as a wise master-builder, I have | man take heed how he buildeth laid the foundation, and another thereupon. buildeth thereon. But let every

11 For other foundation can

for their faithfulness and integrity, ver. 14. 15. The same admonition should be carefully heeded by every professed teacher of the gospel. He should never lose sight of the great truth which lies at the foundation; and he should be cautious that he teaches nothing which is inconsistent with that truth. "It is required in stewards that a man be found faithful," ch. iv. 2. The office of a religious teacher is of vast responsibility. If he be faithful in the proclamation of the truth "he shall receive a reward," ver. 14: but woe to that man who wilfully or negligently leads his people astray. See the affectionate exhortation of this apostle to his favorite disciple, 1 Tim. iv. 16.

11. For other foundation. Any different foundation. One had been laid, which was sufficient. There was no place for another, and no other would be sufficient to sustain the fabric of Christianity. T Can no man lay. That is, effectually. There is no other true foundation; no other which is sufficient. The apostle does not deny the ability of others to lay a foundation, or preach a doctrine different from that which he had proposed as the basis of the Christian

as anything more than servants of the Most High, dependent on him, not only for direction, but for wisdom and success. As a wise master-builder. "A skilful architect." Conybeare, Locke, Macknight, and others. Paul does not claim superiority over his brethren, as if they were ordinary builders, and he the master-builder. But he had proceeded as every judicious architect would; that is, he had laid a firm foundation before he proceeded to erect his superstructure. TI have laid the foundation. Precisely what that foundation is, we learn in ver. 11. The same architectural metaphor is used, as in ver. 9, but with some change of application. There the believers are represented as the building; here the doctrines taught and believed are so represented. Some, indeed, understand the laying of the foundation to indicate the establishment of the church at Corinth, to which additions were subsequently made, through the labors of others, partly of good material, partly of bad. But it certainly comports better with what follows, to understand both the foundation and superstructure to represent doctrines; and in this opinion many commentators agree. And another buildeth thereon. Other teach-system. Some had already perverted ers. Paul had imparted to them the rudiments, the first principles of Christianity; especially that great doctrine which lies at the foundation of the system, on which all its parts must rest. After his departure, other teachers had attempted to impart ad-ren. ditional information. From ver. 12, it appears that such attempts were not uniformly successful. Some had given good instruction, consistent with the fundamental doctrine. The instructions of others were of a different character. ¶ But let every man take heed, &c. This admonition may be regarded as addressed to all the religious teachers at Corinth, and especially to the false teachers. He reminds them that they will be held responsible

the gospel of Christ. Gal. i. 6-9. But his meaning is, that the Christian religion cannot securely rest on any foundation except that which is its natural basis, and which he had already laid in the minds of his breth

"Je

¶ Which is Jesus Christ. sus the Christ.". Conybeare. This was the great truth, namely, that Jesus was the Christ, which Paul first preached at Corinth, ch. ii. 2; xv. 3. On the fact that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God, and his authorized messenger to men, rests the whole fabric of Christianity. Remove this, and all faith in revelation crumbles to dust. But while this fact remains as a living truth in the heart, we may rely on his testimony with unfaltering confidence,

no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, pre

of the living God," Jesus required no more, and attributed this faith to the divine influence. Matt. xvi. 16, 17. Well, then, might Paul regard this great truth as the foundation of Christianity. If a reason be required why a belief in this truth is not only important but indispensable to faith in the Christian religion, of the many which might be given, a single one is sufficient:- Whoso believeth that Jesus is the Christ must necessarily also believe that all his testimony is true, and therefore has full assurance of faith in all the doctrines which he taught: but whoso believeth not that Jesus is the Christ has no such assur

anthority of the teaching, and cannot know whether it be true or false.

