1 Corinthians 3:14
in 1 Corinthians 3If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
If any man’s work shall abide which he built thereon, he shall receive a reward.
KJV
If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
⋯
This verse in 1 Corinthians 3
Commentary
10 notes on this verseIf you have silver or gold, then your work will survive, and you will receive a reward; but if you have hay and the like, then your work will not withstand the force of the fire (this is what the expression "it will be burned" …
This site's exposition
Now if any man build upon this foundation gold
on 1 Corinthians 3:12-15
The building materials, gold, silver, precious stones against wood, hay, stubble, represent the quality of a teacher's work on Christ's foundation, and every man's work shall be made manifest on the day that reveals it by fire, testing each man's work of what sort it is. If the work abides he receives a reward, if it is burned he suffers loss, yet he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire, the builder's own salvation kept distinct from the fate of his work. The bench holds the fire here as a test of ministry and doctrine at Christ's judgment seat, not a purifying of the person, since the text saves the man while burning only what he built.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
This is no small subject of enquiry which we propose, but rather about things which are of the first necessity and which all men enquire about; namely, whether hell fire have any end. For that it hath no end Christ indeed declared when he said, "Their fire shall not be quenched, and their worm shall not die." But since Paul's saying appears to some to tell the other way, come let us bring it forward also and search it out thoroughly. For having said, "If any man's work abide which he hath built thereon, he shall receive a reward; and if any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss," he adds, "but himself shall be saved, yet so as through fire." What shall we say then to this? Let us consider first what is "the Foundation," and what "the gold," and what "the precious stones," and what "the hay," and what the "stubble." "The Foundation," then, he hath himself plainly signified to be Christ, saying, "For other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which," he saith "is Jesus Christ." Next, the building seems to me to be actions. Although some maintain that this also is spoken concerning teachers and disciples and concerning corrupt heresies: but the reasoning doth not admit it. For if this be it, in what sense, while "the work is destroyed," is the "builder" to be "saved," though it be "through fire?" Of right, the author ought rather of the two to perish; but now it will be found that the severer penalty is assigned to him who hath been built into the work. For if the teacher was the cause of the wickedness, he is worthy to suffer severer punishment: how then shall he be "saved?" If, on the contrary, he was not the cause but the disciples became such through their own perverseness, he is no whit deserving of punishment, no, nor yet of sustaining loss: he, I say, who builded so well. […]
If anyone's work proves lasting, he will receive his wage. He will be just like the three brothers in the fiery furnace, destined to receive as his wage heavenly life with glory.
The Medieval Church1 voice
Then when he says, if any man's work, he indicates the manner in which the above disclosures will be made: first, in regard to good works when he says: if any man's work, which he erected, survives the fire, he, i.e., the one who erected …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
He shall receive a reward - A peculiar degree of glory. Some degree even the other will receive, seeing he held the foundation; though through ignorance he built thereon what would not abide the fire.
If any man's work abide,....
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
If 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, Num 31:23. The gold, silver, and precious stones, could stand the fire; but the wood, hay, and stubble, must be necessarily consumed.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
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;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase+unbalanced-parens
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
If 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 1Co 3:8. This refers, I suppose, to the proper rewards on the Day of Judgment, and not to the honors and the recompense which he may receive in this world. If all that he has taught and done shall be proved to have been genuine and pure, then his reward shall be in proportion.
The words behind it
9 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| εἴ | ei | If | G1487 → | 508 times |
| τινος | tinos | of anyone | G5100 → | 528 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἔργον | ergon | work | G2041 → | 168 times |
| μενεῖ | menei | will remain | G3306 → | 118 times |
| ὃ | ho | which | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| ἐποικοδόμησεν, | epoikodomesen | he built up, | G2026 → | 7 times |
| μισθὸν | misthon | a reward | G3408 → | 29 times |
| λήμψεται· | lempsetai | he will receive; | G2983 → | 257 times |
εἴIf
eiG1487 →508 times
τινοςof anyone
tinosG5100 →528 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
ἔργονwork
ergonG2041 →168 times
μενεῖwill remain
meneiG3306 →118 times
ὃwhich
hoG3739 →1405 times
ἐποικοδόμησεν,he built up,
epoikodomesenG2026 →7 times
μισθὸνa reward
misthonG3408 →29 times
λήμψεται·he will receive;
lempsetaiG2983 →257 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
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 men’s hearts. At that time each…
it leads to
- James 5:7
Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer awaits the precious fruit of the soil—how patient he is for the fall and spring rains.
- 2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.
- 1 Corinthians 3:13
his workmanship will be evident, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will prove the quality of each man’s work.
- Hebrews 4:13
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
- 2 Corinthians 10:18
For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
- James 5:7
Through
1 Peter 5:4And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
it leads to
- James 1:12
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.
- 1 Corinthians 9:25
Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable.
- James 1:12
Through
1 Corinthians 3:8He who plants and he who waters are one in purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.
it leads to
- Romans 2:6
God “will repay each one according to his deeds.”
- Romans 2:6
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies6
On this verse
About 1 Corinthians
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the First Epistle to the Corinthians; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentary on the Epistles of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Corinthians 9; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Corinthians.