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ParallelVerse GEN EXO LEV NUM DEU JOB JOS JDG RUTH 1 SAM 2 SAM PSA AMOS HOS 1 KI 2 KI 1 CHR 2 CHR PROV ECC SNG JOEL MIC ISA ZEP HAB JER LAM YNA (JNA) NAH OBA DAN EZE EZRA EST NEH HAG ZEC MAL LAO GES LES ESG DNG 2 PS TOB JDT WIS SIR BAR LJE PAZ SUS BEL MAN 1 MAC 2 MAC 3 MAC 4 MAC YHN (JHN) MARK MAT LUKE ACTs YAC (JAM) GAL 1 TH 2 TH 1 COR 2 COR ROM COL PHM EPH PHP 1 TIM TIT 1 PET 2 PET 2 TIM HEB YUD (JUD) 1 YHN (1 JHN) 2 YHN (2 JHN) 3 YHN (3 JHN) REV
1 Cor Intro C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16
1 Cor 3 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V11 V12 V13 V14 V15 V16 V17 V18 V19 V20 V21 V22 V23
Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.
Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)
OET (OET-RV) Using the gifts that God has given me as a wise master-builder, I laid down a foundation and then someone else is building on it. But they need to take care about how they build on it![]()
OET-LV According_to the grace of_ the _god which having_been_given to_me, as a_wise architect the_foundation I_laid, but another is_building_on it.
But each let_be_seeing, how he_is_building_on.
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SR-GNT Κατὰ τὴν χάριν τοῦ ˚Θεοῦ τὴν δοθεῖσάν μοι, ὡς σοφὸς ἀρχιτέκτων θεμέλιον ἔθηκα, ἄλλος δὲ ἐποικοδομεῖ. Ἕκαστος δὲ βλεπέτω, πῶς ἐποικοδομεῖ. ‡
(Kata taʸn ⱪarin tou ˚Theou taʸn dotheisan moi, hōs sofos arⱪitektōn themelion ethaʸka, allos de epoikodomei. Hekastos de blepetō, pōs epoikodomei.)
Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).
ULT According to the grace of God that was given to me as a wise master builder, I laid a foundation, and another is building on it, but let each one be careful how he builds on it,
UST God gave me the skills to wisely proclaim the good news to you first. I am like the construction boss who puts a foundation in the ground before building a house. Others, such as Apollos, proclaim more about the good news to you. They are like other builders who construct a house on top of that foundation. In the end, all the people who proclaim more about the good news should make sure that they proclaim it correctly. They should be like builders who construct a house the right way on top of a foundation.
BSB By the grace God has given me, I laid [a] foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on [it]. But each one must be careful how he builds.
MSB By the grace God has given me, I laid [a] foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on [it]. But each one must be careful how he builds.
BLB According to the grace of God having been given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, but another is building upon it. But let each one take heed how he builds upon it.
AICNT According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how they build upon it.
OEB In fulfilment of the charge which God had entrusted to me, I laid the foundation like a skilful master; but someone else is now building on it. Let everyone take care how they build;
WEBBE According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another builds on it. But let each man be careful how he builds on it.
WMBB (Same as above)
NET According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master-builder I laid a foundation, but someone else builds on it. And each one must be careful how he builds.
LSV According to the grace of God that was given to me, as a wise master-builder, I have laid a foundation, and another builds on [it],
FBV Through the grace of God that he gave to me, I laid down the foundation like a skilled building supervisor. Now someone else is building on it. Whoever does the building needs to watch what they're doing.
TCNT According to the grace of God given to me, like a wise master builder I [fn]have laid a foundation, and another builds upon it. But each person must be careful how he builds upon it.
3:10 have ¦ — CT
T4T Just like a skilled person puts a foundation in the ground before he builds a house, as a result of God kindly helping me [MET], I was the first one who declared the message about Christ to you. And, just like others build a house on its foundation, there were others who later taught you more about Christ. But just like each person who builds a house must be careful about what materials he uses to build it [MET], each person who teaches God’s truth must be careful about what he teaches.
LEB According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But each one must direct his attention to how he is building upon it.
BBE In the measure of the grace given to me, I, as a wise master-builder, have put the base in position, and another goes on building on it. But let every man take care what he puts on it.
Moff In virtue of my commission from God, I laid the foundation of the house like an expert master-builder. It remains for another to build on this foundation. Whoever he is, let him be careful how he builds.
Wymth In discharge of the task which God graciously entrusted to me, I—like a competent master-builder—have laid a foundation, and others are building upon it. But let every one be careful how and what he builds.
ASV According to the grace of God which was given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder I laid a foundation; and another buildeth thereon. But let each man take heed how he buildeth thereon.
DRA According to the grace of God that is given to me, as a wise architect, I have laid the foundation; and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
YLT According to the grace of God that was given to me, as a wise master-builder, a foundation I have laid, and another doth build on [it],
Drby According to the grace of [fn]God which has been given to me, as a wise architect, I have laid the foundation, but another builds upon it. But let each see how he builds upon it.
3.10 Elohim
RV According to the grace of God which was given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder I laid a foundation; and another buildeth thereon. But let each man take heed how he buildeth thereon.
(According to the grace of God which was given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder I laid a foundation; and another buildeth/builds thereon. But let each man take heed how he buildeth/builds thereon. )
SLT According to the grace of God given to me, as a wise chief-architect, I have laid the foundation, and another builds upon. And let each see how he builds upon.
