Bible Strands
1 Corinthians 3:12
If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw,
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul writes to the Corinthian church, addressing a community divided over human leaders. He positions himself as the skilled workman who laid the foundation (Christ) and frames the rest of the ministry as building on that fixed base.
The words — ἐποικοδομεῖ (epoikodomei), "superbuilds," carries the prefix ἐπ- (upon) and signals construction that presupposes a foundation already in place; the builder does not choose the ground, only the material.
The thread — The same material contrast recurs in 2 Timothy 2:20, where a large house holds vessels of gold and silver alongside wood and clay, some for honorable use and some for dishonorable. The "wood, hay, straw" category also echoes the false teachers of 2 Timothy 3:7 and 4:3, whose work will not survive the Day.
Why it lands — The foundation is not the variable; the material you bring is. The verse asks the reader to account for what they are adding to the work of Christ, knowing the Day will test it.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
Cross-references
- 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.
- 2 Timothy 3:7 who are always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.
- 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.
- Colossians 2:18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you with speculation about what he has seen. Such a person is puffed up without basis by his unspiritual mind.
- Psalms 19:10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.
- Psalms 119:72 The law from Your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.
- Matthew 15:6 he need not honor his father or mother with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition.
- 2 Corinthians 2:17 For we are not like so many others, who peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as men sent from God.
- Hebrews 13:9 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace and not by foods of no value to those devoted to them.
- 1 Peter 1:7 so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.