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Friday, October 18th, 2024
the Week of Proper 23 / Ordinary 28
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1 Corinthians 3:15

But if any person's work is burned up [by the test], he will suffer the loss [of his reward]; yet he himself will be saved, but only as [one who has barely escaped] through fire.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Church;   Judgment;   Minister, Christian;   Responsibility;   Thompson Chain Reference - Brands from the Burning;   Failure, Spiritual;   Loss, Spiritual;   Profit and Loss;   Spiritual;   The Topic Concordance - Labor;   Trial;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Apollos;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Ethics;   Good works;   Judgment;   Reward;   Work;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Baptism of Fire;   Corinthians, First and Second, Theology of;   Judgment;   Judgment Seat of Christ;   Paul the Apostle;   Reward;   Second Coming of Christ;   Temple;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Purgatory;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Fire;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Ephesus;   Fire;   Games;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Fire;   Judgment Day;   Silver;   Works;   1 Corinthians;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Account;   Character;   Fire;   Gospels (2);   Parousia;   Reward;   Salvation Save Saviour;   Suffering;   Work;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Apollos ;   Morter;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Diana;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Fire;   Loss;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Purgatory;   Roman Catholics;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Build;   Child-Bearing;   Fire;   Forfeit;   Immortal;   Loss;   Pauline Theology;   Suffering;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Apollos;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for December 13;   Every Day Light - Devotion for January 2;  

