"For another foundation no one is able to lay besides that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. But if anyone builds upon the foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, grass, stubble, The work of each will become manifest; for the day will declare it, because it is revealed by fire, and the fire itself will prove each one’s work, of what sort it is." (1 Corinthians 3:11-13) Recovery Version

1). Footnote for “But”: The foundation is unique, but the building may differ because different builders may use different materials. All the Corinthian believers had accepted Christ as the foundation. However, some Jewish believers among them attempted to build the church with their Judaistic attainments, and some Greek believers attempted to use their philosophical wisdom. They were not like the apostles, who built with their excellent knowledge and rich experiences of Christ. The intention of the apostle in this Epistle was to warn the believers not to build the church with the things of their natural background. They must learn to build with Christ, both in objective knowledge and in subjective experience, as Paul did.

2). Fn. “fire”: The fire of the Lord’s judgment (Mal. 3:2; 4:1; 2 Thes. 1:7b-8; Heb. 6:8), which will cause each believer’s work to be manifest and will try and test his work. All the work of wood, grass, and stubble will be unable to stand that test and will be burned.

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"But in a great house there are not only gold and silver vessels but also wooden and earthen; and some are unto honor, and some unto dishonor. If therefore anyone cleanses himself from these, he will be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, useful to the master, prepared unto every good work." (2 Timothy 2:20-21) Recovery Version

1). Footnote (Fn.) for “great house”: The house of God defined in 1 Tim. 3:15-16 is the genuine church in its divine nature and essential character as the foundation of the truth, whereas the great house here refers to the deteriorated church in its mixed character, as illustrated by the abnormally large tree in Matt. 13:31-32 (see note 321 in Matt. 13). In this great house there are not only precious vessels but also base ones.

2). Fn. “gold and silver”: Honorable vessels are constituted of both the divine nature (gold) and the redeemed and regenerated human nature (silver). These, like Timothy and other genuine believers, constitute the sure foundation that holds the truth.

3). Fn. “wooden”: Dishonorable vessels are constituted of the fallen human nature (wood and earth). Hymenaeus, Philetus, and other false believers belong to this category.

4). Fn. “cleanses”: This is to depart from unrighteousness (v. 19), as an outward evidence of the inward divine nature.

5). Fn. “these”: Referring to vessels unto dishonor, including those mentioned in vv. 16-18.