New King James Version
1 Corinthians 3:13
13each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.
1 Corinthians 3:13 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
- New International Version (NIV)their 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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.
- New Living Translation (NLT)But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value.
Context of 1 Corinthians 3:13
11For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
Read all of 1 Corinthians 31 Corinthians 3:13 word by word
ἑκάστου τὸ ἔργον φανερὸν γενήσεται· ἡ γὰρ ἡμέρα δηλώσει, ὅτι ἐν πυρὶ ἀποκαλύπτεται, καὶ ἑκάστου τὸ ἔργον ὁποῖόν ἐστιν τὸ πῦρ αὐτὸ δοκιμάσει.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Every man’sἕκαστοςhekastos · eachG1538
- workἔργονergon · workG2041
- shall be madeγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
- manifestφανερόςphaneros · clearG5318
- forγάρgar · forG1063
- the dayἡμέραhēmera · dayG2250
- shall declare itδηλόωdēloō · to make clearG1213
- becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
- it shall be revealedἀποκαλύπτωapokaluptō · to revealG601
- byἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- fireπῦρpur · fireG4442
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- shall tryδοκιμάζωdokimazō · to testG1381
- of what sortὁποῖοςhopoios · what sort?G3697
- it isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 3:13
- 1 Corinthians 3:14If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.
- 1 Corinthians 4:5Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.
- 2 Timothy 3:9but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.
- 1 Corinthians 1:8who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Malachi 3:17“They shall be Mine,” says the Lord of hosts, “On the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them As a man spares his own son who serves him.”
- Romans 2:5But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
- 2 Thessalonians 1:7and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,
- 2 Timothy 1:18The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that Day—and you know very well how many ways he ministered to me at Ephesus.
- 2 Peter 3:10But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
- Revelation 20:12And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.
- Luke 2:35(yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
- Isaiah 8:20To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
- Isaiah 28:17Also I will make justice the measuring line, And righteousness the plummet; The hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, And the waters will overflow the hiding place.
- Jeremiah 23:29“Is not My word like a fire?” says the Lord, “And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?
- Ezekiel 13:10“Because, indeed, because they have seduced My people, saying, ‘Peace!’ when there is no peace—and one builds a wall, and they plaster it with untempered mortar—
- Zechariah 13:9I will bring the one–third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say, ‘This is My people’; And each one will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’ ”
Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 3:13
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13The day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire - There is much difference of opinion relative to the meaning of the terms in this and the two following verses. That the apostle refers to the approaching destruction of Jerusalem I think very probable; and when this is considered, all the terms and metaphors will appear clear and consistent. The day is the time of punishment coming on this disobedient and rebellious people. And this day…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13Every man‘s work shall be made manifest - What every man has built on this foundation shall be seen. Whether he has held truth or error; whether he has had correct views of piety or false; whether what he has done has been what he should have done or not. For the day - The Day of Judgment. The great Day which shall reveal the secrets of all hearts, and the truth in regard to what every man has done. The event will show what edifices on the true foundation…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. 1313. Every man's work--each teacher's superstructure on the foundation. the day--of the Lord (1Co 1:8; He 10:25; 1Th 5:4). The article is emphatic, "The day," that is, the great day of days, the long expected day. declare it--old English for "make it clear" (1Co 4:4). it shall be revealed by fire--it, that is, "every man's work." Rather, "He," the Lord, whose day it is (2Th 1:7, 8). Translate literally, "is being revealed (the present in the Greek implies…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Corinthians 3:13
In the dictionaries
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries