Ministry of Grace Church

For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Truth to Learn

The church can only be as strong as its foundation.

Behind the Words

The word translated “other” is allos, meaning “another of the same kind.” A similar Greek word, heteros, means “another of a different kind.” Allos is expressed here as a masculine adjective that is connected to “foundation,” indicating that the foundation he is referring to is a person, not a thing.

Dunamai is the verb translated “can.” It refers to having the authority or ability to do something.

“Than” is from the Greek preposition para, meaning “beside” or “alongside.”

The verb “laid” is from keimai, which means “to lay something down.” This is a different verb that that which is translated “lay.” This verb is tithēmi, which we saw in the previous verse, meaning “to set in place.”

Christos is the word transliterated “Christ,” which is based on the verb chrio, meaning “to anoint.” Thus, christos literally means “the anointed one.” It is equivalent to the Hebrew word mashiach, or Messiah.

Meaning Explained

A literal translation of this verse could be, “For no one is able to place any other foundation alongside the one having been laid down, who is Jesus Christ.”

In using this architectural metaphor, Paul wants to make a couple of things very clear. The first is the fact that the foundation is the most important fundamental part of any structure. If it is laid carelessly, or made out of the wrong material, the building that is constructed on top of it will be weak and unstable. So it is with the church. A church that is built carelessly, or built upon anything other than the person and work of Jesus Christ, will be weak and unstable. The other thing that Paul is making clear is that there can only be one foundation of the church. Anything other than the person and work of Jesus Christ that is laid alongside the original foundation is not part of God’s plan for the church. It will not make the church solid but will cause divisions within the church instead of unity.

The apostle tells us that the foundation that has already been laid for the church is Jesus Christ. The central issue of Christian faith is that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One, the Son of God, and as such He is God. Because He is God, He is sinless (righteous), and it is because He is without sin that his death is sufficient payment for our sins. This is the truth that the church is built on. If we add anything to that foundation, whether it be a message from some gifted preacher or even an angel, or the teaching from another religion or religious book, we are building on a false foundation and the church will not stand strong.

Application

Many churches today have added to the foundation that Paul laid and are teaching a salvation based on something else in order to make the message more palatable to people. Every church split is the result of foundation issues. How is your church? Is it strong? Is it built on Jesus Christ and Him alone?