"If any man's work is burned up..."

[Jethro Bodine]

15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire." (1 Corinthians 3:15 NASB)

What work is Paul saying will be burned up, if it gets burned up?

 

[Sinthesis]

Any Christian's life works which, even though perhaps done in good faith, was not done according to actual Christian principles. Think of all the otherwise good Christians who have mistakenly devoted time and effort to an ungodly cause. Christians who thought the bible supported slavery or segregation, and acted on that belief come to mind. Saved in Christ, but a life of wasted works.

 

[Ryan]

Nadab's and Abihu's story in Leviticus 10 is a good example of what much of 1 Corinthians 3 is dealing with.

Nadab and Abihu were Aaron's sons that offered "strange" fire to the Lord and were consumed. Many sages and others speculated what that may have been, with none coming to any real agreement. The point is they improperly entered into the presence of Yahweh in a manner that was not authorized or permitted. You could surmise whether their intentions were good or not, they sought to worship him in a manner that was not permitted, and outside of the Lord's framework. As they were priests, this is an example of spoken of in Luke 12:48 of the need to remember for those much have been given, much will be required.

So because they never followed the instructions precisely they were consumed by fire from Yahweh. In Leviticus 10:5 their bodies were carried away by their tunics. In Exodus 28:39 and Leviticus 8:13 they were made of white linen. In Revelation 19:8 "It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the]saints." If the white linen can be used to describe the righteous acts of the saints, and the two brothers tunics were still intact, that means their works survived the judgement and would not be forgotten despite the mistake they made. That is what I believe 1 Corinthians 3 is speaking about.

Proverbs 14:12 I believe talks about many of our ideas about pleasing the Creator through our means, instead of the means he desires which is fitting for the story of Nadab and Abihu.

"There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death"

 

[JLB]

15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire." (1 Corinthians 3:15 NASB)

What work is Paul saying will be burned up, if it gets burned up?

5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 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. 14 If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. 1 Corinthians 3:5-15

The work that is being described is the people that are being built into the Temple of God, by Paul and Apollo's and the ministers that God has raised up as His laborers.


JLB

 

[Deborah13]

The work that is being described is the people that are being built into the Temple of God, by Paul and Apollo's and the ministers that God has raised up as His laborers.

imo and the opinion of 4 commentaries that I looked to for guidance.

I can agree that at the beginning Paul is speaking of the leaders (all leaders, GK deacons, deaconess) in the church building a firm foundation on Christ and Christ alone and not thinking that the leader they are under is who they serve, but is Christ.

But then he moves on in verse 11, speaking of 'every man' and 'any man' building on this teaching of the foundation being only Christ and His gospel.
Here he is speaking to the body as a whole.

11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13 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.
14If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
17If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
18Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are your's;
22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are your's;
23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.

All of our work as Christians will be judged.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

The work that is being described is the people that are being built into the Temple of God, by Paul and Apollo's and the ministers that God has raised up as His laborers.

imo and the opinion of 4 commentaries that I looked to for guidance.

I can agree that at the beginning Paul is speaking of the leaders (all leaders, GK deacons, deaconess) in the church building a firm foundation on Christ and Christ alone and not thinking that the leader they are under is who they serve, but is Christ.

But then he moves on in verse 11, speaking of 'every man' and 'any man' building on this teaching of the foundation being only Christ and His gospel.
Here he is speaking to the body as a whole.

11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13 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.
14If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
17If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
18Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are your's;
22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are your's;
23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.

All of our work as Christians will be judged.

Did I miss it? What specifically is the work Paul is referring to in the passage?

 

[JLB]

The work that is being described is the people that are being built into the Temple of God, by Paul and Apollo's and the ministers that God has raised up as His laborers.

imo and the opinion of 4 commentaries that I looked to for guidance.

I can agree that at the beginning Paul is speaking of the leaders (all leaders, GK deacons, deaconess) in the church building a firm foundation on Christ and Christ alone and not thinking that the leader they are under is who they serve, but is Christ.

But then he moves on in verse 11, speaking of 'every man' and 'any man' building on this teaching of the foundation being only Christ and His gospel.
Here he is speaking to the body as a whole.

11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13 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.
14If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
17If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
18Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are your's;
22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are your's;
23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.

All of our work as Christians will be judged.

Did I miss it? What specifically is the work Paul is referring to in the passage?

People; Fruit of his labors.

Fruit.

People.

Same.


