KJV: Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
YLT: and if any one doth build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw --
Darby: Now if any one build upon this foundation, gold, silver, precious stones, wood, grass, straw,
ASV: But if any man buildeth on the foundation gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, stubble;
| δέ | now |
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Parse: Conjunction Root: δέ Sense: but, moreover, and, etc. |
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| τις | anyone |
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Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: τὶς Sense: a certain, a certain one. |
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| ἐποικοδομεῖ | builds |
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Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: ἐποικοδομέω Sense: to build upon, build up. |
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| ἐπὶ | upon |
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Parse: Preposition Root: ἐπί Sense: upon, on, at, by, before. |
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| θεμέλιον | foundation |
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Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular Root: θεμέλιον Sense: laid down as a foundation, the foundation (of a building, wall, city). |
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| χρυσόν | gold |
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Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular Root: χρυσός Sense: precious things made of gold, golden ornaments. |
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| ἄργυρον | silver |
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Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular Root: ἄργυρος Sense: silver. |
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| λίθους | stones |
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Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Plural Root: λίθος Sense: a stone. |
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| τιμίους | precious |
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Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Plural Root: τίμιος Sense: as of great price, precious. |
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| ξύλα | wood |
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Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural Root: ξύλον Sense: wood. |
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| χόρτον | hay |
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Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular Root: χόρτος Sense: the place where grass grows and animals graze. |
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| καλάμην | straw |
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Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular Root: καλάμη Sense: a stalk of grain or a reed, stubble,. |
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Greek Commentary for 1 Corinthians 3:12
The durable materials are three (gold, silver, marble or precious stones), perishable materials (pieces of wood, hay, stubble), “of a palace on the one hand, of a mud hut on the other” (Lightfoot). Gold was freely used by the ancients in their palaces. Their marble and granite pillars are still the wonder and despair of modern men. The wooden huts had hay The teaching may not always be vicious and harmful. It may only be indifferent and worthless. A Corinthians-worker with God in this great temple should put in his very best effort. [source]
It is important to have a clear conception of Paul's figure, which must be taken in a large and free sense, and not pressed into detail. He speaks of the body of truth and doctrine which different teachers may erect on the one true foundation - Jesus Christ. This body is the building. The reference is to a single building, as is shown by 1 Corinthians 3:16; not to a city with different buildings of different materials. The figure of Christ as the foundation of a city does not occur in the New Testament. To this structure different teachers (builders) bring contributions of more or less value, represented by gold, wood, hay, etc. These are not intended to represent specific forms of truth or of error, but none of them are to be regarded as anti-Christian, which would be inconsistent with building on the true foundation. It is plainly implied that teachers may build upon the true foundation with perishable or worthless materials. This appears in the history of the Church in the false interpretations of scripture, and the crude or fanatical preaching of sincere but ignorant men. The whole structure will be brought to a final and decisive test at the day of judgment, when the true value of each teacher's work shall be manifested, and that which is worthless shall be destroyed. The distinction is clearly made between the teacher and the matter of his teaching. The sincere but mistaken teacher's work will be shown to be worthless in itself, but the teacher himself will be saved and will receive the reward of personal character, and not of good building. Luther alluded to this verse in his unfortunate description of the Epistle of James as “an epistle of straw.” [source]
