After the interjected caution to let the foundation alone, P. turns to the superstructure, to which the work of his coadjutors belongs; δὲ indicates this transition. εἰ δέ τις ἐποικοδομεῖ, εἰ with ind [543] (as in 1 Corinthians 3:14 f. etc.), a supposition in matter of fact, while ἐὰν with sbj [544] (as in 1 Corinthians 4:15) denotes a likely contingency. The doubled prp [545] ἐπί (with acc [546]) an idiom characterising later Gr [547], which loves emphasis implies growth by way of accession: “if any one is building-on, onto the foundation”; contrast ἐπὶ with dat [548] in Ephesians 2:20. The material superimposed by the present Cor [549] builders is of two opposite kinds, rich and durable or paltry and perishing: “gold, silver, costly stones wood, hay, straw,” thrown together “in lively ἀσύνδετον ” (Mr [550]). The latter might serve for poor frail huts, but not for the temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:17). λίθοι τίμιοι, the marbles, etc., used in rearing noble houses; but possibly Isaiah 54:11 f. (cf. Revelation 21:18-21) is in the writer's mind. The figure has been interpreted as relating (a) to the diff [551] sorts of persons brought into the Church (Pelagius, Bg [552], Hf [553]), since the Cor [554] believers constitute the Θεοῦ οἰκοδομή (1 Corinthians 3:9), the ναὸς Θεοῦ (1 Corinthians 3:16) “my work are you in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 9:1; cf. Ephesians 2:20 ff., 2Ti 2:19 ff., 1 Peter 2:4 f.; also the striking parl [555] in Malachi 3:1 ff; Malachi 4:1); (b) to the moral fruits resulting from the labours of various teachers, the character of Church members, this being the specific object of the final judgment (2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 2:5-11; cf. 1 Corinthians 13:13) and that which measures the work of their ministers (1 Thessalonians 2:19 ff., etc.) so Or [556], Cm [557], Aug [558], lately Osiander and Gd [559]; (c) to the doctrines of the diff [560] teachers, since for this they are primarily answerable and here lay the point of present divergence (cf. 1 Corinthians 8:10 f., Romans 14:15; 2 Corinthians 11:1 ff., 2 Corinthians 11:13 ff., Galatians 1:7, etc.) so Clem. Al [561], and most moderns. The three views are not really discrepant: teaching shapes character, works express faith; unsound preaching attracts the bad hearer and makes him worse, sound preaching wins and improves the good (see 1 Corinthians 1:18; 1Co 1:24; 2 Timothy 4:3; John 3:18 ff; John 10:26 f.). “The materials of this house may denote doctrines moulding persons,” or “even persons moulded by doctrines ” (Ev [562]), “the doctrine exhibited in a concrete form” (Lt [563]).

[543] indicative mood.

[544] subjunctive mood.

[545] preposition.

[546] accusative case.

[547] Greek, or Grotius' Annotationes in N.T.

[548] dative case.

[549] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

[550] Meyer's Critical and Exegetical Commentary (Eng. Trans.).

[551] difference, different, differently.

[552] Bengel's Gnomon Novi Testamenti.

[553] J. C. K. von Hofmann's Die heilige Schrift N.T. untersucht, ii. 2 (2te Auflage, 1874).

[554] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

[555] parallel.

[556] Origen.

[557] John Chrysostom's Homiliœ († 407).

[558] Augustine.

[559] F. Godet's Commentaire sur la prem. Ép. aux Corinthiens (Eng. Trans.).

[560] difference, different, differently.

[561] Alford's Greek Testament.

[562] T. S. Evans in Speaker's Commentary.

[563] J. B. Lightfoot's (posthumous) Notes on Epp. of St. Paul (1895).

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Old Testament