Perishable and Imperishable?: Reconsidering the Building Materials in 1 Corinthians 3:12

The purpose of this book is to re-examine Paul's list of building materials in 1 Cor 3:12 in order to propose that all of the materials should be understood as good and necessary for adequately building in Paul's construction metaphor (1 Cor 3:9-17). Contra the traditional interpretation, which argues that the materials should be broken into two groups of three, namely, three imperishable building materials (gold, silver, and precious stones) and three perishable building materials (wood, hay, and stubble), Paul's argument concerning the building materials listed in 1 Cor 3:12 is not focused on which materials one uses to build (perishable or imperishable), but rather how one builds (i.e., quality construction with the materials/church members one has). This reading helps the church (and its leaders) understand that all the building materials (church members) are absolutely essential to building of the church. It also emphasizes that leaders of the church must seek to build well with the ""folly"" of the gospel and not build their ministries upon themselves.

About the Author :
W. Tyler Sykora is the chief of staff in the office of the president and assistant professor of biblical studies at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is also a pastor at Liberty Baptist Church in Liberty, Missouri.

Review :
"W. Tyler Sykora provides a thorough and fascinating investigation of ancient construction practices related to the materials Paul cites in 1 Cor 3:12 for building on the foundation already laid, which is Jesus Christ. Sykora's interpretation not only corrects a misreading of the text, but it also has significant ramifications for understanding how God will evaluate ministers and, consequently, on what they should place their focus. Therefore, it is both informative for interpretation and transformative for appraising ministry."
--David E. Garland, professor of Christian Scriptures, George W. Truett Theological Seminary

"W. Tyler Sykora's study takes a fresh look at a familiar passage in the letters of Paul. The passage--1 Cor 3:12--is well known and often referenced, but is its meaning understood? This new book on Paul's first letter to the Corinthian Christians is a welcome addition to serious scholarship concerned with the apostle's eschatology."
--Craig A. Evans, distinguished professor of Christian origins, Houston Christian University

"Almost every regular church-attender has heard a sermon which takes 1 Cor 3:12 to be calling for construction with good materials (i.e., gold, silver, and precious stones) instead of bad materials (i.e., wood, hay, and straw). W. Tyler Sykora's work shows that this modern contrast would not have made sense to Paul's first-century audience. Perishable and Imperishable makes this case in substantial detail and illustrates the great value of efforts to read Paul from a first-century perspective."
--Thor Madsen, professor of New Testament, ethics, and philosophy, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

"With careful reference to metaphor theory, ancient construction practices, and both Hellenistic and Jewish backgrounds more generally, this book challenges the consensus on what Paul meant by 'gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw' in 1 Corinthians. It is sure to provoke productive discussion. I highly recommend this methodical and nuanced effort to bring knowledge of real-world construction in antiquity to bear on a crucial but, as W. Tyler Sykora argues, misunderstood Pauline image."
--Robert W. Yarbrough, professor of New Testament, Covenant Theological Seminary

"W. Tyler Sykora has made a most interesting and fascinating case for interpreting the building materials in 1 Cor 3:9-17 as positive. Sykora uses Systemic Functional Linguistics theory to understand the metaphors used in this text and dives into both the Jewish and Greco-Roman background to excavate the meaning. At the end of the day, I am not convinced, but Sykora makes an excellent case for his reading, and it should be consulted by all who are engaged in interpreting 1 Cor 3."
--Thomas R. Schreiner, professor of New Testament interpretation and biblical theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

"First Corinthians 3:9-17 is a passage that has long been debated within the history of interpretation. In this fresh and stimulating reading of the text, W. Tyler Sykora explores Greco-Roman and Jewish background to Paul's construction metaphor. Although not every reader will be persuaded by Sykora's thesis, every reader will leave Perishable and Imperishable? with fuller appreciation and enriched understanding of Paul's literary artistry and theological depth."
--Guy Prentiss Waters, professor of New Testament, Reformed Theological Seminary