Not the same as κάλαμος areed. See Revelation 11:1; Revelation 21:15; and on 3 John 1:13. This word means a stalk of grain after the ears have been cut off. It was used for thatch in building. Virgil, “Aeneid,” 654, alludes to the temple of Jupiter Capitolinus with its roof bristling with stubble. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Corinthians 3:12
Literally, “fall back,” lie down, recline. Second aorist active infinitive of αναπιπτω anapiptō Much grass Old word for pasture, green grass (Mark 6:39) or hay (1 Corinthians 3:12). It was spring (John 6:4) and plenty of green grass on the hillside. The men Word for men as distinct from women, expressly stated in Matthew 14:21. In number Adverbial accusative (of general reference). About General estimate, though they were arranged in orderly groups by hundreds and fifties, “in ranks” like “garden beds” (πρασιαι prasiai Mark 6:40). [source]
Note the preposition επι epi with the verb each time (1 Corinthians 3:10, 1 Corinthians 3:11, 1 Corinthians 3:12, 1 Corinthians 3:14). The successor to Paul did not have to lay a new foundation, but only to go on building on that already laid. It is a pity when the new pastor has to dig up the foundation and start all over again as if an earthquake had come. Take heed how he buildeth thereon (βλεπετω πως εποικοδομει blepetō pōs epoikodomei). The carpenters have need of caution how they carry out the plans of the original architect. Successive architects of great cathedrals carry on through centuries the original design. The result becomes the wonder of succeeding generations. There is no room for individual caprice in the superstructure. [source]
Present passive participle (rooted to stay so) of εποικοδομεω epoikodomeō old verb, to build upon as in 1 Corinthians 3:10, 1 Corinthians 3:12. The metaphor is changed again to a building as continually going up (present tense). Stablished (βεβαιουμενοι bebaioumenoi). Present passive participle of βεβαιοω bebaioō old verb from βεβαιος bebaios (from βαινω βαιω bainōτηι πιστει baiō), to make firm or stable. In your faith Locative case, though the instrumental case, by your faith, makes good sense also. Even as ye were taught (διδασκω kathōs edidachthēte). First aorist passive indicative of παρελαβετε didaskō an allusion to εματετε parelabete in Colossians 2:6 and to εν ευχαριστιαι emathete in Colossians 1:7. In thanksgiving Hence they had no occasion to yield to the blandishments of the Gnostic teachers. [source]
Ξύλινος woodenonly here and Revelation 9:20. Ὁστράκινος ofbaked clay, only here and 2 Corinthians 4:7(note). Comp. the different metaphor, 1 Corinthians 3:12. [source]
Γάμος everywhere else in N.T. a wedding or wedding feast, often in the plural, as Matthew 22:2, Matthew 22:3, Matthew 22:4; Luke 12:36. Τίμιος honorableor held in honor. Often in N.T. precious, of gold, stones, etc., as 1 Corinthians 3:12; Revelation 17:4; Revelation 18:12; of life, Acts 20:24; the fruits of the earth, James 5:7; the blood of Christ, 1 Peter 1:19; the divine promises, 2 Peter 1:4. Rend. “let marriage be had in honor.” The statement is hortatory, as suiting the character of the entire context, and especially the γὰρ for“for whoremongers,” etc. Ἑν πᾶσιν in all respects,” as 1 Timothy 3:11; 2 Timothy 4:5; Titus 2:9; Colossians 1:18; Philemon 4:12. If as A.V., the more natural expression would be παρὰ πᾶσιν as Matthew 19:26; Acts 26:8; Romans 2:13; 2 Thessalonians 1:6; James 1:27. Ἑν πᾶσιν inall things appears in this chapter, Hebrews 13:18. There are many points in which marriage is to be honored besides the avoidance of illicit connections. See on 1 Thessalonians 4:6. [source]
Second aorist active indicative of αναπερω anapherō common verb of bringing sacrifice to the altar. Combination here of Isaiah 53:12; Deuteronomy 21:23. Jesus is the perfect sin offering (Hebrews 9:28). For Christ‘s body Not tree here as in Luke 23:31, originally just wood (1 Corinthians 3:12), then something made of wood, as a gibbet or cross. So used by Peter for the Cross in Acts 5:30; Acts 10:39; and by Paul in Galatians 3:13 (quoting Deuteronomy 21:23).Having died unto sins Second aorist middle participle of απογινομαι apoginomai old compound to get away from, with dative (as here) to die to anything, here only in N.T.That we might live unto righteousness (ινα τηι δικαιοσυνηι ζησωμεν hina tēi dikaiosunēi zēsōmen). Purpose clause with ινα hina and the first aorist active subjunctive of ζαω zaō with the dative (cf. Romans 6:20). Peter‘s idea here is like that of Paul in Rom 6:1-23, especially Romans 6:2 and Romans 6:10.).By whose stripes ye were healed From Isaiah 53:5. First aorist passive indicative of ιαομαι iaomai common verb to heal (James 5:16) and the instrumental case of μωλωπς mōlōps rare word (Aristotle, Plutarch) for bruise or bloody wound, here only in N.T. Cf. 1 Peter 1:18. Writing to slaves who may have received such stripes, Peter‘s word is effective. [source]
Not tree here as in Luke 23:31, originally just wood (1 Corinthians 3:12), then something made of wood, as a gibbet or cross. So used by Peter for the Cross in Acts 5:30; Acts 10:39; and by Paul in Galatians 3:13 (quoting Deuteronomy 21:23). [source]