1 COR 3:12 Parallel Verse View

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.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/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 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw,

UST Builders can use many different building materials when they construct a house on its foundation. They can use more durable materials like gold, silver, and jewels, and less durable materials like lumber, grass, and straw. In the same way, some of those who proclaim more about the good news teach things that are more pleasing to God. Others teach things that are less pleasing to God.

BLB Now if anyone builds upon the foundation using gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw,

AICNT Now if anyone builds on {the}[fn] foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,

3:12, the: Some manuscripts read “this.” D(05) BYZ TR

OEB Whatever is used by those who build on this foundation, whether gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw,

WEBBE But if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw,

WMBB (Same as above)

NET If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw,

LSV and if anyone builds on this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—

FBV Those who build on that foundation may use gold, silver, precious stone, wood, hay, or straw—

TCNT If anyone builds upon [fn]this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw,

3:12 this ¦ the CT

T4T Furthermore, people can build a house on its foundation with materials that are valuable and do not burn easily, such as gold, silver, and expensive jewels. Or they could build a house with materials that are not valuable and that burn easily, such as wood, hay, and straw.

LEB Now if anyone builds upon the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, grass, straw,

BBE But on the base a man may put gold, silver, stones of great price, wood, dry grass, cut stems;

Moff On that foundation anyone may build gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw,

Wymth And whether the building which any one is erecting on that foundation be of gold or silver or costly stones, of timber or hay or straw—

ASV But if any man buildeth on the foundation gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, stubble;

DRA 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 —

Drby Now if any one build upon [this] foundation, gold, silver, precious stones, wood, grass, straw,

RV But if any man buildeth on the foundation gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, stubble;
(But if any man buildeth/builds on the foundation gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, stubble; )

SLT And if any one build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, grass, stalks;

Wbstr Now if any man buildeth upon this foundation, gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

KJB-1769 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

KJB-1611 Now if any man build vpon this foundation, gold, siluer, preciousstones, wood, hay, stubble:
(Now if any man build upon this foundation, gold, silver, preciousstones, wood, hay, stubble:)

Bshps If any man buylde on this foundation, golde, syluer, precious stones, tymber, haye or stubble:
(If any man build on this foundation, gold, silver, precious stones, timber, hay or stubble:)

Gnva And if any man builde on this foundation, golde, siluer, precious stones, timber, haye, or stubble,
(And if any man build on this foundation, gold, silver, precious stones, timber, haye, or stubble, )

Cvdl But yf eny man buylde vpon this foundacion, golde, syluer, precious stones, tymber, haye, stobble,
(But if any man build upon this foundacion, gold, silver, precious stones, timber, haye, stobble,)

TNT Yf eny man bilde on this foundacion golde silver precious stones tymber haye or stoble:
(If any man build on this foundation gold silver precious stones timber hay or stoble: )

Wycl For if ony bildith ouer this foundement, gold, siluer, preciouse stoonys, stickis, hey, or stobil, euery mannus werk schal be open;
(For if any buildeth/builds over this foundation, gold, silver, precious stones, stickis, hey, or stobil, every man’s work shall be open;)

Luth So aber jemand auf diesen Grund bauet Gold, Silber, Edelsteine, Holz, Heu, Stoppeln,
(So but someone on/in/to this Grund builds Gold, silver(n), Edelsteine, wood, Heu, stubble,)

ClVg Si quis autem superædificat super fundamentum hoc, aurum, argentum, lapides pretiosos, ligna, fœnum, stipulam,[fn]
(When/But_if who/any however superædificat over foundation hoc, gold, silver, stones preciouss, wood, grass, straw, )

3.12 Si quis autem. In auro, argento, lapidibus pretiosis præclara doctrina significatur, in tribus aliis vana doctrina signatur, quæ si modo fallit, in igne apparebit: quia ardebit bona permanente, et erit ei bonæ, scilicet doctrinæ merces vita æterna. Ligna, fenum, stipulam. Non hæc de malis operibus accipienda sunt quasi fides sine operibus salvet, quod non est. AUG., in psal. 30. Non sibi polliceatur quisquam habens nefaria opera regnum Dei, etc., usque ad peccata minima atque levissima, quæ ignis facile consumat.

