1 COR 3:10 Interlinear View

1. Greek word
2. Greek lemma
3. OET-LV words
4. OET-RV words
5. Strongs
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. Κατά
2. kata
3. According to
4. -
5. 25960
6. P·······
7. according_to
8. according_to
9. PS
10. Y59
11. 114025
1. τήν
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····AFS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y59
11. 114026
1. χάριν
2. χaris
3. grace
4. -
5. 54850
6. N····AFS
7. grace
8. grace
9. -
10. Y59
11. 114027
1. τοῦ
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····GMS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y59
11. 114028
1. Θεοῦ
2. theos
3. of god
4. God
5. 23160
6. N····GMS
7. ˱of˲ god
8. ˱of˲ God
9. GN
10. Y59; Person=God
11. 114029
1. τήν
2. ho
3. which
4. that
5. 35880
6. R····AFS
7. ¬which
8. ¬which
9. -
10. Y59
11. 114030
1. δοθεῖσαν
2. didōmi
3. having been given
4. given
5. 13250
6. VPAP·AFS
7. ˓having_been˒ given
8. ˓having_been˒ given
9. -
10. Y59
11. 114031
1. μοί
2. egō
3. to me
4. -
5. 14730
6. R···1D·S
7. ˱to˲ me
8. ˱to˲ me
9. -
10. Y59
11. 114032
1. ὡς
2. hōs
3. as
4. -
5. 56130
6. C·······
7. as
8. as
9. -
10. Y59
11. 114033
1. σοφός
2. sofos
3. +a wise
4. -
5. 46800
6. A····NMS
7. ˓a˒ wise
8. ˓a˒ wise
9. -
10. Y59
11. 114034
1. ἀρχιτέκτων
2. arχitektōn
3. architect
4. -
5. 7530
6. N····NMS
7. architect
8. architect
9. -
10. Y59
11. 114035
1. θεμέλιον
2. themelios
3. +the foundation
4. foundation
5. 23100
6. N····AMS
7. ˓the˒ foundation
8. ˓the˒ foundation
9. -
10. Y59; F114055
11. 114036
1. τέθεικα
2. tithēmi
3. -
4. -
5. 50870
6. VIEA1··S
7. ˱I˲ ˓have˒ laid
8. ˱I˲ ˓have˒ laid
9. -
10. -
11. 114037
1. ἔθηκα
2. tithēmi
3. I laid
4. -
5. 50870
6. VIAA1··S
7. ˱I˲ laid
8. ˱I˲ laid
9. -
10. Y59; R113998; Person=Paul
11. 114038
1. ἄλλος
2. allos
3. another
4. -
5. 2430
6. R····NMS
7. another
8. another
9. -
10. Y59
11. 114039
1. δέ
2. de
3. but
4. -
5. 11610
6. C·······
7. but
8. but
9. -
10. Y59
11. 114040
1. ἐποικοδομεῖ
2. epoikodomeō
3. is building on it
4. -
5. 20260
6. VIPA3··S
7. ˓is˒ building_on ‹it›
8. ˓is˒ building_on ‹it›
9. -
10. Y59
11. 114041
1. ἕκαστος
2. hekastos
3. each
4. -
5. 15380
6. S····NMS
7. each
8. each
9. -
10. Y59; F114046
11. 114042
1. Δέ
2. de
3. But
4. -
5. 11610
6. C·······
7. but
8. but
9. S
10. Y59
11. 114043
1. βλεπέτω
2. blepō
3. let be seeing
4. -
5. 9910
6. VMPA3··S
7. ˓let_be˒ seeing
8. ˓let_be˒ seeing
9. -
10. Y59
11. 114044
1. πῶς
2. pōs
3. how
4. -
5. 44590
6. D·······
7. how
8. how
9. -
10. Y59
11. 114045
1. ἐποικοδομεῖ
2. epoikodomeō
3. he is building on
4. -
5. 20260
6. VIPA3··S
7. ˱he˲ ˓is˒ building_on
8. ˱he˲ ˓is˒ building_on
9. -
10. Y59; R114042
11. 114046

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 3:1–23: Christian workers serve the Lord by building his church together

In this section Paul told the believers in Corinth that they had not become spiritually mature. That was why they were dividing into separate groups and arguing with one another about teachers. They needed to learn about God’s plan for Christian workers and leaders. Christian workers and leaders all belong to God and are all building God’s church together.

