What is the 'work' that may or may not get burned up in 1 Corinthians 3:8-16?

[Jethro Bodine]

"...each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.

10According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. 11For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. 14If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

16Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are." (1 Corinthians 3:8-16 NASB)

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.

What is God's building that God's fellow workers work on?
What is it's foundation?
Who laid it there in Corinth?
Who is building on it?
What is the fire that will test the quality of each man's work on the building, and what is the 'day' that reveals the outcome of the testing by fire?

 

[Jim Parker]

How about: Mat 6:19-21 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Eph 2:10 says "...we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (RSV)

What are those "good works"?

Mat 25:35-26 (RSV) I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.

Works designed to make my life more pleasant will be "burned up." There will be no reward for them.
Works of mercy in imitation of God who is merciful will survive. There will be rewards or "treasure in heaven" for them.

And that's how I see it.

iakov the fool

 

[JohnDB]

Personally I tend to think about a person's legacy when I read these verses.

I read stories about guys like Gideon who himself had a great story...but his kids had a lousy legacy.

And don't forget the lesson from Genesis that sin begets more sin.

What kind of influence have I been in my corner of the world?
I know that at times I have been a positive influence. I've seen positive results from a timely word or others watching my life choices make positive ones in their own lives.
But also that at times I've shown others that leading me into temptation is a waste because I know all the shortcuts.

I see my son... And it's a mixed bag. Mostly good things but I worry constantly about his own personal relationship with Jesus. Not that he is walking away from him...but just that I want the very best for him.

I also remember Pat. She was one of my Thursdays Child Bible study members. On her death bed she was preaching to the pastor who was supposed to be comforting her. And telling him some of the very things that we had studied together. She was anxious to get there...all packed and ready to go. Not a care in the world. (She is supposed to put in a good word for me cause I'm going to need some help)

I definitely want to be rich when I get there...cause I've been poor here my whole life. But what does rich look like in Heaven? Gold ain't fit for anything except Street paving...and they use expensive gems to make retaining walls...I mean really... What is the medium of exchange?

Sooo
I ponder these things sometimes. What will my legacy be? Will I ever get remembered past a single generation? Probably not.
Will my sin add to the pot longer than a generation? I pray it doesn't.
Will my good actions last longer than a few months?
Dunno.

Will Jesus see that good stuff or intentions and give me credit for them?
I hope so.
I shall see when I get there.

 

[JLB]

"...each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.

10According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. 11For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. 14If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

16Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are." (1 Corinthians 3:8-16 NASB)

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.

What is God's building that God's fellow workers work on?
What is it's foundation?
Who laid it there in Corinth?
Who is building on it?
What is the fire that will test the quality of each man's work on the building, and what is the 'day' that reveals the outcome of the testing by fire?

The work is people.


JLB

 

[chessman]

What is the 'work' that may or may not get burned up in 1 Corinthians 3:8-16?
Good question.

The work is people.
JLB

An un-substaintiated answer (and I believe a clearly wrong answer).

JLB 's reason(s) for thinking the work is people would be what, exactly? _______?

The Pauline based reasons why it's not people (but rather the doctrines/teachings people were building upon Paul foundational Gospel teaching are abundant from the Text itself. There's no way to post them all in one post. But here's a few:

1. Paul literaly excludes the possiblity of it being the people working. Paul says it's the man's work (each man's individual 'work' v13, even his own work v4:5), that's being tested on The Day. It is the man's 'work' that's burned up, not the man himself (clearly). Yet he's the one suffering lose or gaining reward on an individual by individual basis. Each man can gain reward (v14) or loose it based on what he does, NOT what somebody else does:

1 Corinthians 3:13, 15 (LEB) the work of each one will become evident. For the day will reveal it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the work of each one, of what sort it is.

If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, but so as through fire.​

Obviously, the man himself is saved. But, yes The Work of each man is being tested and can either be burned up or not. So, what's Paul's example 'work'? What did Paul do there in Corinth? His people or his doctrine?