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
But if their building is burned up, they will suffer loss. They will be saved, but it will be like someone escaping from a fire.
Revised Standard Version
If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
If eny manes worke burne he shall suffre losse: but he shalbe safe him selfe: neverthelesse yet as it were thorow fyre.
Hebrew Names Version
If any man's work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, but as through fire.
International Standard Version
If his work is burned up, he will suffer loss. However, he himself will be saved, but it will be like going through fire.Jude 1:23;">[xr]
New American Standard Bible
If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet only so as through fire.
New Century Version
But if the building is burned up, the builder will suffer loss. The builder will be saved, but it will be as one who escaped from a fire.
Update Bible Version
If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as through fire.
Webster's Bible Translation
If any man's work shall be burned, he will suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
English Standard Version
If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
World English Bible
If any man's work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, but as through fire.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
If any one's work shall be burnt, he shall suffer loss, but himself shall be saved, yet so as through the fire.
Weymouth's New Testament
If any one's work is burnt up, he will suffer the loss of it; yet he will himself be rescued, but only, as it were, by passing through the fire.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
If ony mannus werk brenne, he schal suffre harm; but he schal be saaf, so netheles as bi fier.
English Revised Version
If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as through fire.
Berean Standard Bible
If it is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as if through the flames.
Contemporary English Version
But if it is destroyed by the fire, we will lose everything. Yet we ourselves will be saved, like someone escaping from flames.
American Standard Version
If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as through fire.
Bible in Basic English
If the fire puts an end to any man's work, it will be his loss: but he will get salvation himself, though as by fire.
Complete Jewish Bible
if it is burned up, he will have to bear the loss: he will still escape with his life, but it will be like escaping through a fire.
Darby Translation
If the work of any one shall be consumed, he shall suffer loss, but *he* shall be saved, but so as through [the] fire.
Etheridge Translation
and he whose work shall be burned, shall fail; but he (himself) shall be rescued, but so as from fire.
Murdock Translation
And he, whose work shall burn up, will suffer loss; yet himself will escape; but it will be, as from the fire.
King James Version (1611)
If any mans worke shall bee burnt, he shall suffer losse: but he himselfe shall be saued: yet so, as by fire.
New Living Translation
But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.
New Life Bible
If his work is burned up, he will lose it. Yet he himself will be saved as if he were going through a fire.
New Revised Standard
If the work is burned up, the builder will suffer loss; the builder will be saved, but only as through fire.
Geneva Bible (1587)
If any mans worke burne, he shall lose, but he shalbe saued himselfe: neuerthelesse yet as it were by the fire.
George Lamsa Translation
And the one whose work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be rescued, even as one who has been saved from the fire.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
If, anyone's work, shall be burnt up, he shall suffer loss, but shall, himself, be saved - though, thus, as through fire.
Douay-Rheims Bible
If any mans work burn, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
If any mans worke burne, he shall suffer losse, but he shalbe safe hym selfe: neuertheles, yet as it were through fire.
Good News Translation
But if your work is burnt up, then you will lose it; but you yourself will be saved, as if you had escaped through the fire.
Christian Standard Bible®
If anyone’s work is burned up, he will experience loss, but he himself will be saved—but only as through fire.
King James Version
If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Lexham English Bible
If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, but so as through fire.
Literal Translation
If the work of anyone shall be consumed, he shall suffer loss; but he will be saved, but so as through fire.
Young's Literal Translation
if of any the work is burned up, he shall suffer loss; and himself shall be saved, but so as through fire.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Yf eny mans worke burne, he shal suffre losse: but he shal be saued himselfe, neuertheles as thorow fyre.
Mace New Testament (1729)
if that man's work should be burnt, he will suffer loss: but should he himself escape, it will be as out of the fire.
THE MESSAGE
But for right now, friends, I'm completely frustrated by your unspiritual dealings with each other and with God. You're acting like infants in relation to Christ, capable of nothing much more than nursing at the breast. Well, then, I'll nurse you since you don't seem capable of anything more. As long as you grab for what makes you feel good or makes you look important, are you really much different than a babe at the breast, content only when everything's going your way? When one of you says, "I'm on Paul's side," and another says, "I'm for Apollos," aren't you being totally infantile? Who do you think Paul is, anyway? Or Apollos, for that matter? Servants, both of us—servants who waited on you as you gradually learned to entrust your lives to our mutual Master. We each carried out our servant assignment. I planted the seed, Apollos watered the plants, but God made you grow. It's not the one who plants or the one who waters who is at the center of this process but God, who makes things grow. Planting and watering are menial servant jobs at minimum wages. What makes them worth doing is the God we are serving. You happen to be God's field in which we are working. Or, to put it another way, you are God's house. Using the gift God gave me as a good architect, I designed blueprints; Apollos is putting up the walls. Let each carpenter who comes on the job take care to build on the foundation! Remember, there is only one foundation, the one already laid: Jesus Christ. Take particular care in picking out your building materials. Eventually there is going to be an inspection. If you use cheap or inferior materials, you'll be found out. The inspection will be thorough and rigorous. You won't get by with a thing. If your work passes inspection, fine; if it doesn't, your part of the building will be torn out and started over. But you won't be torn out; you'll survive—but just barely.
New English Translation
If someone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
New King James Version
If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
Simplified Cowboy Version
But if their work falls apart, that cowboy will end up flat on his back. He will still be saved, but just barely . . . like a cowboy who survived being run over by a stampede.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
Legacy Standard Bible
If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

Contextual Overview

11for no one can lay a foundation other than the one which is [already] laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12But if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13each one's work will be clearly shown [for what it is]; for the day [of judgment] will disclose it, because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality and character and worth of each person's work. 14If any person's work which he has built [on this foundation, that is, any outcome of his effort] remains [and survives this test], he will receive a reward. 15But if any person's work is burned up [by the test], he will suffer the loss [of his reward]; yet he himself will be saved, but only as [one who has barely escaped] through fire.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