Other possible section headings include:

Paul and all the other apostles were the Lord’s servants

All believers belong to the Lord and should remain united

Paragraph 3:10–15

In this paragraph Paul used an extended metaphor. This is about constructing a building. Paul said that he was an expert builder who laid a foundation. This means that he started the church in Corinth. He was the one who first preached the gospel in Corinth and first taught the people there to believe in Jesus.

Paul said that other people were building on the foundation that he had laid. This means that other Christian workers were continuing the work in Corinth. They were teaching the believers. God will reward such workers if they do their work faithfully.

In these verses Paul talked about a building, housebuilders, the materials used to build the building, and about fire. It is best if you can keep this metaphor in your translation. But if the people who read your translation will not understand what Paul was saying, you may need to change how you translate it. There are several ways to translate these verses:

literally, as a metaphor. For example:
I was the expert builder who laid the foundation.
as a simile. For example:
I was like an expert builder who laid a foundation.
giving both the metaphor and the meaning. For example:
I began God’s work among you. I was like an expert builder who laid the foundation.
giving the meaning of the metaphor without the metaphor. For example:
I began God’s work among you.

This metaphor is an important part of Paul’s teaching in 3:10–15. Because of this, it is best if you translate these verses using one of the first three methods above. You should remove the metaphor only if the people in your language group cannot understand the metaphor when it is translated in any of the first three ways. In the footnote is a sample translation of 3:10–15 that follows the third method.Here is a sample translation of 3:10–16 that translates the extended metaphor as a simile and also gives the meaning:“(10a) God graciously gave me ability to do his work. So, using that ability, (10b) I began God’s work among you. I was like a wise house builder who begins building a house by laying the foundation. (10c) Now, other workers are continuing God’s work among you. they are like house builders who are building on top of the foundation that I already laid. (10d) But I warn each of those who are doing God’s work: Be careful what you do! (11) No one should teach any other way to be saved, except the way that God has given us. Jesus Christ is the only Savior that God has given us. He is like the foundation to the house.(12a) Some workers do God’s work well. They are like house builders who build on the foundation using good quality materials like gold, silver and valuable stones. (12b) Other workers do not do God’s work well. They are like house builders who build on the foundation using poor-quality materials like wood, hay and straw. (13a) In the future it will become clear what kind of work each worker has done, (13b) because when Jesus returns, he will make this all clear. (13c) When he returns he will judge what everyone has done. When he judges people, it will be like a fire. (13d) It will be like a person who tests different materials by putting them in a fire to see if they are good quality or not. (14a) When Jesus judges the works of some workers, he will say/declare that their works are good. Their works will be like good quality materials that do not burn up in the fire. (14b) He will reward those workers. (15a) But when he judges the works of other workers, he will declare/say that their work was not good. Their works will be like poor-quality materials that burn up in the fire. (15b) These workers will not get any reward. (15c) God will still save them from the punishment of their sins, (15d) but all of the work they have done will be of no value. They will be like a person who has run out of a burning house: he did not die but everything he had was burned up.”

3:10a

By the grace God has given me,

¶ Using the ability that God graciously gave to me,
¶ God was gracious to me and made me able to work for him.

By the grace God has given me: The Greek word that the BSB translates as grace here refers to a gift or special ability that God had given Paul. God had made Paul an apostle and had given him the ability to do the work of an apostle. In some languages it may be natural to translate this as:

God has graciously enabled/allowed me

Using the gift that God gave me (GNT)

3:10b

I laid a foundation as an expert builder,

I did the work of an wise/skillful expert house builder by laying the foundation.
I was the first to preach the gospel among you, like a skilled builder laying a foundation.

I laid a foundation: A foundation is a strong stone base on which a house is built. It is the part of a building that the worker makes first. It holds up the rest of the building or it holds it together in a firm way. In some cultures, people start making a house or building by setting posts deep into the ground, or by putting up a center pole. If in your area people do not understand what a foundation is, you may want to substitute another part of a house that has a similar function. For example:

I planted the center pole

I put together the main beams on which the house is

I firmly set down the main rocks on which the house is

The meaning of this metaphor is that Paul began the church in Corinth with the firm foundation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He was the first one to proclaim the gospel in Corinth.

as an expert builder: The Greek word that the BSB translates as builder refers to someone who is experienced at building. The Greek word that the BSB translates as expert means “skilled” or “wise.” It is the same word as in 1:19–20 and 1:25–27. In some languages it may be natural to put this information at the beginning of 3:10b. For example:

like a skilled master-builder I laid a foundation (NET)

3:10c

and someone else is building on it.