Wbstr According to the grace of God which is given to me, as a wise master-builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth upon it. But let every man take heed how he buildeth upon it.
KJB-1769 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
(According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth/builds thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth/builds thereupon. )
KJB-1611 According to the grace of God which is giuen vnto mee, as a wise master builder I haue laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let euery man take heede how hee buildeth thereupon.
(According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth/builds thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth/builds thereupon.)
Bshps Accordyng to the grace of God geuen vnto me, as a wise maister builder haue I layde the foundation, and another buyldeth theron. But let euery man take heede howe he buyldeth vpon.
(According to the grace of God given unto me, as a wise master builder have I laid the foundation, and another buildeth/builds thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth/builds upon.)
Gnva According to the grace of God giuen to mee, as a skilfull master builder, I haue laide the foundation, and another buildeth thereon: but let euery man take heede how he buildeth vpon it.
(According to the grace of God given to me, as a skilful master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth/builds thereon: but let every man take heed how he buildeth/builds upon it. )
Cvdl Acordinge to the grace of God which is geuen vnto me, as a wyse buylder haue I layed the foundacion, but another buyldeth theron. Yet let euery man take hede how he buyldeth theron.
(According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise buylder have I laid the foundacion, but another buildeth/builds thereon. Yet let every man take heed how he buildeth/builds thereon.)
TNT Accordynge to the grace of god geven vnto me as a wyse bylder have I layde the foundacion And another bylt theron But let every man take hede how he bildeth apon.
(Accordinge to the grace of god given unto me as a wise bylder have I laid the foundation And another bylt thereon But let every man take heed how he bildeth apon. )
Wycl Aftir the grace `of God that is youun to me, as a wise maistir carpenter Y settide the foundement; and another bildith aboue. But ech man se, hou he bildith aboue.
(After the grace of God that is given to me, as a wise master carpenter I set the foundation; and another buildeth/builds above. But each man see, how he buildeth/builds above.)
Luth Ich von Gottes Gnaden, die mir gegeben ist, habe den Grund gelegt als ein weiser Baumeister; ein anderer bauet darauf. Ein jeglicher aber sehe zu, wie er darauf baue.
(I from God’s grace, the to_me given is, have the Grund placed as a wiser treeeister; a others builds on_it. A any/each but see to/for, as/like he on_it builds.)
ClVg Secundum gratiam Dei, quæ data est mihi, ut sapiens architectus fundamentum posui: alius autem superædificat. Unusquisque autem videat quomodo superædificet.
(After/Second grace of_God, which data it_is to_me, as wise architectus foundation I_put: another however superædificat. Everyone however let_him_see how superædificet. )
UGNT κατὰ τὴν χάριν τοῦ Θεοῦ τὴν δοθεῖσάν μοι, ὡς σοφὸς ἀρχιτέκτων θεμέλιον ἔθηκα, ἄλλος δὲ ἐποικοδομεῖ. ἕκαστος δὲ βλεπέτω, πῶς ἐποικοδομεῖ.
(kata taʸn ⱪarin tou Theou taʸn dotheisan moi, hōs sofos arⱪitektōn themelion ethaʸka, allos de epoikodomei. hekastos de blepetō, pōs epoikodomei.)
SBL-GNT Κατὰ τὴν χάριν τοῦ θεοῦ τὴν δοθεῖσάν μοι ὡς σοφὸς ἀρχιτέκτων θεμέλιον ⸀ἔθηκα, ἄλλος δὲ ἐποικοδομεῖ. ἕκαστος δὲ βλεπέτω πῶς ἐποικοδομεῖ·
(Kata taʸn ⱪarin tou theou taʸn dotheisan moi hōs sofos arⱪitektōn themelion ⸀ethaʸka, allos de epoikodomei. hekastos de blepetō pōs epoikodomei;)
RP-GNT Κατὰ τὴν χάριν τοῦ θεοῦ τὴν δοθεῖσάν μοι, ὡς σοφὸς ἀρχιτέκτων θεμέλιον τέθεικα, ἄλλος δὲ ἐποικοδομεῖ. Ἕκαστος δὲ βλεπέτω πῶς ἐποικοδομεῖ.
(Kata taʸn ⱪarin tou theou taʸn dotheisan moi, hōs sofos arⱪitektōn themelion tetheika, allos de epoikodomei. Hekastos de blepetō pōs epoikodomei.)
TC-GNT Κατὰ τὴν χάριν τοῦ Θεοῦ τὴν δοθεῖσάν μοι, ὡς σοφὸς ἀρχιτέκτων θεμέλιον [fn]τέθεικα, ἄλλος δὲ ἐποικοδομεῖ. Ἕκαστος δὲ βλεπέτω πῶς ἐποικοδομεῖ.
(Kata taʸn ⱪarin tou Theou taʸn dotheisan moi, hōs sofos arⱪitektōn themelion tetheika, allos de epoikodomei. Hekastos de blepetō pōs epoikodomei. )
3:10 τεθεικα ¦ εθηκα CT
Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).
3:10 Paul laid the foundation when he first began the church in Corinth. Now others were building on it by what they were teaching the young Christians.
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
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.”
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)
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)
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).
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.
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
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)
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]