1 Corinthians 3:10-11 (LEB) According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. ... For no one is able to lay another foundation than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. ​

Paul's 'work' was to lay the foundation, which is Jesus Christ (the person on your view, the foundational Gospel message on my view). So your unsupported idea would mean Jesus (the person=Paul's work) will be tested by fire on The Day. And Jesus is either burned up or not. Quite wierd, really. But on my view it's The basic Gospel message/doctrine that Christ's (Messiah) Gospel teaching was what was laid there that gets 'tested' on The Day (not Jesus). See Paul's opening remarks:

1 Corinthians 1:10, 17-18, 23 (LEB) Now I exhort you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all say the same thing and there not be divisions among you, and that you be made complete in the same mind and with the same purpose. For Christ did not send me to baptize (Apollos was the main one baptizing), but to proclaim the gospel, not with clever speech, lest the cross of Christ be emptied. For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a cause for stumbling, but to the Gentiles foolishness,​

My point is Paul's building a case for/against things people say. Whether they are built on Christ and His cross being our salvation or not.

1 Corinthians 4:4-6 (LEB) For I am conscious of nothing against myself, but not by this am I vindicated. But the one who judges me is the Lord. Therefore do not judge anything before the time, until the Lord should come, who will both enlighten the hidden things of darkness and will reveal the counsels of hearts, (get it? The Lord will reveal right/wrong counsels, not people) and then praise will come to each one from God. Now I have applied these things, brothers, to myself and Apollos (both Paul's and Apollos' teachings will be revealed and tested by Jesus) for your sake, in order that in us you may learn not to go beyond what is written, (see? He's talking about people going beyond his teachings). lest someone be inflated with pride on behalf of one person against the other.​

Absurd, really to think that it's people Paul says get burned up here. Not to mention that Jesus is the one doing the testing by fire of Paul's work. Notice, I'm not making this conclusion up out of nowhere. Paul tells us directly and in no-uncertain terms that the person of his work was Jesus (if your view is correct) yet that means it's Jesus being tested yet doing the testing. Wierd, if correct.

On the otherhand, what if 'the work' of each man isn't really people as you claim (with no support I note) but rather man's prideful (and often wrong) doctrine/teachings that get tested? My view makes perfect sense of the Text. Here in Chapter 3 and throughout the book really.

2.

1 Corinthians 2:1-2 (LEB) And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I decided not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. ​

Here again, Paul's talking about what he said (his foundational teachings). His proclaiming (doctrine) was his work.

3.

1 Corinthians 2:3-5 (LEB) And I came to you in weakness and in fear and with much trembling, and my speech and my preaching were not with the persuasiveness of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and power, in order that your faith would not be in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. ​

Once again, he's talking about his preaching and comparing it to that of the wisdom (or lack thereof) of mere men.

4. Then he comes back to point out to them that what he taught was Foundational. Baby's milk. Yet they were building teachings on that Foundation that were causing divisions and deserve to be tested. And will be, I might add! Some get burnt up, some rewarded. But it was their (and our) teachings and doctrines that were (are) the problem.

1 Corinthians 3:1-3 (LEB) And I, brothers, was not able to speak to you as to spiritual people, but as to fleshly people, as to infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food, for you were not yet able to eat it. But now you are still not able, for you are still fleshly. For where there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and do you not live like unregenerate people? ​

 

[JLB]

What is the 'work' that may or may not get burned up in 1 Corinthians 3:8-16?
Good question.

An un-substaintiated answer (and I believe a clearly wrong answer).

JLB 's reason(s) for thinking the work is people would be what, exactly? _______?

The Pauline based reasons why it's not people (but rather the doctrines/teaches people were building upon Paul foundational Gospel teaching are abundant from the Text itself. There's no way to post them all in one post. But here's a few:

1. Paul literaly excludes the possiblity of it being the people working. Paul says it's the man's work (each man's individual 'work' v13, even his own work v4:5), that's being tested on The Day. It is the man's 'work' that's burned up, not the man himself (clearly). Yet he's the one suffering lose or gaining reward on an individual by individual basis. Each man can gain reward (v14) or loose it based on what he does, NOT what somebody else does:

1 Corinthians 3:13, 15 (LEB) the work of each one will become evident. For the day will reveal it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the work of each one, of what sort it is.

If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, but so as through fire.​

Obviously, the man himself is saved. But, yes The Work of each man is being tested and can either be burned up or not. So, what's Paul's example 'work'? What did Paul do there in Corinth? His people or his doctrine?

