1 Corinthians 3:10-16 - KJV (2024)

Other Translations of 1 Corinthians 3:10-16

New International Version

10By 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.

11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person's work. 14If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved-even though only as one escaping through the flames.

16Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in your midst?

English Standard Version

10According 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.

11For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw-- 13each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

16Do you not know that youThe Greek for you is plural in verses 16 and 17 are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?

The Message

10Using the gift God gave me as a good architect, I designed blueprints; Apollos is putting up the walls. Let each carpenter who comes on the job take care to build on the foundation!

11Remember, there is only one foundation, the one already laid: Jesus Christ. 12Take particular care in picking out your building materials. 13Eventually there is going to be an inspection. If you use cheap or inferior materials, you'll be found out. The inspection will be thorough and rigorous. You won't get by with a thing. 14If your work passes inspection, fine; 15if it doesn't, your part of the building will be torn out and started over. But you won't be torn out; you'll survive - but just barely.

16You realize, don't you, that you are the temple of God, and God himself is present in you?

New King James Version

10According 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.

11For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. 14If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

16Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

New Living Translation

10Because 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.

11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have-Jesus Christ. 12Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials-gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. 13But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person's work has any value. 14If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. 15But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.

16Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?

Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 3:10-16

Commentary on 1 Corinthians 3:10-15

(Read 1 Corinthians 3:10-15)

The apostle was a wise master-builder; but the grace of God made him such. Spiritual pride is abominable; it is using the greatest favours of God, to feed our own vanity, and make idols of ourselves. But let every man take heed; there may be bad building on a good foundation. Nothing must be laid upon it, but what the foundation will bear, and what is of a piece with it. Let us not dare to join a merely human or a carnal life with a Divine faith, the corruption of sin with the profession of Christianity. Christ is a firm, abiding, and immovable Rock of ages, every way able to bear all the weight that God himself or the sinner can lay upon him; neither is there salvation in any other. Leave out the doctrine of his atonement, and there is no foundation for our hopes. But of those who rest on this foundation, there are two sorts. Some hold nothing but the truth as it is in Jesus, and preach nothing else. Others build on the good foundation what will not abide the test, when the day of trail comes. We may be mistaken in ourselves and others; but there is a day coming that will show our actions in the true light, without covering or disguise. Those who spread true and pure religion in all its branches, and whose work will abide in the great day, shall receive a reward. And how great! how much exceeding their deserts! There are others, whose corrupt opinions and doctrines, or vain inventions and usages in the worship of God, shall be made known, disowned, and rejected, in that day. This is plainly meant of a figurative fire, not of a real one; for what real fire can consume religious rites or doctrines? And it is to try every man's works, those of Paul and Apollos, as well as others. Let us consider the tendency of our undertakings, compare them with God's word, and judge ourselves, that we be not judged of the Lord.

Commentary on 1 Corinthians 3:16-17

(Read 1 Corinthians 3:16-17)

From other parts of the epistle, it appears that the false teachers among the Corinthians taught unholy doctrines. Such teaching tended to corrupt, to pollute, and destroy the building, which should be kept pure and holy for God. Those who spread loose principles, which render the church of God unholy, bring destruction upon themselves. Christ by his Spirit dwells in all true believers. Christians are holy by profession, and should be pure and clean, both in heart and conversation. He is deceived who deems himself the temple of the Holy Ghost, yet is unconcerned about personal holiness, or the peace and purity of the church.

1 Corinthians 3:10-16 - KJV (2024)

FAQs

What is the meaning of 1 Corinthians 3 10 15? ›

First Corinthians 3:10–15 expands on Paul's earlier point that only God, not any fallible human being, is worthy. Each person must build their ''works'' on a foundation of Christ. Those works will be subject to judgment, to see what has eternal value.

What does it mean to be saved by fire? ›

Those who have all their works burned up will receive no additional rewards in heaven. Yet they will still be saved because they had repented of their sins and trusted Jesus for their salvation. Thus they are described as being “saved by fire.”