JLB

 

[Deborah13]

Did I miss it? What specifically is the work Paul is referring to in the passage?

In this case, I will defer to John Wesley, I'm sure you are aware of who he was but for others I will just mention that John Wesley was not a Calvinist, just the opposite. He did not have a TULIP or OSAS doctrine. This quote is from his commentary at biblestudytools.com. I've now looked at 7 commentary and only one thought these verses were speaking only of people as being works and that they only referred to leaders in the body of Christ. The first verses clearly are but from v 11 on this changes. Other scripture as you know also says our works will be judged.

3:13The time is coming when every one's work shall be made manifest: for the day of the Lord, that great and final day, shall declare it - To all the world. For it is revealed - What faith beholds as so certain and so near is spoken of as already present. By fire; yea, the fire shall try every one's work, of what sort it is - The strict process of that day will try every man's doctrines, whether they come up to the scripture standard or not. Here is a plain allusion to the flaming light and consuming heat of the general conflagration. But the expression, when applied to the trying of doctrines, and consuming those that are wrong, is evidently figurative; because no material fire can have such an effect on what is of a moral nature. And therefore it is added, he who builds wood, hay, or stubble, shall be saved as through the fire - Or, as narrowly as a man escapes through the fire, when his house is all in flames about him. .

3:14He 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.3:15He shall suffer loss - The loss of that peculiar degree of glory.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Did I miss it? What specifically is the work Paul is referring to in the passage?

In this case, I will defer to John Wesley, I'm sure you are aware of who he was but for others I will just mention that John Wesley was not a Calvinist, just the opposite. He did not have a TULIP or OSAS doctrine. This quote is from his commentary at biblestudytools.com. I've now looked at 7 commentary and only one thought these verses were speaking only of people as being works and that they only referred to leaders in the body of Christ. The first verses clearly are but from v 11 on this changes. Other scripture as you know also says our works will be judged.

3:13The time is coming when every one's work shall be made manifest: for the day of the Lord, that great and final day, shall declare it - To all the world. For it is revealed - What faith beholds as so certain and so near is spoken of as already present. By fire; yea, the fire shall try every one's work, of what sort it is - The strict process of that day will try every man's doctrines, whether they come up to the scripture standard or not. Here is a plain allusion to the flaming light and consuming heat of the general conflagration. But the expression, when applied to the trying of doctrines, and consuming those that are wrong, is evidently figurative; because no material fire can have such an effect on what is of a moral nature. And therefore it is added, he who builds wood, hay, or stubble, shall be saved as through the fire - Or, as narrowly as a man escapes through the fire, when his house is all in flames about him. .

3:14He 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.3:15He shall suffer loss - The loss of that peculiar degree of glory.

So you say the work that will be tested and may potentially burn up is the construct of beliefs and doctrines we each build on the foundational knowledge of salvation in Christ we start out with. Right?

Just curious, which commentary suggested the work we labor at in this life that either passes through the flames of judgment safely, or not, is the people you labor to bring to faith in Christ?

 

[Jethro Bodine]

The work that is being described is the people that are being built into the Temple of God, by Paul and Apollo's and the ministers that God has raised up as His laborers.

imo and the opinion of 4 commentaries that I looked to for guidance.

I can agree that at the beginning Paul is speaking of the leaders (all leaders, GK deacons, deaconess) in the church building a firm foundation on Christ and Christ alone and not thinking that the leader they are under is who they serve, but is Christ.

But then he moves on in verse 11, speaking of 'every man' and 'any man' building on this teaching of the foundation being only Christ and His gospel.
Here he is speaking to the body as a whole.

11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13 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.
14If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
17If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
18Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are your's;
22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are your's;
23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.

All of our work as Christians will be judged.

Did I miss it? What specifically is the work Paul is referring to in the passage?

People; Fruit of his labors.

Fruit.

People.

Same.


JLB

Feel free to explain/ expound.

 

[Deborah13]

Did I miss it? What specifically is the work Paul is referring to in the passage?

In this case, I will defer to John Wesley, I'm sure you are aware of who he was but for others I will just mention that John Wesley was not a Calvinist, just the opposite. He did not have a TULIP or OSAS doctrine. This quote is from his commentary at biblestudytools.com. I've now looked at 7 commentary and only one thought these verses were speaking only of people as being works and that they only referred to leaders in the body of Christ. The first verses clearly are but from v 11 on this changes. Other scripture as you know also says our works will be judged.