1 Corinthians 3:10-11 (LEB) According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. ... For no one is able to lay another foundation than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. ​

Paul's 'work' was to lay the foundation, which is Jesus Christ (the person on your view, the foundational Gospel message on my view). So your unsupported idea would mean Jesus (the person=Paul's work) will be tested by fire on The Day. And Jesus is either burned up or not. Quite wierd, really. But on my view it's The basic Gospel message/doctrine that Christ's (Messiah) Gospel teaching was what was laid there that gets 'tested' on The Day (not Jesus). See Paul's opening remarks:

1 Corinthians 1:10, 17-18, 23 (LEB) Now I exhort you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all say the same thing and there not be divisions among you, and that you be made complete in the same mind and with the same purpose. For Christ did not send me to baptize (Apollos was the main one baptizing), but to proclaim the gospel, not with clever speech, lest the cross of Christ be emptied. For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a cause for stumbling, but to the Gentiles foolishness,​

My point is Paul's building a case for/against things people say. Whether they are built on Christ and His cross being our salvation or not.

1 Corinthians 4:4-6 (LEB) For I am conscious of nothing against myself, but not by this am I vindicated. But the one who judges me is the Lord. Therefore do not judge anything before the time, until the Lord should come, who will both enlighten the hidden things of darkness and will reveal the counsels of hearts, (get it? The Lord will reveal right/wrong counsels, not people) and then praise will come to each one from God. Now I have applied these things, brothers, to myself and Apollos (both Paul's and Apollos' teachings will be revealed and tested by Jesus) for your sake, in order that in us you may learn not to go beyond what is written, (see? He's talking about people going beyond his teachings). lest someone be inflated with pride on behalf of one person against the other.​

Absurd, really to think that it's people Paul says get burned up here. Not to mention that Jesus is the one doing the testing by fire of Paul's work. Notice, I'm not making this conclusion up out of nowhere. Paul tells us directly and in no-uncertain terms that the person of his work was Jesus (if your view is correct) yet that means it's Jesus being tested yet doing the testing. Wierd, if correct.

On the otherhand, what if 'the work' of each man isn't really people as you claim (with no support I note) but rather man's prideful (and often wrong) doctrine/teachings that get tested? My view makes perfect sense of the Text. Here in Chapter 3 and throughout the book really.

2.

1 Corinthians 2:1-2 (LEB) And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I decided not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. ​

Here again, Paul's talking about what he said (his foundational teachings). His proclaiming (doctrine) was his work.

3.

1 Corinthians 2:3-5 (LEB) And I came to you in weakness and in fear and with much trembling, and my speech and my preaching were not with the persuasiveness of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and power, in order that your faith would not be in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. ​

Once again, he's talking about his preaching and comparing it to that of the wisdom (or lack thereof) of mere men.

4. Then he comes back to point out to them that what he taught was Foundational. Baby's milk. Yet they were building teachings on that Foundation that were causing divisions and deserve to be tested. And will be, I might add! Some get burnt up, some rewarded. But it was their (and our) teachings and doctrines that were (are) the problem.

1 Corinthians 3:1-3 (LEB) And I, brothers, was not able to speak to you as to spiritual people, but as to fleshly people, as to infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food, for you were not yet able to eat it. But now you are still not able, for you are still fleshly. For where there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and do you not live like unregenerate people? ​

Paul describes the work he is working on, and establishes a context as to what the work is.

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.

16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. 1 Corinthians 3:9-17

The workers are people.
The work is people.
The people are God's building, His Temple.


JLB

 

[chessman]

The workers are people.

Yep in addition to God. That's what Paul says:

1 Corinthians 3:9a (LEB) For we are God’s fellow workers; ...​

He even includes himself, Apollos and God as workers there. But that's not the OP's question.

The people are God's building, His Temple.

Yep. That's what Paul says.

1 Corinthians 3:9b (LEB); you are God’s field, God’s building.​

But again, that's not the question of the OP.

The work is people.

Nope, that's just what you think. Your verse that says this please? _______?

The work Paul did there was to preach (to plant) the Gospel message of Jesus Christ there. I'm going with what Paul says, not what you say with no evidence. To "plant" the Gospel is not a person but it is work. Hard work sometimes.

The work of Apollos was to water (Baptize) and also preach, teach and instruct there. See Acts 18:24-28 To "water" is not a person. But to instruct, teach, baptize and preach is work.

