1 Corinthians 3:15

1 Corinthians 3:15 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
• New International Version (NIV)If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
• English Standard Version (ESV)If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
• New King James Version (NKJV)If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

Context of 1 Corinthians 3:15

13One day, God will show clearly how good each builder's work is. God will put each person's work into a fire on that great day. The fire will show whether their work is good or bad. 14If the fire does not destroy the work, then that builder will receive good things from God. But if the fire destroys a builder's work, that person will lose everything. The person himself will be safe. But he will be like someone who has run through the fire to a safe place. 16You surely know that you are like God's special house. As God's people, God's Spirit lives in you. 17If anyone destroys God's special house, then God will destroy that person. And you are like that house. You belong to God in a special way.

1 Corinthians 3:15 word by word

εἴ τινος τὸ ἔργον κατακαήσεται, ζημιωθήσεται, αὐτὸς δὲ σωθήσεται οὕτως δὲ ὡς διὰ πυρός.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Ifεἰei · ifG1487
• any man’sτιςtis · oneG5100
• workὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• workἔργονergon · workG2041
• shall be burnedκατακαίωkatakaiō · to burnG2618
• he shall suffer lossζημιόωzēmioō · to loseG2210
• butδέde · thenG1161
• he himselfαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• shall be savedσῴζωsōzō · to saveG4982
• soοὕτωςhoutō · thus(-ly)G3779
• asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• byδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• fireπῦρpur · fireG4442

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 3:15

• 1 Corinthians 3:12People may build on this foundation with gold, silver or valuable stones. Or they may build on it with wood, dry grass or leaves.
• Revelation 3:18So I tell you that you should buy gold from me. With my gold, you would be really rich. My gold is the best, because it has been through fire. You should also buy white clothes from me to dress yourselves. Then you will not be ashamed because you have no clothes. You should also buy medicine from me to put on your eyes. Then you will be able to see well.
• Acts 27:21The men on the ship had not eaten any food for a long time. So Paul stood in front of them and he said, ‘Men, you should have listened to me! We should not have sailed away from Crete. If we had not left there, the ship and everything on it would still be safe.
• 2 John 1:8So be careful! Do not believe their lies. Do not lose the good things that we have worked for. Make sure that you receive all the good things that God has promised to give you.
• Amos 4:11‘I killed many people among you, as I destroyed the cities called Sodom and Gomorrah. Some of you did not die. You were like a stick that is already burning. And someone saves it from the fire. But still you did not start to pray to me again.’ The Lord says this!
• Zechariah 3:2The Lord said to Satan, ‘The Lord says that you are wrong. The Lord has chosen Jerusalem. And he says that you are wrong. Joshua is certainly like a burning stick that someone pulls quickly out of the fire.’
• 1 Peter 4:18The Bible says: ‘When God saves righteous people, that is a difficult thing. It will surely be much worse for people who turn away from God and who do bad things.’
• Jude 1:23Some people are in great danger. You must save them from the fire of God's punishment. Also be kind to people who have done wicked and disgusting things. But be careful! Do not let their sins make you bad too.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 3:15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15If 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 labor 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…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15If 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…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-15Verses 10-15 The apostle was a wise master-builder; but the grace of God made him such. Spiritual pride is abominable; it is using the greatest favours of God, to feed our own vanity, and make idols of ourselves. But let every man take heed; there may be bad building on a good foundation. Nothing must be laid upon it, but what the foundation will bear, and what is of a piece with it. Let us not dare to join a merely human or a carnal life with a Divine…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12-15Some things people build on Christ's foundation will last. Others will burn in judgment (see Malachi 4:1). On judgment day, the work of each church teacher will be evaluated (see James 3:1; also Romans 14:10–12; 2 Corinthians 5:10). Those with faithful teachings will earn a reward. Others will face great loss, not of salvation but of reward. They will be saved, but barely, like someone rescued through flames (see Amos 4:11; Zechariah 3:2; Jude 1:23).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1515. If ... be burnt--if any teacher's work consist of such materials as the fire will destroy [Alford]. suffer loss--that is, forfeit the special "reward"; not that he shall lose salvation (which is altogether a free gift, not a "reward" or wages), for he remains still on the foundation (1Co 3:12; 2Jo 6). saved; yet so as by fire--rather, "so as through fire" (Zec 3:2; Am 4:11; Jude 23). "Saved, yet not without fire" (Ro 2:27) [Bengel]. As a builder whose…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 3:15

• Church
• Judgment
• Minister, Christian
• Responsibility

In the dictionaries

• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Fire
• Foundation
• Plant
• Build; Building
• Child-Bearing
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Eschatology of the New Testament
• Forfeit
• Immortal; Immortality

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings