Yes — Paul is considered the master builder because in 1 Corinthians 3:10 he says he laid the foundation by God’s grace.
Paul explicitly identifies himself as a wise master builder and says he laid the foundation. That foundation, as Paul immediately clarifies, is Jesus Christ. Les Feldick explains that Paul acted as the contractor who laid the church’s doctrinal foundation, while Christ Himself is the foundation on which every believer must build.
1 Corinthians 3:10-11 — Paul directly calls himself a wise master builder and says he laid the foundation, then names the foundation as Jesus Christ.
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.” Paul uses the imagery of a building to describe both the church and the believer’s life. He claims the role of a wise masterbuilder, but he immediately makes clear that the foundation itself is not Paul — it is Jesus Christ. The building project belongs to God, and Paul’s work is to lay the only foundation that can be laid.
Les Feldick teaches that when Paul calls himself a “wise master builder,” he is describing his role as the contractor on God’s building project. Paul laid the foundation, but he is not the foundation — Jesus Christ is. Les explains that the foundation Paul laid is the finished work of the cross, which is the foundation of everything the church believes and hopes for. Paul was there from day one, overseeing the building of the church, which is the body of Christ. Les also stresses that Paul’s role was by God’s grace, not personal merit, and that Paul is not the basis of salvation. He was the one through whom the ascended Lord revealed the great truths of salvation, and he then laid out that foundation for all who would build upon it.
No. Scripture says plainly that no other foundation can be laid than Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11). Les Feldick clarifies that Paul laid the foundation as a contractor, but the foundation itself is Christ. Paul is not the basis of our salvation.
Paul says the foundation is Jesus Christ. Les Feldick explains that Paul was referring to the finished work of the cross — Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. He calls this the foundation of everything we believe and hope for, and anything short of the finished work of the cross is shaky ground.
Paul says, “another buildeth thereon,” and warns every man to take heed how he builds. Les Feldick says believers are laborers together with God, and each one has a section of the building to construct. The quality of each believer’s work will be judged, but the foundation — Christ — remains secure.
Les Feldick explains that Paul did not claim the role on his own merit. He could say, “According to the grace of God which is given unto me.” After the finished work of the cross, the ascended Lord revealed the great truths of salvation to Paul, making him the one who laid out the foundation for the church age.
Paul’s Revealed Role
Les explains that the risen Lord revealed the truths of salvation to Paul after the finished work of the cross, establishing Paul as the one through whom these truths were made known.
The Master Builder Title
Les directly answers the question by saying that when Paul wrote “I have laid the foundation,” he was the master builder who laid it out, and the foundation is Jesus Christ and His finished work of the cross.
Contractor, Not the Foundation
Les clarifies that Paul is merely the contractor carrying out God’s plan; Paul laid the foundation but is not the foundation — Jesus Christ is.
Paul’s Own Claim
Les points out that Paul claims to be the master builder of the church, the body of Christ, and that he was there from day one overseeing the building.
Christ, Not Paul, Is the Foundation
Les stresses that Paul is not the basis of salvation; the foundation is Jesus Christ, and other apostles and Old Testament prophets all build upon that one foundation.
The Building Analogy
Les uses the building analogy to show Paul as the contractor who laid the foundation, and everything depends on that foundation being right.
The Foundation of the Christian Faith
Les says the foundation of the Christian faith is the finished work of the cross, and Paul is the master builder who started that foundation.
Laborers Together with God
Les explains that Paul is the wise master builder who laid the foundation, and every believer must take heed how they build on that foundation.
1 Corinthians 3:9: For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
This verse sets up the building metaphor Paul uses to describe the church and believers.
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 directly calls himself a wise masterbuilder and says he laid the foundation.
1 Corinthians 3:11: For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
This verse makes clear that the foundation Paul laid is Jesus Christ, not Paul himself.
Yes, Paul calls himself a wise master builder in 1 Corinthians 3:10. Les Feldick explains that Paul was the contractor who laid the foundation, but he was not the foundation itself.
Paul meant that he was the one who first laid out the foundational doctrine of the church age. Les Feldick says that foundation is Jesus Christ and His finished work of the cross.
Yes. Paul says another builds on the foundation, and Les Feldick says every believer is a laborer together with God. Each believer must be careful how they build on the foundation Paul laid.
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