1 Corinthians 3:12

If any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

If any man build. Paul’s primary reference is to the leaders of the church at Corinth, not all of whom were carrying on their work commendably (see on v. 10).

Gold, silver. The figure of building materials described in this verse may be understood as representing (1) the spiritual instruction of the leaders, or (2) the persons composing the building of God’s spiritual house. These two ideas are closely related and were perhaps both in the mind of Paul when he used this metaphor. Proper spiritual instruction leads to the formation of healthy Christian characters; inferior instruction, to defective characters. For the picture of church members represented as “lively stones” of a “spiritual house” see 1 Peter 2:5.

Precious stones. Durable building materials, such as granite and marble, or perhaps simply ornamental stones. If Paul meant the former, he was emphasizing durability; if the latter, preciousness. These building materials represent either sound instruction or church members of vigorous spiritual life (see above under “gold, silver”).

Wood, hay, stubble. These represent defective instruction or church members of defective experience (see above under “gold, silver”). There are many erroneous beliefs and doctrines that will not endure the searching test of God’s Word and will not contribute to the formation of characters that will endure in the judgment. There is much fanaticism, bigotry, affected humility, exaggerated attention to outward form and ceremony, frothy enthusiasm and excitement in religion, which will stand exposed in the great day of God.