Standard Bible
According to God’s grace that was given to me, I have laid a foundation as a skilled master builder, and another builds on it. But each one is to be careful how he builds on it.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
According to God’s grace that was given to me, I have laid a foundation as a skilled master builder, and another builds on it. But each one must be careful how he builds on it.

American Standard Version
According to the grace of God which was given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder I laid a foundation; and another buildeth thereon. But let each man take heed how he buildeth thereon.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And according to the grace of God given to me, I laid the foundation as a wise architect and another built upon it, and every person should pay attention to how he builds upon it.

Contemporary English Version
God treated me with undeserved grace and let me become an expert builder. I laid a foundation on which others have built. But we must each be careful how we build,

Douay-Rheims Bible
According to the grace of God that is given to me, as a wise architect, I have laid the foundation; and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

English Revised Version
According to the grace of God which was given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder I laid a foundation; and another buildeth thereon. But let each man take heed how he buildeth thereon.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
As a skilled and experienced builder, I used the gift that God gave me to lay the foundation [for that building]. However, someone else is building on it. Each person must be careful how he builds on it.

Good News Translation
Using the gift that God gave me, I did the work of an expert builder and laid the foundation, and someone else is building on it. But each of you must be careful how you build.

International Standard Version
As an expert builder using the grace that God gave me, I laid the foundation, and someone else is building on it. But each person must be careful how he builds on it.

Literal Standard Version
According to the grace of God that was given to me, as a wise master-builder, I have laid a foundation, and another builds on [it],

Majority Standard Bible
By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one must be careful how he builds.

New American Bible
According to the grace of God given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But each one must be careful how he builds upon it,

NET Bible
According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master-builder I laid a foundation, but someone else builds on it. And each one must be careful how he builds.

New Revised Standard Version
According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building on it. Each builder must choose with care how to build on it.

New Heart English Bible
According 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 one be careful how he builds on it.

Webster's Bible Translation
According to the grace of God which is given to me, as a wise master-builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth upon it. But let every man take heed how he buildeth upon it.

Weymouth New Testament
In discharge of the task which God graciously entrusted to me, I--like a competent master-builder--have laid a foundation, and others are building upon it. But let every one be careful how and what he builds.

World English Bible
According 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.

Young's Literal Translation
According to the grace of God that was given to me, as a wise master-builder, a foundation I have laid, and another doth build on it,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Christ Our Foundation
9For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. 10By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one must be careful how he builds. 11For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.…

Cross References
Proverbs 9:1
Wisdom has built her house; she has carved out her seven pillars.

Romans 12:3
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you.

Romans 15:20
In this way I have aspired to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else's foundation.

1 Corinthians 3:5
What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, as the Lord has assigned to each his role.

1 Corinthians 3:11
For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:10
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not in vain. No, I worked harder than all of them--yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

Ephesians 2:20
built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.


Treasury of Scripture

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

to the.

1 Corinthians 3:5
Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

1 Corinthians 15:10
But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Romans 1:5
By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

as a.

1 Kings 3:9-11
Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? …

2 Chronicles 2:12
Huram said moreover, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, that made heaven and earth, who hath given to David the king a wise son, endued with prudence and understanding, that might build an house for the LORD, and an house for his kingdom.

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 ever.

I have.

1 Corinthians 3:6,11
I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase…

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.

Zechariah 4:9
The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you.

and another.

1 Corinthians 15:11,12
Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed…

Acts 18:27
And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:

2 Corinthians 10:15
Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,

But let every.

Ecclesiastes 12:9
And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.

Luke 11:35
Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.

Luke 21:8
And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.

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Builder Buildeth Building Builds Care Careful Competent Discharge Entrusted Expert Foundation Grace Graciously Heed Laid Master Measure Others Position Skilled Task Thereon Thereupon Wise
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Builder Buildeth Building Builds Care Careful Competent Discharge Entrusted Expert Foundation Grace Graciously Heed Laid Master Measure Others Position Skilled Task Thereon Thereupon Wise
1 Corinthians 3
1. Milk is fit for children.
3. Strife and division, arguments of a fleshly mind.
7. He who plants and He who waters are nothing.
9. The ministers are God's fellow workmen.
11. Christ the only foundation.
16. You are the temples of God, which must be kept holy.
19. The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.