3:13The time is coming when every one's work shall be made manifest: for the day of the Lord, that great and final day, shall declare it - To all the world. For it is revealed - What faith beholds as so certain and so near is spoken of as already present. By fire; yea, the fire shall try every one's work, of what sort it is - The strict process of that day will try every man's doctrines, whether they come up to the scripture standard or not. Here is a plain allusion to the flaming light and consuming heat of the general conflagration. But the expression, when applied to the trying of doctrines, and consuming those that are wrong, is evidently figurative; because no material fire can have such an effect on what is of a moral nature. And therefore it is added, he who builds wood, hay, or stubble, shall be saved as through the fire - Or, as narrowly as a man escapes through the fire, when his house is all in flames about him. .

3:14He 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.3:15He shall suffer loss - The loss of that peculiar degree of glory.

So you say the work that will be tested and may potentially burn up is the construct of beliefs and doctrines we each build on the foundational knowledge of salvation in Christ we start out with. Right?

Just curious, which commentary suggested the work we labor at in this life that either passes through the flames of judgment safely, or not, is the people you labor to bring to faith in Christ?

No commentary said that, John Gills commentary said that this scripture was talking about leaders in the body of Christ. He did not say that it was speaking of people per say. You can read it at biblestudytools.com, as well.

As far as your other question, I don't know what you mean by the doctrine of the foundation of Christ that we started out with.
Can you be a little more clear?

 

[Jethro Bodine]

So you say the work that will be tested and may potentially burn up is the construct of beliefs and doctrines we each build on the foundational knowledge of salvation in Christ we start out with. Right?

Just curious, which commentary suggested the work we labor at in this life that either passes through the flames of judgment safely, or not, is the people you labor to bring to faith in Christ?

No commentary said that, John Gills commentary said that this scripture was talking about leaders in the body of Christ. He did not say that it was speaking of people per say. You can read it at biblestudytools.com, as well.

Okay, I understand now.

I was actually surprised that a commentary suggested the work was the people being labored for, but I see I misunderstood you, now.

As far as your other question, I don't know what you mean by the doctrine of the foundation of Christ that we started out with.
Can you be a little more clear?

We all start out with the basic knowledge of Christ and him crucified when we are saved. That's the fundamental, foundational knowledge we all start out with.

From there we work to add to that basic knowledge of salvation and formulate all kinds of doctrines and beliefs about God and Christ. Which is what I think you were saying is the 'work' that gets tested in the judgment and can either stand the test of God's scrutiny, or not. It doesn't affect our salvation, necessarily, but our approval rating with God. I'm pretty sure this is the accepted, traditional understanding of the passage in the church today. Am I on target with what you say the 'work' that gets tested is in the passage?

 

[Deborah13]

We all start out with the basic knowledge of Christ and him crucified when we are saved. That's the fundamental, foundational knowledge we all start out with.

From there we work to add to that basic knowledge of salvation and formulate all kinds of doctrines and beliefs about God and Christ. Which is what I think you were saying is the 'work' that gets tested in the judgment and can either stand the test of God's scrutiny, or not. It doesn't affect our salvation, necessarily, but our approval rating with God. I'm pretty sure this is the accepted, traditional understanding of the passage in the church today. Am I on target with what you say the 'work' that gets tested is in the passage?

Yes, I think we are on the page. But I think this may include the works that we do based on the knowledge of what Jesus taught. For example...
Jesus says we should help those less fortunate than we are. If we believe this and help others when and where we can, this would be a work that we did that would be from good doctrine, based on a foundation in what we know Jesus said. This work would considered good work that would not be burnt up.

 

[Brother Mike]

Paul said "ANY" man....... That is everyone.

Look up path, race, will, cloud of witness.... so on.................

It has nothing to do with thinking something is good, but it turns out evil. Even things that seem good are scriptural count here.

Mike.

 

[Sparkey]

18Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

There comes a great politician who knows how to bless people for their votes. He says the 'right' things and puts a face on his selfish acts. What is he doing? For the sake of argument let's define his works as building with wood, hay and stubble. Let's say this man comes and wants to show himself as a godly man but misses the mark and does not seek God but instead seeks and relies on his own understanding of how the world works.

Is that a modern example of "works" that we are looking for here? If not, why not?

We can change the profession of the man from politician to 'any man' because God is no respecter of persons.

 

[JLB]

So you say the work that will be tested and may potentially burn up is the construct of beliefs and doctrines we each build on the foundational knowledge of salvation in Christ we start out with. Right?

