Church. To mix the wisdom of men with the wisdom of God in this work, is, as the apostle afterwards says, like using al- ternate layers of straw and marble in the erection of a temple. Let no man deceive himself in this matter. He will prove himself a fool, if he attempts to substitute philosophy for the gospel in the work of saving men.
11. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
For^ others can only carry on the work already begun, for the foundation cannot be changed. The foundation of the church is Christ. Is. 28, 16. Acts 4, 11. Eph. 2, 20. 1 Pet. 2, 6. This may be understood either of the person or of the doctrine of Christ. In either way the sense is good. Christ, as the incarnate Son of God, according to one scriptural figure, is the head of the church which is his body, that is, he is the source of its life ; according to another figure, he is its founda- tion or corner-stone, because on him all the members of the church, considered as a temple, rest for salvation. On the other hand, however, it is also true that the doctrine concern- ing Christ, is the fundamental doctrine of the gospel. We may, therefore, understand the apostle to say, that the work of the ministry is to build up the church on the foundation which God has laid in the person and work of Christ. There can be no other ground of confidence for the justification, sanctification, and salvation of men. Or we may understand him to say, that the work of those who followed him in Co- rinth was simply to build on the foundation which he had laid, in preaching the doctrine of Christ and him crucified, for there can be no other foundation of the church than that doctrine. The former interpretation, which is adopted by many distin- guished commentators, is more in accordance with the com- mon representations of Scripture which speak of God having constituted Christ the corner-stone of the church. It is also perhaps more in accordance with the form of expression here used. Jesus Christ himself is the foundation, which was al- ready laid. The second interpretation, however, is certainly more consistent with the context. In v. 10 Paul says, he had laid the foundation. This can only mean that he had in Corinth taught the doctrine concerning the person and work of Christ. This is the only sense in which he can be said to have laid that foundation lohich is Jesus Christ. Besides, the