and lay hold on his instructions, admonitions, and promises, as if they were uttered by the mouth of God himself. Hence, when the apostles went out into the world, their first effort was to establish the fact that Jesus, who was crucified and raised again, was the Son of God. Thus Peter, on the day of Pentecost, urged this fact at Jerusalem. Acts ii. 22-36. See also Acts iii. 12-18; v. 29-32. And when the same apostle was specially directed to proclaim the gospel to the Gentiles, the same great fact was his principal theme. Acts x. 3643. The preaching of Paul, the great apostle to the Gentiles, was of similar character. Witness his address at An-ance, inasmuch as he rejects the divine tioch, Acts xiii. 23-41; to the jailer at Philippi, Acts xvi. 31; at Thessalonica, Acts xvii. 3; at Athens, Acts xvii. 30, 31; at Ephesus, Acts xix. 3-5; xx. 20, 21; at Jerusalem, Acts xxii. 6-10; at Cesarea, Acts xxvi. 22, 23; at Rome, Acts xxviii. 23. Thus, among the fellow-laborers with the apostles, Apollos, when he had learned "the way of God more perfectly," went to Corinth, and "mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, showing by the Scriptures that Jesus was Christ." Acts xviii. 24-28. And it is worthy of notice, that the record mentions no other doctrine preached by him. Thus, when Philip found the Ethiopian nobleman reading the prophecy, he "opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture and preached unto him Jesus." This was all that he preached, and all that he required to be believed, as fundamentally necessary to a profession of Christianity. For when his convert asked to be baptized, "Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest." And he answered, and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." Whereupon Philip straightway baptized him. Acts viii. 26-40. Thus, also, the same profession of faith was satisfactory to the great Master himself. When Peter said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son |

12. If any man build on this foundation. If any man construct a system of doctrine upon this foundation. This primarily refers to the religious teachers at Corinth; but it embraces a general truth, equally applicable to all religious teachers and investigators and believers in all ages. Among those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, various theories have prevailed, in respect both to doctrines and duties, concerning the proper construction of the edifice of Christianity. It was so in the apostolic age. Acts xi. 1-18; xv. 1-29; Gal. ii. 11–21. Such difficulty existed at Corinth. We find everal allusions in this Epistle to the Judaizing principles, by the prevalence of which the apostle was so much annoyed through his whole ministry. It is known, also, that the early Greek converts deavored to incorporate much of their philosophy into the structure of Christianity, and this adulterating process had already commenced. While some cautiously and conscientiously added to the fundamental truth of Christianity, only such other truths as were spoken by Jesus, or by those "holy men of God who spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost," 2 Pet. i. 21; others freely incorporated into their

en

cious stones, wood, hay, stub-made manifest: for the day shall ble; declare it, because it shall be 13 Every man's work shall be revealed by fire; and the fire

system either Jewish traditions or the here mentioned to be "the day of philosophical theories of the Greeks. judgment," in its popular sense, and Hence, while the foundation was the the fire to be the fire of endless torsame, the structures erected thereon ment. But others, with more propriwere far from being alike. T Gold, ety, understand the reference to be to silver, precious stones, hay, wood, stubble. a day and fire on the earth. Some, as These several words scarcely need ex- Lightfoot and Hammond, think the time planation, as the substances indicated when Jerusalem should be destroyed is are so familiarly known. They are indicated; Macknight and others supused here, agreeably to the architec-pose the approaching time of persecutural metaphor, to illustrate the differ- tion is denoted; Grotius, Rosenmuller, ence between true and false doctrines. and others, apply the passage to time The first three gold, silver, and pre-in general. The latter opinion is percious stones, or "valuable stones," as haps quite as reasonable as either of Macknight translates, or "precious the others. The note of Lightfoot, howmarbles," according to Conybeare · ever, is too valuable to be overlooked. being of a durable character, are used "Two things shall discover every man's to represent doctrines of truth, which work, the day' and 'the fire'; both will bear the most trying test. Hay, which you may not understand amiss wood, and stubble, being perishable, of the word of God, manifesting and easily consumed, are used to represent proving all things. For the light of false doctrines, which must sooner or the gospel is very frequently called later perish. All the words are hap- the day,' and the law of God called pily chosen, not only in regard to the 'value of the substances denoted, but in regard also to their capacity to resist the action of fire, the figure of the test to be applied to them, ver. 13. Some commentators have understood the apostle to speak here of men in the Christian church, instead of the doctrines believed by them. But the more general opinion agrees with the interpretation already given. "Now if any man build upon this foundation, gold, silver, precious stones, that is, sound doctrine which will bear the trial of the fire, wood, hay, stubble, human eloquence and wisdom, legal rites and Judaical traditions, which will be abolished and vanish away, every man's work shall be made manifest." Whitby. To the same effect, substantially, Hammond, Lightfoot, Assem. Annot., Doddridge, and many others.

