Let's take this puppy apart and discern what each builder's work is that Paul says may or may not get burned up when the quality of that work is tested by fire. Lot's of questions to ask in this tiny piece of scripture.
3:10 "According to the grace of God which was given to me" Paul is asserting his salvation, call, and giftedness as the Apostle to the Gentiles (cf. 1 Cor. 15:10).
"a wise master builder"
This could also mean "building supervisor." We get the English word "architect" from this Greek word. In a sense Paul is asserting his authority as the Christ-called Apostle to the Gentiles and the first to share the gospel with these Corinthians.
"I laid a foundation"
This refers to Paul's initial preaching of the gospel at Corinth. It may be an allusion to Isa. 28:16. Jesus is the foundation!
"and another is building on it"
Paul started the church, but others contributed to its growth. Apollos is one example (cf. 1 Cor. 3:5-9). However, in context this must also relate to those leaders in the church who were promoting a factious spirit. They may have been leaders of different house churches.
"each man must be careful"
This is literally a PRESENT ACTIVE IMPERATIVE of blepō, "I see." This is the warning that church leaders will give an account to God of their church work, as will all believers (cf. 2 Cor. 5:10).
3:11 There are two criteria mentioned in this passage (paragraph, v. 10-15) for the church.
the leader's/believer's message must be Christocentric (cf. 1 Cor. 3:11-12 and Eph. 2:20-21)
the leader's/believer's life must be Christlike (cf. 1 Cor. 3:12-15)
3:12 "if" This is the first in a series of FIRST CLASS CONDITIONAL SENTENCES which are assumed to be true from the author's perspective or for his literary purpose (cf. 1 Cor. 3:12,14,15,17,18). There were (and are) fruitful and precious leaders and hurtful and destructive leaders!
"any man builds on the foundation"
The major interpretive question here is which foundation is Paul speaking about:
the gospel, 1 Cor. 3:11
the church at Corinth, 1 Cor. 3:10
Is he addressing leaders or believers in general? One's interpretation of 1 Cor. 3:10-15 must relate to 1 Cor. 3:16-17, which describes the church as a whole as the temple of God.
"gold, silver, precious stones"
The emphasis here is on what is durable, beautiful, and costly and cannot be destroyed by fire. Precious stones may be jewels, semi-precious stones, or polished marble stones.
3:13
NASB "will become evident"
NKJV "will become manifest"
NRSV "will become visible"
TEV "will be seen"
NJB "will be shown"
REB "will at last be brought to light"
Peshitta "shall be plainly seen"
This clear manifestation of believers' or leaders' ministry (i.e., motives, actions, purposes) is emphasized by a three-fold repetition of VERBS in 1 Cor. 3:13.
become evident (i.e., phainō)
show (i.e., dēloō)
reveal (i.e., apokaluptō)
This open display and judgment of believers must relate to the judgment seat of Christ in 2 Cor. 5:10.
"the day will show it"
This refers to the OT "Day of the Lord," which will involve both glorification and rewards for believers and judgment for unbelievers. However, even believers will also give an account before the judgment seat of Christ (cf. 2 Cor. 5:10; Matt. 12:36-37; 25:31ff; Rom. 2:16; 14:12; Gal. 5:10; Heb. 13:17).
SPECIAL TOPIC: THE DAY OF THE LORD
"fire" See SPECIAL TOPIC: FIRE
"will test " This refers to the refiner's fire (cf. 1 Cor. 4:5), which tests with a view toward approval (i.e., dokimazō).
SPECIAL TOPIC: GREEK TERMS FOR TESTING AND THEIR CONNOTATIONS
"the quality of each man's work"
In context this must refer to one's church involvement. All the spiritual gifts are for the building up of the church (cf. 1 Cor. 12:7). There is no spiritual distinction between clergy and laity, leader and follower, but there is a task distinction (cf. Num. 16:3). Leaders are more accountable (cf. James 3:1).
3:14 "If" This is the second in a series of FIRST CLASS CONDITIONAL SENTTENCES, assumed to be true from the perspective of the writer or for his literary purpose (cf. 1 Cor. 3:12,14,15,17,18).
"he will receive a reward"
This passage refers to rewards, not salvation. All of the people addressed are assumed to be believers!
The NT concept of rewards must be distinguished from salvation by merit (cf. Rom. 6:23). In the OT rewards or blessings were connected to obedience (cf. Deut. 11:13-32,27-29; Psalm 1). In a sense, that is still true. However, salvation is a gift, not a reward. The life of faith and obedience is a result of salvation, not a means to salvation. Rewards can be lost, yet salvation retained. Rewards are a recognition of the developing ministry of believers. Paul has now universalized his eschatological evaluation (cf. 1 Thess. 2:19-20; Phil. 2:14-16) to include all believers. Rewards are a way of recognizing those who have ministered effectively and faithfully in the furtherance of the gospel. Rewards are God's gifts through His empowering for His Kingdom. Yet, like all covenant relationships, believers must appropriately and continually respond (cf. 1 Cor. 9:24-27).
SPECIAL TOPIC: DEGREES OF REWARDS AND PUNISHMENT
SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT
3:15 "If any man's work is burned up" Oh, the tragedy of a fruitless, selfish, factious Christian life. It is a tragedy for the person, a tragedy for the church, and a tragedy for the unsaved!
"but he himself will be saved"
This shows the priority of grace even with the possibility of the loss of reward.
This concept may answer the theological dilemma of a free salvation in the grace of God, the finished work of Christ, and the wooing of the Spirit contrasted to the cost-everything mandate of the Christian life. My only fear in using this text as a key concept is how rare in Scripture the theological category of a "back-slidden," carnal, baby Christian is used! The modern church uses this concept to explain an ineffective, apathetic, worldly church, but seldom delineates the NT mandate of spiritual growth (cf. Heb. 5:11-14).
Is this "puppy" taken apart?
J.