Since that time, other workers are continuing the work by building on top of the foundation that I laid.
Now other Christian workers are teaching you, just like other builders put/build the rest of the building on top of the foundation.

someone else is building on it: Paul was talking about other Christian workers in general who were continuing the work he began in Corinth. They were teaching and leading the believers there at that time.

someone else: Paul used a singular form here, but he was probably not referring to only one person. If it is more natural in your language, you can translate this using a plural. For example:

I laid a foundation on which others have built (3:10b-c, CEV).

3:10d

But each one must be careful how he builds.

But every worker must be careful how he builds.
But each worker must make sure that he teaches well/correctly, just like builders must make sure that they build carefully/correctly on the foundation,

But: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates here as But introduces a warning. The RSV does not explicitly translate this conjunction. You should introduce Paul’s warning in a way that is natural in your language.

each one must be careful how he builds: This is a warning to the Christian workers in Corinth who were not doing God’s work well. Paul was probably talking about people in the Corinthian church who were causing the believers to argue about who was the best teacher. Here are some other ways to translate this:

Everyone should/must be careful how they build.

You workers, be careful how you each/all build.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

τοῦ Θεοῦ τὴν δοθεῖσάν μοι

¬the ˱of˲_God (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Κατά τήν χάριν τοῦ Θεοῦ τήν δοθεῖσαν μοί ὡς σοφός ἀρχιτέκτων θεμέλιον ἔθηκα ἄλλος δέ ἐποικοδομεῖ ἕκαστος Δέ βλεπέτω πῶς ἐποικοδομεῖ)

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Paul uses the passive form here to focus on the grace that was given rather than focusing on the person doing the “giving.” If you must state who does the action, Paul implies that “God” does it. Alternate translation: [that God gave me]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / exmetaphor

ὡς σοφὸς ἀρχιτέκτων θεμέλιον ἔθηκα, ἄλλος δὲ ἐποικοδομεῖ ἕκαστος δὲ βλεπέτω, πῶς ἐποικοδομεῖ

as (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Κατά τήν χάριν τοῦ Θεοῦ τήν δοθεῖσαν μοί ὡς σοφός ἀρχιτέκτων θεμέλιον ἔθηκα ἄλλος δέ ἐποικοδομεῖ ἕκαστος Δέ βλεπέτω πῶς ἐποικοδομεῖ)

Paul began using the metaphor of a house in [3:9](../03/09.md). Here he continues that metaphor by speaking about himself as a wise master builder who lays a foundation. By speaking in this way, he means that he is the one who first introduced the Corinthian believers to the gospel, just like a master builder first lays a foundation. He then speaks of people who build on that foundation, meaning that others who proclaim more about the gospel can only do this by using and continuing from the good news that Paul already proclaimed. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this extended metaphor with a comparable metaphor or express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: [as a wise church planter, I first proclaimed the gospel to you, and another is teaching you more about that gospel, but let each one be careful how he teaches you more]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

ὡς σοφὸς ἀρχιτέκτων θεμέλιον ἔθηκα

The phrase as a wise master builder could describe: (1) the way in which Paul laid a foundation. If you use the following alternate translation, you may need to add a comma before it. Alternate translation: [I laid a foundation as a wise master builder] (2) the specific grace that God gave to Paul. Alternate translation: [to be a wise master builder, I laid a foundation]

Note 4 topic: translate-unknown

σοφὸς ἀρχιτέκτων

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Κατά τήν χάριν τοῦ Θεοῦ τήν δοθεῖσαν μοί ὡς σοφός ἀρχιτέκτων θεμέλιον ἔθηκα ἄλλος δέ ἐποικοδομεῖ ἕκαστος Δέ βλεπέτω πῶς ἐποικοδομεῖ)

Here, master builder refers to the person who is in charge of an entire construction project, including designing it and making sure that the building is constructed according to the design. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express master builder with a comparable word or phrase. Alternate translation: [a wise architect] or [a wise construction manager]

Note 5 topic: writing-pronouns

ἄλλος & ἐποικοδομεῖ

another & ˓is˒_building_on_‹it›

Here, another refers to anyone who is building on the foundation, including Apollos. However, Paul does not mean to identify one specific person who is building. If your readers would not infer that another refers to any builder, you could use a word or phrase that identifies any person who does a specific task. Alternate translation: [other people are building on it] or [someone else is building on it]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / imperative3p

ἕκαστος & βλεπέτω

each & ˓let_be˒_seeing

Here Paul uses a third-person imperative. If you have third-person imperatives in your language, you could use one here. If you do not have third-person imperatives, you could express the idea using a word such as “should.” Alternate translation: [each one should be careful]