fire.' Deut. xxxiii. 2. If any one's work or doctrine will endure the trial of that fire, he shall receive the reward of sound doctrine; if the doctrine of any will not endure it, but be consumed, he shall receive the damage of his pains and labor lost, but he himself shall be saved; but this as he is proved by fire." Another commentator expresses his opinion thus: "By fire, either we are to understand, according to the interpretation of St. Austin and others of the ancients, the fire of persecutions, tribulations, and temptations, whereby the sound doctrine is tried and proved, as it were affording then to us most strong and solid comforts and consolations which no other is able to do; or the fire of the Holy Ghost, who, by the light of God's word, doth manifest the verity or vanity of doctrines delivered by the preachers, 13. Every man's work shall be made and, like unto fire, reduceth and bringmanifest. Its true character shall be eth to nothing, like hay and stubble, made to appear. Truth will endure whatsoever is foisted in by human inthe most searching trial; but false-vention. For though such doctrine be hood cannot abide it. For the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire. Some suppose the day

not tainted with heresy, yet because blended with vanity, it is no better than hay and stubble; or by fire is

shall try every man's work, of what sort it is.

14 If any man's work abide

meant the appearing of Christ at the
day of judgment, likened to fire for
two qualities, brightness and a con-
suming force."-Assem. Annot. It will
be observed that the last is named as
the possible meaning, but without much
And
appearance of confidence in it.
well might the writer lack such confi-
dence; for he distinctly regards the
hay, wood, and stubble, ver. 12, as de-
noting doctrines, not men, and believes
the teacher of them will be saved, ver.
15. ¶ And the fire shall try every man's
work. Whatever the fire may denote,
the idea is distinctly exhibited that
the true character of all doctrines shall
be made manifest; or, according to the
metaphor, that the quality of the su-
perstructure, erected on the true foun-
dation, shall be tried and ascertained,
whether it be substantial and perma-
nent, or whether it be visionary and
perishable.

which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

15 If any man's work shall

The

So

will not endure the trial, as hay and stubble and dross will not the fire, he shall lose the praise of his labor, which shall not be accepted nor rewarded by God. Notwithstanding for his own person, if he have held the foundation, - he shall be saved.". Assem. Annot. ¶ But he himself shall be saved. That is, from permanent harm. Those commentators who refer the day and the fire to the destruction of Jerusalem, with its attendant convulsions, through many nations, understand this salvation to be preservation from the great calamity which overwhelmed so many. Those who suppose the hay, wood, and stubble, to represent evil men instead of false doctrines, understand salvation from endless misery to be intended. It is not easily understood, however, why the preacher himself should be saved, if he have guided his flock in the way to utter destruction. more probable meaning is this: long as a man holds the fundamental fact that Jesus is the Christ, although he may have believed and taught much in connection with it which is false, when these false doctrines become manifest and are consumed in his sight, yet he shall not lose his confidence in God. However mortified and chagrined he may be, when he perceives the inutility of his labor, yet clinging fast to the foundation, he shall yet feel that he has a safe refuge. ¶ Yet so as by fire. This is added, to carry out the metaphor; as if one escaped from his dwelling which was in flames. The fire consumes the errors; but the person escapes. "Shall be saved as one 15. If any man's work shall be burned. who scarcely escapes through the "If it shall not be found to bear the flames."- ·Conybeare. The following test of the investigation of that day, remarks on the whole passage, ver. 12as a cottage of wood, hay, and stubble, 15, are worthy of notice, though I do would not bear the application of fire." not vouch for their entire correctness. - Barnes. If the doctrines he has "The sectaries at Corinth did not reject taught are false, and will not abide Jesus as the Christ, but along with this, the test. THe shall suffer loss. He the only fundamental, they wished to shall not receive the reward which is connect some peculiarity of their own as enjoyed by him whose work abides. equally fundamental. Such peculiari"If any man's doctrine or teaching | ties, St. Paul declares, provided they

14. If any man's work abide, &c. If it shall appear that the doctrines which he has incorporated into the system of Christianity are consistent with eternal truth; if they be such as Christ revealed, or such as the Holy Spirit revealed through others. THe shall receive a reward. See note on ver. 8. Shall be approved as a wise builder. Shall enjoy the consciousness that he has been rightly guided into the truth. The apostle exhorts his beloved disciple to build after this manner, and indicates a similar reward. Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Tim. ii. 15.