Yes — Paul laid the one foundation for the church, and that foundation is Jesus Christ crucified, buried, and risen from the dead.
Paul calls himself a 'wise masterbuilder' who laid the foundation (1 Corinthians 3:10), and he immediately identifies that foundation as Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11). Les Feldick explains that Paul is the contractor who laid the foundation of everything concerning the church age — its doctrines and practice — while the foundation itself is Christ and His finished work of the Cross. Everything believers believe and hope for rests on that one foundation.
1 Corinthians 3:10 — Paul states plainly that as a wise master builder he laid the foundation for the church.
1 Corinthians 3:11 — Paul identifies the foundation he laid as Jesus Christ — the definitive answer to the question.
Paul writes to the Corinthians: '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' (1 Corinthians 3:10). He immediately defines that foundation: 'For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ' (1 Corinthians 3:11). The foundation of the church is not any human leader, human wisdom, or human effort — it is Jesus Christ Himself. Paul also reminds the Corinthians that 'we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building' (1 Corinthians 3:9). The building belongs to God, and believers work together with Him upon the one foundation. The content of that foundation is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ — 'For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures' (1 Corinthians 15:3–4).
Les Feldick teaches that Paul is the 'wise master builder' of 1 Corinthians 3:10 — the one who laid the foundation for the church age. That foundation is the foundation of everything concerning the church age, its doctrines, practice, and everything else (Clip 1, Clip 2). Yet Les is careful to distinguish the builder from the building's base: Paul is only the contractor who laid the foundation; the foundation itself is Jesus Christ (Clip 4). Les also emphasizes that Paul came in and started a brand-new foundation — he did not continue something that had already been building for years. That foundation is 'Jesus Christ and Him crucified, buried, and risen again' (Clip 7). It is the foundation of the Christian faith, the foundation of our salvation experience, and the foundation of our Christian life (Clip 3, Clip 6). Everything we believe and hope for rests on that foundation of Christ and His finished work of the Cross (Clip 2). There is no other foundation that can be laid. Les stresses that if Jesus Christ and His finished work are not the foundation of your faith, you are on shaky ground (Clip 3, Clip 5). Believers, as laborers together with God, must take heed how they build on that foundation (Clip 5, Clip 6).
The distinction is crucial. Paul says he laid the foundation (1 Corinthians 3:10), but he immediately defines the foundation as Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11). Les Feldick underscores this: 'Paul laid the foundation, but he's not the foundation. Who's the foundation? Jesus is.' Paul is the wise master builder and the contractor, but the foundation of everything concerning the church age — its doctrines, practice, and hope — is Christ.
Les Feldick points out that a master builder usually does not come into the scene halfway up from the ground. Paul did not come in and continue something that had already been building for years. Instead, Paul came in and started a brand-new foundation: 'Jesus Christ and Him crucified, buried, and risen again' (Clip 7). This connects to Paul's commission — he was the one who brought the gospel to the Gentiles, and these things were revealed to him (Clip 0).
Scripture warns, 'let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon' (1 Corinthians 3:10). Les Feldick uses the analogy of a building: everything rests on the foundation. If the foundation sags or crumbles, the building is ruined; if the foundation is sound, you can build upon it (Clip 5). Believers are 'labourers together with God' in this building work (1 Corinthians 3:9), and Christ is the foundation of our salvation experience and our Christian life (Clip 6).
Paul writes that 'other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ' (1 Corinthians 3:11). Les Feldick teaches that there is no way there can be another foundation for salvation — it has to be the one already put down, Jesus Christ (Clip 5). He also emphasizes that Christ died for the sins of the world and rose from the dead victorious, and anything short of the finished work of the cross means a person is on shaky ground as far as eternity is concerned (Clip 3).
Paul's Commission as Apostle of the Gentiles
Les shows that Paul was the Apostle of the Gentiles — the one who brought the gospel to them and had these things revealed to him — which is why the foundation he laid is a Pauline revelation for the church.
The Foundation Is Jesus Christ
Les explains that Paul laid the foundation of everything concerning the church age — its doctrines and practice — and that the foundation is Jesus Christ, not Paul.
Paul Laid the Foundation of Christ's Finished Work
Les walks through 1 Corinthians 3:10–11, showing that Paul laid the foundation and that the foundation is Jesus Christ and His finished work of the Cross.
Only the Finished Work of the Cross
Les teaches that Christ's death for sins and His victorious resurrection are the foundation of the Christian faith, and that anything short of the finished work of the Cross leaves a person on shaky ground.
Paul Is the Contractor, Not the Foundation
Les clarifies the building analogy: Paul laid the foundation as a wise master builder, but Paul is not the foundation — Jesus Christ is.
Everything Rests on the Foundation
Les uses the building analogy to show that everything rests on the foundation of Christ Jesus, and that believers must take heed how they build on it.
Foundation of Salvation and Christian Life
Les shows that Jesus Christ is the foundation of our salvation experience and of our Christian life, and that believers are laborers together with God building on that foundation.
A Brand-New Foundation
Les emphasizes that Paul did not continue an existing structure but started a brand-new foundation: Jesus Christ and Him crucified, buried, and risen again.
1 Corinthians 3:9: For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
Paul identifies believers as laborers together with God in His building, setting up the foundation passage that follows.
1 Corinthians 3:10: 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.
Paul states that as a wise master builder he laid the foundation, establishing his role in the building of the church.
1 Corinthians 3:11: For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
This is the definitive verse: the foundation Paul laid is Jesus Christ, and no other foundation exists.
1 Corinthians 15:3–4: For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
These verses describe the content of the foundation Paul preached — Christ crucified, buried, and risen.
1 Timothy 1:16: Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
Paul was a pattern for those who would believe on Christ to life everlasting, tied to his role in laying the foundation.
Paul is the wise master builder. In 1 Corinthians 3:10 he writes, 'According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation.' Les Feldick notes that Paul is only the contractor — he laid the foundation, but he is not the foundation; Jesus Christ is.
The foundation is Jesus Christ Himself — Christ crucified, buried, and risen from the dead. Paul writes, 'For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ' (1 Corinthians 3:11). Les Feldick describes this as the foundation of everything concerning the church age, including its doctrines and practice.
Scripture states plainly that no other foundation can be laid (1 Corinthians 3:11). Les Feldick teaches that there is no way there can be another foundation for salvation — it has to be the one already put down, Jesus Christ. If Jesus Christ and His finished work are not the foundation of your faith, you are on shaky ground.
Believers are 'labourers together with God' building on the foundation (1 Corinthians 3:9). Les Feldick explains that every believer must take heed how he builds on that foundation, because everything rests on it — if the foundation is sound, the building can stand.
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