Paul emphasizes not building on other men's labors to highlight that his ministry is independent and directly from God, not an extension of the Twelve's work.
He describes himself as a 'wise master builder' who laid the foundation of Jesus Christ in new, untouched territories. This emphasizes that his apostolic authority and message are unique and not derived from or built upon the prior work of other apostles.
1 Corinthians 3:10 — This verse directly shows Paul's role as the master builder who laid the foundation, distinct from others who build upon it.
In 1 Corinthians 3:9-11, Paul writes, "For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. 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. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." This passage presents Paul as the one who laid the foundational teaching about Jesus Christ, with others building upon it. The foundation itself is Jesus Christ, not any human teacher.
Les Feldick teaches that Paul's emphasis on being a 'wise master builder' who laid the foundation is a defense of his unique apostolic authority. He highlights that Paul was not building on the work of the Twelve but was given a new, direct revelation from God for the Church Age. Les stresses that Paul's writings (Romans through Hebrews) are directly for the church age believer, whereas the rest of Scripture is primarily for the Jew. This distinction is crucial because it establishes Paul's independent ministry to the Gentiles, which is not an extension of the other apostles' work.
The foundation that Paul laid is Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross. According to Les Feldick and the scripture he cites, no other foundation can be laid for salvation. This foundation is the basis of everything a believer believes and hopes for.
Les Feldick explains that Paul's role as the master builder who laid the foundation defends his authority as an apostle. It shows that his ministry and message are directly from God, not derived from the other apostles. This is important because many people then and now refuse to give Paul's writings their proper place in scripture.
Paul Defends His Apostolic Authority
Les emphasizes that Paul is defending his authority as an apostle, and that his writings are directly for the church age believer, separate from the rest of scripture which is primarily for the Jew.
Paul's Role as Master Builder
Les explains that Paul laid the foundation of Jesus Christ, and believers are to build on that foundation, not any other.
The Foundation is Jesus
Les clarifies that Paul is not the foundation; Jesus Christ is. Paul is the contractor who laid the foundation, and all building must be on that foundation.
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And if these things aren't true, then Paul is going to have the hottest corner in the lake of fire. That's right. If what he writes is not true, then he's the biggest liar that ever walked, then he's the biggest imposter that ever wrote, but he's not. 1 Corinthians chapter 3, beginning at verse 9. Or he says, "...we are laborers together with God.
Paul's Unique Foundation
Les reiterates that Paul was the master builder who laid the foundation of Christ, and that this establishes the unique authority of Paul's message.
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Maybe others may, but I don't want it on this one. And so God is making it so clear that giving is based on that ability to give. Then he speaks of it in verse 13, "...for I mean not that other men be eased, and you burdened." In other words, Paul says he is not going to make anybody, whether they are wealthy or poor, to feel obligated to give because of his presence.
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Everything is going to rest on that foundation. If that foundation sags in five or ten years, your building is kaput. If that foundation, it crumbles, your building is kaput. But if the foundation is sound, you can build upon it, and then of course it depends on who does the carpentering from there on up.
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He never took it, for the simple reason that he didn't want anyone to ever point a finger at him and say, Well Paul you're just doing this for the money. Now you see back when he was in Judaism that was a factor, and we didn't look at it in an earlier program.
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.
This verse is central to the question, showing Paul's claim to have laid the foundation of the church's teaching on Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:11: For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
This verse defines the foundation as Jesus Christ, not any human teacher, showing Paul's role is to reveal that foundation.
Yes, Les Feldick teaches that Paul's emphasis on laying the foundation himself indicates he was not building on the work of the Twelve. His ministry was independent, reaching new territories with a direct message from God for the Church Age.
The foundation is Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3:11, no other foundation can be laid.
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