1 Corinthians 3:6a I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing it to grow.​

 

[JLB]

The work Paul did there was to preach (to plant) the Gospel message of Jesus Christ there. I'm going with what Paul says, not what you say with no evidence. To "plant" the Gospel is not a person but it is work. Hard work sometimes.

The work of Apollos was to water (Baptize) and also preach, teach and instruct there. See Acts 18:24-28 To "water" is not a person. But to instruct, teach, baptize and preach is work.

1 Corinthians 3:6a I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing it to grow.

There is the workers: Paul, and Apollos

There is what the workers built with: 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.

Then there is the work [project] itself: The building; God's Temple. People


The fire test's the Building, the Temple, The Work [project] itself, which is constructed with what the workers build with.

That is why Paul said this to Timothy.


Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. 1 Timothy 4:16


JLB

 

[MarkT]

"...each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.

10According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. 11For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. 14If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

16Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are." (1 Corinthians 3:8-16 NASB)

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.

What is God's building that God's fellow workers work on?
What is it's foundation?
Who laid it there in Corinth?
Who is building on it?
What is the fire that will test the quality of each man's work on the building, and what is the 'day' that reveals the outcome of the testing by fire?

God's building is Jesus Christ, and we are in Him. Also he is in us. So we are God's building. Paul laid the foundation, Jesus Christ and him crucified, and he left it to others to build on that foundation with spiritual truths taught by the Spirit. These truths are like silver and gold and precious jewels. The Spirit is the refiner. He refines our understanding of God like a refiner refines silver. The man who gets understanding, gets knowledge, and wisdom enters his heart. If a man builds on the foundation with wisdom (Christ is our wisdom 1 Cor. 1:30), knowledge and understanding, he will receive a reward.

Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gets understanding, for the gain from it is better than gain from silver and its profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels; and nothing you desire can compare with her. Pr.3:13-15

Each man is responsible for his own work, what he believes (believing is work), and what he builds on the foundation. If he builds with gold and silver and precious jewels, he will receive a reward. If he builds with wood and hay and stubble, he will suffer loss. His house will be destroyed by fire when the Lord returns.

So it is important that the spiritual truths we hold, and which we impart, be silver and gold and precious jewels. And stay away from false prophets and evil doers who are destroyed by fire because they are wood and hay and stubble.

Jeremiah 5:14
Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of hosts: “Because they have spoken this word, behold, I am making my words in your mouth a fire, and this people wood, and the fire shall devour them.

Malachi 4:1
“For behold, the day comes, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.

 

[Jim Parker]

God's building is Jesus Christ

I don't think so.
I think WE are God's building based on:
Eph 2:19-22 (RSV) So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

 

[JLB]

What is God's building that God's fellow workers work on?

The Temple of God.

What is it's foundation?

The foundation is Christ.

Who laid it there in Corinth?

Paul the worker and master builder.

Who is building on it?

Apollos.

What is the fire that will test the quality of each man's work on the building, and what is the 'day' that reveals the outcome of the testing by fire?

The fire of God. The Day of the Lord.

...beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked;


7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day isas a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
10 But 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.11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.

17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen. 2 Peter 3:7-17

 

[Douglas Summers]

What is God's building that God's fellow workers work on?
What is it's foundation?
Who laid it there in Corinth?
Who is building on it?
What is the fire that will test the quality of each man's work on the building, and what is the 'day' that reveals the outcome of the testing by fire?

The foundation is Christ, and when Paul says he laid the foundation, he preached Christ crucified alone, not mixed with works. And now that Christ crucified has been revealed, the believer foundation is secure in Christ the Savior, and he grows upon that Truth by faith, for there is no other name by which a man can be saved. But the man who believes Christ as the Savior, but adds works and self will to increase his favor with God, while he claims Christ as savior, will be weak in faith and insecure when tribulation comes. But the man who trust in Christ alone, his faith will be strong and will prevail against his adversaries. And in that day he stands before the Lord to give an account of himself, he will be ashamed before the Lord, while the man who trusted the Lord in all things will receive,"well done my faithful son. But God's grace covers both believers, weather he be weak or strong, he is the Lord's.(1 Cor. 3:14-15) (Psalms 103).

 

[Sinthesis]

Anything done for the wrong reasons won't last, or at least won't be accredited to your account. For example, Christians using the bible to defend slavery, or segregation, will see their efforts were for nought.

