John Calvin Commentary 1 Corinthians 3:11

"For other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ." — 1 Corinthians 3:11 (ASV)

For other foundation can no man lay. This statement consists of two parts: first, that Christ is the only foundation of the Church; and secondly, that the Corinthians had been rightly founded upon Christ through Paul’s preaching. For it was necessary that they should be brought back to Christ alone, since their ears were tickled with a fondness for novelty.

It was also of no small importance that Paul should be recognized as the principal, and, so to speak, fundamental master-builder, from whose doctrine they could not draw back without forsaking Christ himself. The sum is this—that the Church must by all means be founded upon Christ alone, and that Paul had executed this aspect of his duty so faithfully that nothing could be found to be lacking in his ministry.

Therefore, whoever may come after him can serve the Lord with a good conscience, or be listened to as ministers of Christ, in no other way than by studying to make their doctrine correspond with his and retain the foundation which he has laid. From this we infer that those who succeed faithful ministers but do not make it their aim to conform themselves to their doctrine and carry forward what has been well commenced—making it quite clear that they are attempting no new work—are not faithful workmen for building up the Church, but on the contrary are scatterers of it (Matthew 12:30).

For what can be more pernicious than by a new manner of teaching to harass believers who have been well instructed in pure doctrine, causing them to stagger in uncertainty as to the true foundation? Now, the fundamental doctrine, which must not be undermined, is that we learn Christ; for Christ is the only foundation of the Church. But there are many who, while they make use of Christ’s name under pretense, tear up the whole truth of God by the roots.

Let us observe, then, in what way the Church is rightly built upon Christ. It is when he alone is set forth for righteousness, redemption, sanctification, wisdom, satisfaction, and cleansing—in short, for life and glory. Or, if you would have it stated more briefly, it is when he is proclaimed in such a manner that his office and influence are understood in accordance with what we found stated at the close of the first chapter (1 Corinthians 1:30).

If, on the other hand, Christ is only acknowledged to some degree and is called a Redeemer only in name, while in the meantime recourse is made to some other source for righteousness, sanctification, and salvation, he is driven off from the foundation, and spurious stones are substituted in his place.

It is in this manner that Papists act, who rob him of almost all his ornaments, leaving him scarcely anything but the bare name. Such persons, then, are far from being founded on Christ. For as Christ is the foundation of the Church, because he is the only source of salvation and eternal life—because in him we come to know God the Father—because in him we have the source of every blessing; if he is not acknowledged as such, he is no longer regarded as the foundation.

But it is asked—“Is Christ only a part, or simply the commencement of the doctrine of salvation, as the foundation is merely a part of the building? For if it were so, believers would have only their commencement in Christ and would be perfected without him. Now, this Paul might seem to intimate.” I answer that this is not the meaning of the words; otherwise, he would contradict himself when he says elsewhere, “In him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3).

He, then, who has learned Christ (Ephesians 4:20) is already complete in the whole system of heavenly doctrine.

But as Paul’s ministry was focused more on founding the Corinthians than on raising up among them the top-stone of the building, he merely shows here what he had done with respect to his having preached Christ in purity. With respect to himself, therefore, he calls him the foundation, while at the same time he does not thereby exclude him from the rest of the building. In short, Paul does not put any kind of doctrine in opposition to the knowledge of Christ; on the contrary, there is a comparison between himself and other ministers.