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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward.

Context of 1 Corinthians 3:14

12If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames. 16Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?

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 have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor.
• 1 Corinthians 4:5Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.
• Daniel 12:3Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.
• Matthew 24:45“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time?
• Matthew 25:21“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
• 1 Thessalonians 2:19For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you?
• 2 Timothy 4:7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
• 1 Peter 5:1To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed:
• Revelation 2:8“To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.

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