John Calvin Commentary 1 Corinthians 3:12

"But if any man buildeth on the foundation gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, stubble;" — 1 Corinthians 3:12 (ASV)

Now if any man build upon this foundation. He pursues the metaphor still further. It would not have been enough to have laid the foundation if the entire superstructure did not correspond. For just as it would be an absurd thing to raise a structure of vile materials on a foundation of gold, so it would be greatly criminal to bury Christ under a mass of strange doctrines.

By gold, then, and silver, and precious stones, he means doctrine worthy of Christ, and of such a nature as to be a superstructure corresponding to such a foundation. Let us not imagine, however, that this doctrine is apart from Christ; but, on the contrary, let us understand that we must continue to preach Christ until the very completion of the building. Only, we must observe order, so as to begin with general doctrine and more essential articles as the foundations, and then go on to admonitions, exhortations, and everything that is necessary for perseverance, confirmation, and advancement.

Since there is agreement so far as to Paul’s meaning, without any controversy, it follows, on the other hand, that by wood, stubble and hay, is meant doctrine not corresponding to the foundation, such as is forged in men's minds and is thrust upon us as though it were the oracles of God.

For God wills for His Church to be trained by the pure preaching of His own word, not by the contrivances of men. Also of this kind is that which has no tendency toward edification, such as, for example, curious questions (1 Timothy 1:4), which commonly contribute more to ostentation or some foolish appetite than to the salvation of men.

He forewarns them that every man’s work will one day be made manifest of what sort it is, however it may be concealed for a time, as if he had said:

“It may indeed happen that unprincipled workmen may deceive for a time, so that the world does not perceive whether each one has labored faithfully or fraudulently. But what is now, as it were, buried in darkness must necessarily come to light; and what is now glorious in the eyes of men must, before the face of God, fall down and be regarded as worthless.”