1 Corinthians 3:10-14
10 “According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each person must be careful how he builds on it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, 13 each one’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test [e]the quality of each one’s work. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet only so as through fire.”
Another is building on it: Paul began the work with the Corinthian church, but Apollos continued the work. This was perfectly acceptable to Paul because what matters is the foundation of the work, not so much who is doing the work.
Each person must be careful: Paul is offering a warning to those who build doctrine atop any foundation other than Jesus Christ. Those who teach a partial gospel of some sort will experience the loss of this teaching at the judgment (verse 14). The true Gospel will bear fruit while false teaching will not bear fruit. Notice that Paul makes it clear that the person will not be judged by God but rather wrong teaching about Jesus will not pass into Heaven. This is not something for believers to fear but rather something to celebrate. After all, we do not want any work done from the flesh to follow us into Heaven.