3.12 When/But_if who/any however. In with_gold, with_silver, stones at_a_pricesis beforeclara teaching/instruction is_indicated, in/into/on tribe to_others in_vain teaching/instruction is_signed, which when/but_if just/only fallit, in/into/on with_fire will_appear: because will_burn good(s) permanente, and will_be to_him good, namely doctrines reward/wages life eternal. Ligna, hay/rate(n), straw. Not/No these_things from/about bad_things works be_acceptedenda are as_if faith without works saves, that not/no it_is. AUG., in/into/on Psa. 30. Not/No to_himself polliceatur anyone having nefaria works kingdom of_God, etc., until to sins minima and_yet levissima, which fire facile consumat.

UGNT εἰ δέ τις ἐποικοδομεῖ ἐπὶ τὸν θεμέλιον χρυσόν, ἄργυρον, λίθους τιμίους, ξύλα, χόρτον, καλάμην,
(ei de tis epoikodomei epi ton themelion ⱪruson, arguron, lithous timious, xula, ⱪorton, kalamaʸn,)

SBL-GNT εἰ δέ τις ἐποικοδομεῖ ἐπὶ τὸν ⸀θεμέλιον ⸂χρυσόν, ἄργυρον⸃, λίθους τιμίους, ξύλα, χόρτον, καλάμην,
(ei de tis epoikodomei epi ton ⸀themelion ⸂ⱪruson, arguron⸃, lithous timious, xula, ⱪorton, kalamaʸn,)

RP-GNT Εἰ δέ τις ἐποικοδομεῖ ἐπὶ τὸν θεμέλιον τοῦτον χρυσόν, ἄργυρον, λίθους τιμίους, ξύλα, χόρτον, καλάμην,
(Ei de tis epoikodomei epi ton themelion touton ⱪruson, arguron, lithous timious, xula, ⱪorton, kalamaʸn,)

TC-GNT Εἰ δέ τις ἐποικοδομεῖ ἐπὶ τὸν θεμέλιον [fn]τοῦτον [fn]χρυσόν, ἄργυρον, λίθους τιμίους, ξύλα, χόρτον, καλάμην,
(Ei de tis epoikodomei epi ton themelion touton ⱪruson, arguron, lithous timious, xula, ⱪorton, kalamaʸn, )

3:12 τουτον ¦ — CT

3:12 χρυσον αργυρον ¦ χρυσιον αργυριον TH WH

Key for above GNTs: red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN 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.”

3:12

Paul wrote more about building an important house or building. In this verse he talked about the materials that the construction workers can decide to use. This is a metaphor. The building materials represent the quality of each Christian worker’s work, that is, whether his teaching was focused on Christ or not.

3:12a

If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, precious stones,

Some workers use good material such as gold, silver, or valuable stones, to build upon that foundation.
If Christian workers do their work well, they are like home/house builders who build on the foundation using high-quality materials such as gold, silver, and valuable stones.

gold, silver, precious stones: In the list of six materials, the first three are of lasting value and they will not burn. Also, they are fitting materials for making a beautiful building for God, such as a temple.

precious stones: The Greek word that the BSB translates as precious stones probably refers to gemstones like diamonds, rubies, or emeralds.See the CEV, KJV, NJB, JBP, NLT, NRSV, RSV, GNT and the REB. The NEB had “fine stone,” that is, good quality stone. These kinds of stones were used to decorate buildings. The Jewish people decorated their temple with precious stones like this. Another way to translate this is:

jewels (NCV)

If in your language there is no word for jewels, you may be able to translate this as:

beautiful/valuable rocks/stones

expensive decorations

3:12b

wood, hay, or straw,

Other workers use poor material such as wood, dried grass, or straw.
But if Christian workers do not do their work well, they are like home/house builders who use poor-quality materials such as wood, hay, and straw.

wood, hay, or straw: The last three materials that Paul lists are not valuable as building materials. They do not last as long, and they will burn if they catch fire. These materials represent work that Christian workers do that is not good quality.

wood: In some cultures wood may be considered a valuable and good quality building material. If this is the case in your language, you should try to translate wood with a word or phrase that refers to cheap, thin wood that can burn easily.

hay, or straw: The Greek word that the BSB translates as hay generally refers to grass. Here it probably refers to long dried grass. The word translated as straw refers to dried stalks of grain. In your translation, try to use words referring to cheap building materials that poor people can use to build temporary shelters.

General Comment on 3:12a-b

In some languages, it may be necessary to explain the meaning of this metaphor so that the readers will understand it. For example:

In building on this foundation, some workers use valuable, long lasting materials, such as gold, silver or valuable stones. Other workers build using materials that are not valuable or strong, such as wood, dried grass, or straw. So, in a similar way, some of God’s workers faithfully teach God’s ways. But other workers do not help God’s people to understand God’s ways.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

δέ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰ Δέ τὶς ἐποικοδομεῖ ἐπί τόν θεμέλιον χρυσίον ἀργύριον λίθους τιμίους ξύλα χόρτον καλάμην)

Here, Now introduces the next step in Paul’s argument. If it would be helpful in your language, you could leave Now untranslated or use a word or phrase that introduces the next step in an argument. Alternate translation: [Indeed,]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / exmetaphor

εἰ & τις ἐποικοδομεῖ ἐπὶ τὸν θεμέλιον χρυσόν, ἄργυρον, λίθους τιμίους, ξύλα, χόρτον, καλάμην

if & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰ Δέ τὶς ἐποικοδομεῖ ἐπί τόν θεμέλιον χρυσίον ἀργύριον λίθους τιμίους ξύλα χόρτον καλάμην)

Here Paul continues the metaphor about building a house. He compares those who teach about the gospel with builders who construct a house on its foundation. These builders can use a variety of different materials to construct the house, and Paul lists six. The first three, gold, silver, precious stones, are more durable, while the last three, wood, hay, or straw, are less durable. It is clear that Paul is interested in durability, because of the next verse, where he states that all of these materials will be tested with fire ([3:13](../03/13.md)). By speaking this way, he indicates that those who proclaim more about the gospel can teach things that are more or less true and acceptable to God. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this metaphor with a comparable metaphor or express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: [if anyone teaches you more about the gospel with words that are acceptable to God or words that are not acceptable to God]

Note 3 topic: grammar-connect-condition-fact

εἰ & τις ἐποικοδομεῖ ἐπὶ τὸν θεμέλιον

Here Paul uses a conditional if, but he does not think that this is a hypothetical situation or something that is likely not true. Instead, Paul thinks that people are “building” on the foundation, and he wants to talk about how they are doing so. Additionally, the “then” part of the if statement does not begin until the next verse. If it would be helpful in your language, you could rephrase this form and structure by stating the condition as a circumstance or an assumption. Alternate translation: [whenever people build on the foundation, using] or [when anyone builds on the foundation]

Note 4 topic: translate-unknown

χρυσόν, ἄργυρον, λίθους τιμίους, ξύλα, χόρτον, καλάμην,

These six things are all materials that could be used in constructing buildings. The first three will survive if the building catches on fire, but the last three will not (for the fire, see [3:13–15](../03/13.md)). In your culture, you may not use all of these materials for constructing buildings. In that case, you could include just some of these materials or include materials that you do use for constructing buildings in your culture, making sure to include some materials will not burn up and others that will burn up. Alternate translation: [steel, concrete, lumber, or cloth]