Just curious, which commentary suggested the work we labor at in this life that either passes through the flames of judgment safely, or not, is the people you labor to bring to faith in Christ?

No commentary said that, John Gills commentary said that this scripture was talking about leaders in the body of Christ. He did not say that it was speaking of people per say. You can read it at biblestudytools.com, as well.

Okay, I understand now.

I was actually surprised that a commentary suggested the work was the people being labored for, but I see I misunderstood you, now.

As far as your other question, I don't know what you mean by the doctrine of the foundation of Christ that we started out with.
Can you be a little more clear?

We all start out with the basic knowledge of Christ and him crucified when we are saved. That's the fundamental, foundational knowledge we all start out with.

From there we work to add to that basic knowledge of salvation and formulate all kinds of doctrines and beliefs about God and Christ. Which is what I think you were saying is the 'work' that gets tested in the judgment and can either stand the test of God's scrutiny, or not. It doesn't affect our salvation, necessarily, but our approval rating with God. I'm pretty sure this is the accepted, traditional understanding of the passage in the church today. Am I on target with what you say the 'work' that gets tested is in the passage?

Knowledge is not necessarily what makes a person spiritually mature, it is the amount of Christ that is formed in a person and his or her ability to discern good from evil, as well as sound doctrine, but more importantly the amount of agape love that is formed and being manifested through us.

Paul was a man that knew scripture better that anyone alive and was steady killing Christians, until his road to Damascus experience.

Some scriptures to consider -

19 My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you, Galatians 4:19

and again -

11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ-- 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. Ephesians 4:11-16

Hebrews says it this way -


14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Hebrews 5:14 NKJV

14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. Hebrews 5:15 NAS


12 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. John 14:12


16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. John 15:16

Fruit here is people that have been saved and discipled and have the ability to reproduce Christ in others.


JLB

 

[Deborah13]

Fruit here is people that have been saved and discipled and have the ability to reproduce Christ in others.

Good post, JLB.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

...a great politician who knows how to bless people for their votes. He says the 'right' things and puts a face on his selfish acts. What is he doing? For the sake of argument let's define his works as building with wood, hay and stubble.

Let's say this man comes and wants to show himself as a godly man but misses the mark and does not seek God but instead seeks and relies on his own understanding of how the world works.

Is that a modern example of "works" that we are looking for here? If not, why not?

Well, it sounds like you're gravitating toward the traditional understanding of 'work' in the passage. That work being the person's effort at doing work for God, and not the result of the person's effort of work. See the difference?

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Paul said "ANY" man....... That is everyone.

I agree.

Any man is anybody, any person, everyone, who labors in service to God in "God’s field, God’s building" (1 Corinthians 3:9 NIV)

It has nothing to do with thinking something is good, but it turns out evil. Even things that seem good are scriptural count here.

Mike.

I think it has lots to do with whether something is good, or evil.

Some of our work in the fields and building of God may get burned up in the end. We will find that out at the Judgment when everyone is tested and is either burned up in the fires of judgment because they are (in regard to the analogy of the building) built out of the temporal and perishable (wood, hay, stubble) that can't survive the Judgment, the testing of fire; or survives the flames of judgment because they are made of that which is eternal and imperishable (gold, silver, costly stones) and can pass through the judgment safely.

Some of our work will pass through and survive, others will not. But as Paul says, the laborer of the Gospel in the fields and building of God, himself, will pass through, but only barely if the work he has labored for does not pass through the flames with him.

Is Paul talking about the effort of his work being perishable, or imperishable--harvested, or cast away? Or the results of his work in God's fields and buildings being perishable, or imperishable? He himself is imperishable. His reward is based on whether or not his work survives the fire, or not. Does this mean the effort of his work, or the results of his work?

 

[Jethro Bodine]

16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. John 15:16

Fruit here is people that have been saved and discipled and have the ability to reproduce Christ in others.


JLB

Are you sure?

In Jesus' teaching, the fruitless person perishes because they have no fruit. In Paul's teaching the person with fruitless (unproductive) works does not perish even though they have no fruit to show for their labor.

Jesus must be talking about a person's personal increase in the knowledge of the kingdom--the fruit of the Spirit. While Paul must be talking about reproducing (as in a woman's labor as you point out) Christ in others, making them a part of the building and household of Christ which will either survive, or not survive the flames of the Judgment to come. The laborer himself passes through.