(10) According to the grace of God.--The Apostle being about to speak of himself as "a wise masterbuilder," takes care by commencing his statement with these words to show that he is not indulging in self-laudation, but merely pointing out what God had given him the grace to do. (See Romans 1:5; Romans 12:3.)

Wise--i.e., skilful or judicious.

Another buildeth thereon.--The sequence of the work here is the same as in the planting and watering of the previous illustration. The use of the indefinite word "another" avoids what might be considered the invidiously frequent repetition of the name of Apollos, and also indicates that there were others also who came after Paul, as is evident from 1Corinthians 4:15. (See Romans 15:20.)

But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.--Better, But let each one see in what manner he buildeth thereon. The argument in this and the following verse is that there can be only one foundation in the spiritual building--namely, the personal Jesus Christ. That foundation the Apostle has laid. None can alter it or add to it as a foundation; but there may be an immense variety in the materials with which those who come after the laying of the foundation may build up the superstructure. Therefore their own work and "how" they build (i.e., with what materials), and not the one foundation once for all and unalterably laid, should be the subject of their thought and care. . . .

Verse 10. - According to the grace of God which is given unto me; rather, which was given. Here, again, we have St. Paul's baptismal aorist - his habit of regarding his whole spiritual life as potentially summed up in the one crisis of conversion and baptism. This phrase is a favourite one with him (1 Corinthians 15:10; Romans 15:15; Galatians 2:9; Ephesians 3:2). As a wise master builder. "Wise" only in the sense of subordinating every pretence of human wisdom to the will of God; and here the adjective only applies to the wisdom required by a builder. In other words, "wise" is here equivalent to "skilful." Since Paul had received the grace of God for this very purpose, he was made "wise" by the knowledge of Christ (for the metaphor of building, see Matthew 7:24; Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 2:21; 1 Peter 2:5). The foundation; rather, a foundation. Though in truth there is but one foundation, as he proceeds to say, St. Paul always refused to build on the foundation laid by another (Romans 15:20). Another. Perhaps the special allusion is to Apollos.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
By
Κατὰ (Kata)
Preposition
Strong's 2596: A primary particle; down, in varied relations (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined).

the
τὴν (tēn)
Article - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

grace
χάριν (charin)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5485: From chairo; graciousness, of manner or act.

God
Θεοῦ (Theou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

has given
δοθεῖσάν (dotheisan)
Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1325: To offer, give; I put, place. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to give.

me,
μοι (moi)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

I laid
ἔθηκα (ethēka)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 5087: To put, place, lay, set, fix, establish. A prolonged form of a primary theo to place.

[a] foundation
θεμέλιον (themelion)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2310: From a derivative of tithemi; something put down, i.e. A substruction.

as
ὡς (hōs)
Adverb
Strong's 5613: Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner.

an expert
σοφὸς (sophos)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4680: Wise, learned, cultivated, skilled, clever. Akin to saphes; wise.

builder,
ἀρχιτέκτων (architektōn)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 753: Master-builder, architect. From arche and tekton; a chief constructor, i.e. 'architect'.

and
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

someone else
ἄλλος (allos)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 243: Other, another (of more than two), different. A primary word; 'else, ' i.e. Different.

is building on [it].
ἐποικοδομεῖ (epoikodomei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2026: To build upon (above) a foundation. From epi and oikodomeo; to build upon, i.e. to rear up.

But
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

each one
ἕκαστος (hekastos)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1538: Each (of more than two), every one. As if a superlative of hekas; each or every.

must be careful
βλεπέτω (blepetō)
Verb - Present Imperative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 991: (primarily physical), I look, see, perceive, discern. A primary verb; to look at.

how
πῶς (pōs)
Adverb
Strong's 4459: Adverb from the base of pou; an interrogative particle of manner; in what way?; also as exclamation, how much!

he builds.
ἐποικοδομεῖ (epoikodomei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2026: To build upon (above) a foundation. From epi and oikodomeo; to build upon, i.e. to rear up.


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NT Letters: 1 Corinthians 3:10 According to the grace of God which (1 Cor. 1C iC 1Cor i cor icor)
1 Corinthians 3:9
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