1 Corinthians 3:14

1 Corinthians 3:14 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
• New International Version (NIV)If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward.
• English Standard Version (ESV)If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.
• New King James Version (NKJV)If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.

Context of 1 Corinthians 3:14

12If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, 13each builder’s work will be plainly seen, for the Day will make it clear, because it will be revealed by fire. And the fire will test what kind of work each has done. If what someone has built survives, he will receive a reward. 15If someone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as through fire. 16Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?

1 Corinthians 3:14 word by word

εἴ τινος τὸ ἔργον μενεῖ ὃ ἐποικοδόμησεν, μισθὸν λήμψεται·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Ifεἰei · ifG1487
• any man’sτιςtis · oneG5100
• workὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• workἔργονergon · workG2041
• abideμένωmenō · to stayG3306
• whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• he hath built thereuponἐποικοδομέωepoikodomeō · to build up/uponG2026
• he shall receiveλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
• a rewardμισθόςmisthos · wageG3408

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 3:14

• 1 Corinthians 3:8The one who plants and the one who waters work as one, but each will receive his reward according to his work.
• 1 Corinthians 4:5So then, do not judge anything before the time. Wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the motives of hearts. Then each will receive recognition from God.
• Daniel 12:3But the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavenly expanse. And those bringing many to righteousness will be like the stars forever and ever.
• Matthew 24:45“Who then is the faithful and wise slave, whom the master has put in charge of his household, to give the other slaves their food at the proper time?
• Matthew 25:21His master answered, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful in a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’
• 1 Thessalonians 2:19For who is our hope or joy or crown to boast of before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not of course you?
• 2 Timothy 4:7I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith!
• 1 Peter 5:1So as your fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings and as one who shares in the glory that will be revealed, I urge the elders among you:
• Revelation 2:8“To the angel of the church in Smyrna write the following: “This is the solemn pronouncement of the one who is the first and the last, the one who was dead, but came to life:

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 3:14

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14If any man's work abide - Perhaps there is here an allusion to the purifying of different sorts of vessels under the law. All that could stand the fire were to be purified by the fire; and those which could not resist the action of the fire were to be purified by water, Numbers 31:23. The gold, silver, and precious stones, could stand the fire; but the wood, hay, and stubble, must be necessarily consumed. So, in that great and terrible day of the Lord…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14If any man‘s work abide … - If it shall appear that he hast taught the true doctrines of Christianity, and inculcated right practices and views of piety, and himself cherished right feelings: if the trial of the great Day, when the real qualities of all objects shall be known, shall show this. He shall receive a reward - According to the nature of his work. See the note on 1 Corinthians 3:8. This refers, I suppose, to the proper rewards on the Day 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. 1414. abide--abide the testing fire (Mt 3:11, 12). which he hath built thereupon--which he built on the foundation. reward--wages, as a builder, that is, teacher. His converts built on Christ the foundation, through his faithful teaching, shall be his "crown of rejoicing" (2Co 1:14; Php 2:16; 1Th 2:19).Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 3:14

• Church
• Judgment
• Minister, Christian
• Responsibility

In the dictionaries

• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Foundation
• Plant
• Build; Building
• Builder
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Eschatology of the New Testament
• Immortal; Immortality
• Paul, the Apostle
• Sacrifice

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