1Cor 3:10 | JFB | STEP | 10. grace . . . given unto me —Paul puts this first, to guard against seeming to want humility, in pronouncing himself "a WISE master builder," in the clause following [CHRYSOSTOM ]. The "grace" is that "given" to him in common with all Christians ( ), only proportioned to the work which God had for him to do [ALFORD ]. wise —that is, skilful. His skill is shown in his laying a foundation. The unskilful builder lays none ( ). Christ is the foundation ( ). another —who ever comes after me. He does not name Apollos; for he speaks generally of all successors, whoever they be. His warning, "Let every man (every teacher ) take heed how," &c., refers to other successors rather than Apollos, who doubtless did not, as they, build wood, hay, &c., on the foundation (compare ). "I have done my part, let them who follow me see (so the Greek for 'take heed') to theirs" [BENGEL ]. how —with what material [ALFORD ]. How far wisely, and in builder-like style ( ). buildeth thereupon —Here the building or superstructure raised on Christ the "foundation," laid by Paul ( ) is not, as in , the Christian Church made up of believers, the "lively stones" ( ), but the doctrinal and practical teaching which the teachers who succeeded Paul, superadded to his first teaching; not that they taught what was false, but their teaching was subtle and speculative reasoning, rather than solid and simple truth.

1 Corinthians 3:10

10. grace . . . given unto me—Paul puts this first, to guard against seeming to want humility, in pronouncing himself "a WISE master builder," in the clause following [CHRYSOSTOM]. The "grace" is that "given" to him in common with all Christians (1Co 3:5), only proportioned to the work which God had for him to do [ALFORD].

wise—that is, skilful. His skill is shown in his laying a foundation. The unskilful builder lays none (Lu 6:49). Christ is the foundation (1Co 3:11).

another—who ever comes after me. He does not name Apollos; for he speaks generally of all successors, whoever they be. His warning, "Let every man (every teacher) take heed how," &c., refers to other successors rather than Apollos, who doubtless did not, as they, build wood, hay, &c., on the foundation (compare 1Co 4:15). "I have done my part, let them who follow me see (so the Greek for 'take heed') to theirs" [BENGEL].

how—with what material [ALFORD]. How far wisely, and in builder-like style (1Pe 4:11).

buildeth thereupon—Here the building or superstructure raised on Christ the "foundation," laid by Paul (1Co 2:2) is not, as in Eph 2:20, 21, the Christian Church made up of believers, the "lively stones" (1Pe 2:5), but the doctrinal and practical teaching which the teachers who succeeded Paul, superadded to his first teaching; not that they taught what was false, but their teaching was subtle and speculative reasoning, rather than solid and simple truth.