Note 7 topic: writing-pronouns

ἕκαστος

each

Here, each one refers to any person who builds on the foundation. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express each one with a word or phrase that identifies any person who falls into a certain category. Alternate translation: [every person who builds on it] or [each builder]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

(Occurrence 2) ἐποικοδομεῖ

˱he˲_˓is˒_building_on

Here, he is written in masculine form, but it refers to anyone, no matter what their gender might be. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind heby using a word that does not have gender, or you could use both genders. Alternate translation: [he or she builds on it] or [each one builds on it]

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

1. OET-LV words
2. OET-RV words
3. Strongs
4. Greek word
5. Greek lemma
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. According to
2. -
3. 25960
4. PS
5. kata
6. P-·······
7. according_to
8. according_to
9. PS
10. Y59
11. 114025
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····AFS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y59
11. 114026
1. grace
2. -
3. 54850
5. χaris
6. N-····AFS
7. grace
8. grace
9. -
10. Y59
11. 114027
1. of
2. God
3. 23160
4. GN
5. theos
6. N-····GMS
7. ˱of˲ god
8. ˱of˲ God
9. GN
10. Y59; Person=God
11. 114029
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····GMS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y59
11. 114028
1. god
2. God
3. 23160
4. GN
5. theos
6. N-····GMS
7. ˱of˲ god
8. ˱of˲ God
9. GN
10. Y59; Person=God
11. 114029
1. which
2. that
3. 35880
5. ho
6. R-····AFS
7. ¬which
8. ¬which
9. -
10. Y59
11. 114030
1. having been given
2. given
3. 13250
5. didōmi
6. V-PAP·AFS
7. ˓having_been˒ given
8. ˓having_been˒ given
9. -
10. Y59
11. 114031
1. to me
2. -
3. 14730
5. egō
6. R-···1D·S
7. ˱to˲ me
8. ˱to˲ me
9. -
10. Y59
11. 114032
1. as
2. -
3. 56130
5. hōs
6. C-·······
7. as
8. as
9. -
10. Y59
11. 114033
1. +a wise
2. -
3. 46800
5. sofos
6. A-····NMS
7. ˓a˒ wise
8. ˓a˒ wise
9. -
10. Y59
11. 114034
1. architect
2. -
3. 7530
5. arχitektōn
6. N-····NMS
7. architect
8. architect
9. -
10. Y59
11. 114035
1. +the foundation
2. foundation
3. 23100
5. themelios
6. N-····AMS
7. ˓the˒ foundation
8. ˓the˒ foundation
9. -
10. Y59; F114055
11. 114036
1. I laid
2. -
3. 50870
5. tithēmi
6. V-IAA1··S
7. ˱I˲ laid
8. ˱I˲ laid
9. -
10. Y59; R113998; Person=Paul
11. 114038
1. but
2. -
3. 11610
5. de
6. C-·······
7. but
8. but
9. -
10. Y59
11. 114040
1. another
2. -
3. 2430
5. allos
6. R-····NMS
7. another
8. another
9. -
10. Y59
11. 114039
1. is building on it
2. -
3. 20260
5. epoikodomeō
6. V-IPA3··S
7. ˓is˒ building_on ‹it›
8. ˓is˒ building_on ‹it›
9. -
10. Y59
11. 114041
1. But
2. -
3. 11610
4. S
5. de
6. C-·······
7. but
8. but
9. S
10. Y59
11. 114043
1. each
2. -
3. 15380
5. hekastos
6. S-····NMS
7. each
8. each
9. -
10. Y59; F114046
11. 114042
1. let be seeing
2. -
3. 9910
5. blepō
6. V-MPA3··S
7. ˓let_be˒ seeing
8. ˓let_be˒ seeing
9. -
10. Y59
11. 114044
1. how
2. -
3. 44590
5. pōs
6. D-·······
7. how
8. how
9. -
10. Y59
11. 114045
1. he is building on
2. -
3. 20260
5. epoikodomeō
6. V-IPA3··S
7. ˱he˲ ˓is˒ building_on
8. ˱he˲ ˓is˒ building_on
9. -
10. Y59; R114042
11. 114046

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.

OET interlinear 1 COR 3:10

SR Greek word order (including unused variant words in grey)

Section 3:1–23: Christian workers serve the Lord by building his church together

Paragraph 3:10–15

3:10a

3:10b

3:10c

3:10d

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

OET interlinear 1 COR 3:10

SR Greek word order (including unused variant words in grey)

Section 3:1–23: Christian workers serve the Lord by building his church together

Paragraph 3:10–15

3:10a

3:10b

3:10c

3:10d

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

OET interlinear 1 COR 3:10