New Living Translation
1 Corinthians 3:13
13But 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.
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 King James Version (NKJV)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.
Context of 1 Corinthians 3:13
11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ. 12Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. 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. 14If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. 15But 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.
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 the work survives, that builder will receive a reward.
- 1 Corinthians 4:5So don’t make judgments about anyone ahead of time—before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due.
- 2 Timothy 3:9But they won’t get away with this for long. Someday everyone will recognize what fools they are, just as with Jannes and Jambres.
- 1 Corinthians 1:8He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns.
- Malachi 3:17“They will be my people,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “On the day when I act in judgment, they will be my own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient child.
- Romans 2:5But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.
- 2 Thessalonians 1:7And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels,
- 2 Timothy 1:18May the Lord show him special kindness on the day of Christ’s return. And you know very well how helpful he was in Ephesus.
- 2 Peter 3:10But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.
- Revelation 20:12I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books.
- Luke 2:35As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.”
- Isaiah 8:20Look to God’s instructions and teachings! People who contradict his word are completely in the dark.
- Isaiah 28:17I will test you with the measuring line of justice and the plumb line of righteousness. Since your refuge is made of lies, a hailstorm will knock it down. Since it is made of deception, a flood will sweep it away.
- Jeremiah 23:29Does not my word burn like fire?” says the Lord. “Is it not like a mighty hammer that smashes a rock to pieces?
- Ezekiel 13:10“This will happen because these evil prophets deceive my people by saying, ‘All is peaceful’ when there is no peace at all! It’s as if the people have built a flimsy wall, and these prophets are trying to reinforce it by covering it with whitewash!
- Zechariah 13:9I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure. I will refine them like silver and purify them like gold. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘These are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is our 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 Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
Commentaries