1 Cor. 3:10. I, according to the grace of God given to me, as a wise master builder, laid the foundation.
He calls himself a wise master builder not out of arrogance, but wishing to show that it is proper for a wise master builder to lay such a foundation, that is, Christ. And that he said this truly not out of arrogance is evident from his words: "according to the grace of God given to me," that is, my wisdom is not my own doing, but a gracious gift of God.
1 Cor. 3:10. And another builds upon it; but let each one take heed how he builds.
Above he conversed with them about unity, and now he speaks about the way of life, calling the deeds of each person a building.
1 Cor. 3:11. For no one can lay another foundation besides the one that has been laid, which is Jesus Christ.
No one can, so long as he remains a wise master builder. But if someone is not a wise master builder, then he can lay another foundation; hence heresies. Among you, Corinthians, there is one foundation – Christ: therefore you ought to build upon this foundation not that which comes from strife and envy, but works of virtue.
1 Cor. 3:12-13. Whether anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw – each one's work will be revealed.
From the time we received the foundation of faith, each of us builds upon it: some build good works, which are of various kinds, some greater, some lesser—for example, virginity is like gold, honorable marriage like silver, non-covetousness like precious stones, almsgiving amid wealth is a work of already lesser value. Others among you build up evil works, which are also of various degrees. Those works that can more easily burn up are called hay and straw, such as: impurity, idolatry, covetousness; while those that do not burn so easily are called wood, such as: drunkenness, laughter, and similar vices. Some, however, understand it the other way around, that is, they call the previously mentioned vices wood, and the latter ones hay and straw.
1 Cor. 3:13. For the day will show, because it is revealed in fire, and the fire will test each one's work, what sort it is.
He calls "day" the day of judgment. "In fire," he says further, "it is revealed," that is, it is made manifest what the works are in themselves, whether gold or something contrary.
1 Cor. 3:14-15. He whose work which he has built endures will receive a reward. But he whose work is burned up will suffer loss.
If you have silver or gold, then your work will survive, and you will receive a reward; but if you have hay and the like, then your work will not withstand the force of the fire (this is what the expression "it will be burned" means), but it will be revealed that it is worthless. If someone were to cross the river of fire in golden armor, he would come out on the other bank in a more radiant form; but if another were to go through that same river with hay, he would not only gain no profit, but would destroy even himself. So it will be with works. Consequently, faith without good works brings no benefit. For behold, here the foundation is Christ; but works not performed according to the law of Christ are condemned to burning.
1 Cor. 3:15. However, he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
He himself will not perish in the same way as his works, that is, he will not pass into nothingness, but will be "saved," that is, preserved whole, so that he may burn in the fire. Among us too, regarding wood that does not easily burn up and turn to ash, it is customary to say that it remains whole in the fire, so that a considerable amount of time is required for its burning. Thus the sinner suffers loss from having labored over such works, from which he perishes, and expended all his efforts on what has no being and does not exist (for every evil is something non-existent), just as if someone were to purchase a corpse at a great price instead of a living body. Meanwhile he himself, that is the sinner, will be "saved," that is, preserved whole for eternal torments.
1 Cor. 3:16. Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwells in you?
He turns his speech to the one who sinned. And see how effectively he puts him to shame. Namely, by the grace given to us, that is, by the indwelling of the Spirit in us, he shames the sinner, although he does not clearly reveal his identity, but speaks in general terms. Meanwhile, if we are the temple of God because the Spirit dwells in us, then it follows that the Spirit is God.
1 Cor. 3:17. If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will punish him.
That is, he will destroy. In these words is expressed not a curse, but a prediction about the future.
1 Cor. 3:17. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
Therefore, a fornicator cannot be holy, since he has ceased to be the temple of God, having driven out the Spirit who sanctifies him. Who then constitutes this temple? You, if you remain pure.
1 Cor. 3:18. Let no one deceive himself.
Thinking that this happens otherwise, and not as I said.
1 Cor. 3:18. If any one among you thinks himself to be wise in this age, let him become a fool, that he may become wise.
Having made a slight allusion to the one who sinned, he again turns his speech to those who were puffed up with worldly wisdom. Whoever, he says, "thinks himself to be wise in this age, let him become a fool," that is, let him cast aside worldly wisdom in order to acquire the divine. For just as poverty according to God is riches, and dishonor is glory, so also foolishness according to God is wisdom. But observe: he did not say "let him cast aside wisdom," but, what is much more, "let him become a fool," that is, let him reason about nothing on his own, let him not trust his own proofs, but follow God as a flock follows a shepherd, and believe all that is divine.
1 Cor. 3:19. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God.