What does it mean that our works will be tested by fire? ›

What does Paul mean when he says our works will be tested by fire? Will they burn up or survive the judgment? In this Ask Pastor Tim, we look at what 1 Corinthians 3:13 means and does not mean. Paul is saying that our works will be judged to determine if they were done for the glory of God or for our own gain.

What does 1 Corinthians 3 16 mean? ›

1 Corinthians 3:16–17 Refers to the Church as a Temple

“Do you not know that you” the church… He's addressing the Corinth church, “Are God's temple and God's Spirit dwells in you together?” If anyone destroys God's temple, like the church, God will destroy him. For God's temple, his church, is holy.

What does Paul mean in 1 Corinthians 3:15? ›

A fiery test is coming that will reveal the quality of the work of everyone who helps to build the church of Christ on earth. Paul's metaphor pictures the church, the community of believers, as a structure that may be raised with either high-quality or poor building materials.

What does 1 Corinthians 3/10/17 mean? ›

Paul is speaking specifically of the work done by the community of the church, which he likens to a temple. Paul compares himself to a “skilled master builder” who has laid the foundation, which is, of course, Christ himself. Others build on top of this foundation, and each one is responsible for his own work.

Is 1 Corinthians 3:15 about Purgatory? ›

Paul is describing a third place, Purgatory: a place (or state of being) where the faithful dead who are in a state of grace but not yet purified of all imperfection go for final purification to prepare them to enter the glory of heaven.

What does "tested by fire" mean in the Bible? ›

Faith, in this passage, refers to our belief in Jesus. The various trials that test our faith are compared to fire; these trials refer to persecution. When we are persecuted and endure hard times because of our Christian faith, yet continue to serve God, the genuineness of our faith is revealed.

What is the message of the God that answers by fire? ›

The God who answers with fire is destined to receive glory (1 Kings 18:30-39). Elijah began by repairing the dilapidated altar to the Lord. In this place where humans had once glorified God, an altar to a false god had supplanted the altar of the living Lord.

Why is our body the temple of God in 1 Corinthians 3:16-17? ›

You are like a temple. You are different from everyone else, but you too are a house for the Spirit of God—the Holy Ghost. The Apostle Paul said: “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? … The temple of God is holy, which temple ye are” (1 Corinthians 3:16–17).

What is the prayer for 1 Corinthians 3 16? ›

1 Corinthians 3:16 Teaches the Significance of The Church Body. God, we pray that you give us a high view of your church as your temple. We pray that that would be the prevailing image we have in our minds when we gather together with your people on a Sunday for worship.

What is the lesson of 1 Corinthians Chapter 3? ›

The Corinthians should follow God, not them. Those whose work is worthless will suffer loss, but they will be saved. After this, Paul will expound on the idea that believers ought to set Christ as their example, rather than being defined in terms of their earthly leaders.

What does it mean that the husband is sanctified by the wife? ›

What Paul does seem to be saying is that God regards the unbelieving spouse and children of a Christian person as a holy spouse and children. This is precisely because the husband and wife are united as one, and one of them is united with Christ.

What is the meaning of 1 Corinthians 3 11-15? ›

1 Corinthians 3:11-15

Jesus lays that groundwork for believers when they receive His salvation. Christ's saving grace gives His followers a new life. Sins are wiped away so that we have a clean “work site,” so to speak. Empowered by Jesus' strength and wisdom, we can build on His foundation.

Does 1 Corinthians 3:15 teach purgatory? ›

Catholics often appeal to 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 to support the Catholic dogma of purgatory: For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

What does 1 Corinthians 3 teach us? ›

The Corinthians should follow God, not them. Those whose work is worthless will suffer loss, but they will be saved. After this, Paul will expound on the idea that believers ought to set Christ as their example, rather than being defined in terms of their earthly leaders.

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