work: 1 Corinthians 3:12, 1 Corinthians 3:13, Revelation 3:18

he shall: Acts 27:21, Acts 27:44, 2 John 1:8

yet: Amos 4:11, Zechariah 3:2, 1 Peter 4:18, Jude 1:23

Cross-References

Genesis 3:1
Now the serpent was more crafty (subtle, skilled in deceit) than any living creature of the field which the LORD God had made. And the serpent (Satan) said to the woman, "Can it really be that God has said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?"
Genesis 3:3
except the fruit from the tree which is in the middle of the garden. God said, 'You shall not eat from it nor touch it, otherwise you will die.'"
Genesis 3:4
But the serpent said to the woman, "You certainly will not die!
Genesis 3:6
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was delightful to look at, and a tree to be desired in order to make one wise and insightful, she took some of its fruit and ate it; and she also gave some to her husband with her, and he ate.
Genesis 3:7
Then the eyes of the two of them were opened [that is, their awareness increased], and they knew that they were naked; and they fastened fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.
Genesis 3:8
And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool [afternoon breeze] of the day, so the man and his wife hid and kept themselves hidden from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
Genesis 3:10
He said, "I heard the sound of You [walking] in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself."
Genesis 3:13
Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?" And the woman said, "The serpent beguiled and deceived me, and I ate [from the forbidden tree]."
Genesis 3:14
The LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all the cattle, And more than any animal of the field; On your belly you shall go, And dust you shall eat All the days of your life.
Genesis 3:15
"And I will put enmity (open hostility) Between you and the woman, And between your seed (offspring) and her Seed; He shall [fatally] bruise your head, And you shall [only] bruise His heel."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

If any man's work shall be burnt,.... If any minister's doctrine he has preached shall be destroyed and disappear, shall be disapproved of, and rejected by the churches, not being able, to bear the light and heat of the fire of God's word:

he shall suffer loss; of all his labour and pains he has been at, in collecting together such trifling, useless, and inconsistent things; and of all that glory and popular applause he might expect from men, on account of them, and which was the snare that drew him into such a way of preaching:

but he himself shall be saved; with an everlasting salvation; not by his ministerial labours, much less by his wood, hay, and stubble, which will be all burnt up; but through his being, notwithstanding all the imperfections of his ministry, upon the foundation Christ:

yet so as by fire; with much difficulty, and will be scarcely saved; see 1 Peter 4:17 with great danger, loss, and shame; as a man that is burnt out of house and home, he escapes himself with his own life, but loses all about him: so the Syriac version reads it,

איך דמן נורא, "as out of the fire": see Zechariah 3:2. Or the sense is, that he shall be tried by the fire of the word, and convinced by the light of it of the errors, irregularities, and inconsistencies of his ministry; either in his time of life and health, or on a death bed; and shall have all his wood, hay, and stubble burnt up, for nothing of this kind shall he carry with him in his judgment to heaven; only the gold, silver, and precious stones; and will find that the latter doctrines, and not the former, will only support him in the views of death and eternity.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

If any man’s work shall be burned - If it shall not be found to hear the test of the investigation of that Day - as a cottage of wood, hay, and stubble would not bear the application of fire. If his doctrines have not been true; if he has had mistaken views of piety; if he has nourished feelings which he thought were those of religion; and inculcated practices which, however well meant, are not such as the gospel produces; if he has fallen into error of opinion, feeling, practice, however conscientious, yet he shall suffer loss.

He shall suffer loss - :

(1) He shall not be elevated to as high a rank and to as high happiness as he otherwise would. That which he supposed would be regarded as acceptable by the Judge, and rewarded accordingly, shall be stripped away, and shown to be unfounded and false; and in consequence, he shall not obtain those elevated rewards which he anticipated. This, compared with what he expected, may be regarded as a loss.

(2) He shall be injuriously affected by this forever. It shall be a detriment to him to all eternity. The effects shall be felt in all his residence in heaven - not producing misery but attending him with the consciousness that he might have been raised to superior bliss in the eternal abode - The phrase here literally means, “he shall be mulcted.” The word is a legal term, and means that he shall be fined, that is, he shall suffer detriment.

But he himself shall be saved - The apostle all along has supposed that the true foundation was laid 1 Corinthians 3:11, and if that is laid, and the edifice is reared upon that, the person who does it shall be safe. There may be much error, and many false views of religion, and much imperfection, still the man that is building on the true foundation shall be safe. His errors and imperfections shall be removed, and he may occupy a lower place in heaven, but he shall be safe.

