1 Corinthians 3:11

“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

The γάρ, for, announces an explanation of the warning contained in the βλεπέτω, let him consider well. The γάρ refers, not to 1 Corinthians 3:11 taken separately, this verse is only a reservation, and, so to speak, a μέν relatively to the following δέ, but to the whole passage, 1 Corinthians 3:12-15. The apostle means that his work, all that has been his, has been relatively simple. He has had nothing else to do than take the foundation laid by God Himself in the person of the living Christ, dead and risen again, and lay it in the heart by preaching, as the foundation of Christian faith and salvation. The participle κείμενον, which is laid, refers to God's work, and the verb θεῖναι to the labour of the preacher who founds the Church by testifying of this work. If the preacher would lay another foundation, it would be the beginning of a new religion and a new Church, but not the continuation of the Christian work. Now Paul is speaking here of preachers assumed to be Christians.

But the work of those who have to construct the building on the foundation laid is not so simple; and hence they should take good care as to the way in which they do it.