Yet so as by fire - ὡς διὰ πυρός hōs dia puros. This passage has greatly perplexed commentators; but probably without any good reason. The apostle does not say that Christians will be doomed to the fires of purgatory; nor that they will pass through fire; nor that they will be exposed to pains and punishment at all; but he “simply carries out the figure” which he commenced, and says that they will be saved, as if the action of fire had been felt on the edifice on which he is speaking. That is, as fire would consume the wood, hay, and stubble, so on the great Day everything that is erroneous and imperfect in Christiana shall be removed, and that which is true and genuine shall be preserved as if it had passed through fire. Their whole character and opinions shall be investigated; and that which is good shall be approved; and that which is false and erroneous be removed.

The idea is not that of a man whose house is burnt over his head and who escapes through the flames, nor that of a man who is subjected to the pains and fires of purgatory; but that of a man who had been spending his time and strength to little purpose; who had built, indeed, on the true foundation, but who had reared so much on it which was unsound, and erroneous, and false, that he himself would be saved with great difficulty, and with the loss of much of that reward which he had expected, as if the fire had passed over him and his works. The simple idea, therefore, is, that that which is genuine and valuable in his doctrines and works, shall be rewarded, and the man shall be saved; that which is not sound and genuine, shall be removed, and he shall suffer loss. Some of the fathers, indeed, admitted that this passage taught that all people would be subjected to the action of fire in the great conflagration with which the world shall close; that the wicked shall be consumed; and that the righteous are to suffer, some more and some less, according to their character. On passages like this, the Roman Catholic doctrine of purgatory is based. But we may observe:

(1) That this passage does not necessarily or naturally give any such idea. The interpretation stated above is the natural interpretation, and one which the passage will not only bear, but which it demands.

(2) If this passage would give any countenance to the absurd and unscriptural idea that the souls of the righteous at the Day of Judgment are to be re-united to their bodies, in order to be subjected to the action of intense heat, to be brought from the abodes of bliss and compelled to undergo the burning fires of the last conflagration, still it would give no countenance to the still more absurd and unscriptural opinion that those fires have been and are still burning; that all souls are to be subjected to them; and that they can be removed only by masses offered for the dead, and by the prayers of the living. The idea of danger and peril is, indeed, in this text; but the idea of personal salvation is retained and conveyed.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Corinthians 3:15. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss — If he have preached the necessity of incorporating the law with the Gospel, or proclaimed as a doctrine of God any thing which did not proceed from heaven, he shall suffer loss-all his time and labour will be found to be uselessly employed and spent. Some refer the loss to the work, not to the man; and understand the passage thus: If any man's work be burned, IT shall suffer loss-much shall be taken away from it; nothing shall he left but the measure of truth and uprightness which it may have contained.

But he himself shall be saved — If he have sincerely and conscientiously believed what he preached, and yet preached what was wrong, not through malice or opposition to the Gospel, but through mere ignorance, he shall be saved; God in his mercy will pass by his errors; and he shall not suffer punishment because he was mistaken. Yet, as in most erroneous teachings there is generally a portion of wilful and obstinate ignorance, the salvation of such erroneous teachers is very rare; and is expressed here, yet so as by fire, i.e. with great difficulty; a mere escape; a hair's breadth deliverance; he shall be like a brand plucked out of the fire.

The apostle obviously refers to the case of a man, who, having builded a house, and begun to dwell in it, the house happens to be set on fire, and he has warning of it just in time to escape with his life, losing at the same time his house, his goods, his labour, and almost his own life. So he who, while he holds the doctrine of Christ crucified as the only foundation on which a soul can rest its hopes of salvation, builds at the same time, on that foundation, Antinomianism, or any other erroneous or destructive doctrine, he shall lose all his labour, and his own soul scarcely escape everlasting perdition; nor even this unless sheer ignorance and inveterate prejudice, connected with much sincerity, be found in his case.

The popish writers have applied what is here spoken to the fire of purgatory; and they might with equal propriety have applied it to the discovery of the longitude, the perpetual motion, or the philosopher's stone; because it speaks just as much of the former as it does of any of the latter. The fire mentioned here is to try the man's work, not to purify his soul; but the dream of purgatory refers to the purging in another state what left this impure; not the work of the man, but the man himself; but here the fire is said to try the work: ergo, purgatory is not meant even if such a place as purgatory could be proved to exist; which remains yet to be demonstrated.


 
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