If work is people, then what is Soylent Green?

 

[OzSpen]

"...each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.

10According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. 11For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. 14If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

16Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are." (1 Corinthians 3:8-16 NASB)

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.

What is God's building that God's fellow workers work on?
What is it's foundation?
Who laid it there in Corinth?
Who is building on it?
What is the fire that will test the quality of each man's work on the building, and what is the 'day' that reveals the outcome of the testing by fire?

Jethro,

Matthew 25:31-46 (ESV) makes this very clear, based on the believers' actions that will last when they come to the last judgment:

Matthew 25:31-46 English Standard Version
The Final Judgement
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers,a]">[a] you did it to me.’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

It seems that other things will pale into insignificance.

Oz

 

[OzSpen]

I don't think so.
I think WE are God's building based on:
Eph 2:19-22 (RSV) So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Well said, Jim.

How is your building doing? What are the challenges to keep you on the straight and narrow?

Oz

 

[Malachi]

What is the fire that will test the quality of each man's work on the building, and what is the 'day' that reveals the outcome of the testing by fire?

The fire is metaphorical and may speak of Christ's eyes as a flaming fire which penetrate to the heart and soul of every deed done by the Christian in his earthly life. But it is only *wood*, *hay*, and *stubble* which will be burned up. Whatever is done for self-gratification, and for the lusts of the flesh, the eyes, and the pride of life will be burned up.

Whatever is done for Christ and for others with the right motive will be *gold*, *silver*, and *precious stones*, which will come through unscathed by the fire of Christ's judgment. The *Day* is the day of judgment for Christians at the Judgment Seat of Christ in Heaven.

 

[JLB]

Anything done for the wrong reasons won't last, or at least won't be accredited to your account. For example, Christians using the bible to defend slavery, or segregation, will see their efforts were for nought.

If work is people, then what is Soylent Green?

Soylent Green is food.
Soylent Green is people, who are food.
Soylent Green is food made from people, by people, for people.

People work to make Soylent Green out of people, for people.
The work is the people, and the work is for people.
The work is food.




JLB

 

[Jethro Bodine]

God's building is Jesus Christ, and we are in Him. Also he is in us. So we are God's building. Paul laid the foundation, Jesus Christ and him crucified, and he left it to others to build on that foundation with spiritual truths taught by the Spirit. These truths are like silver and gold and precious jewels.

How about those who are added to the foundation of God's building (Jesus Christ) being the 'silver and gold and precious jewels', and the 'spiritual truths taught by the Spirit' being the tools the other workers used to place them there? Wouldn't that be consistent with scripture?

"19So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, 20having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone,21in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit." (Ephesians 2:19-22 NASB italics in original, bold)

"4And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, 5you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:4-5 NASB bold mine)

"the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, 11having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper." (Revelation 20:10-11 NASB bold mine)

The precious materials built onto the foundation of Christ and the Apostles and Prophets, able to withstand fire (unlike hay, wood, and stubble), are believers.

Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. 1 Timothy 4:16

Excellent parallel verse. I will add this to my learning.

Jeremiah 5:14
Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of hosts: “Because they have spoken this word, behold, I am making my words in your mouth a fire, and this people wood, and the fire shall devour them.

Malachi 4:1
“For behold, the day comes, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.

And may I add this:

" 11“You have conceived chaff, you will give birth to stubble;
My breath will consume you like a fire.

12“The peoples will be burned to lime,
Like cut thorns which are burned in the fire."
(Isaiah 33:11-12 NASB)

It's clear that those in the kingdom who are false, being only made up of hay, wood, and stubble, will be burned away in the Judgment because they are made of that which will not be able to withstand the coming fires of Judgment when the kingdom is purged of everything false and perishable.

We as workers in the building of God should be careful how we build so that who we build onto the household of God are real and will be able to withstand the coming Judgment and not be purged away by fire. If we do that they will be our reward in heaven over whom we will rejoice, and they over us: "we are your reason to be proud as you also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus.(2 Corinthians 1:14 NASB).

But if who we minister to doesn't make it through the fire at the end, who will be there for us to exult in? "19For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? 20For you are our glory and joy." (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 NASB)

So, let's be careful how we build folks, so we won't lose our reward at the Judgment. We ourselves will be saved, but we will have nothing to show for our labor in the kingdom and will have run our race in vain because they did not make it: "14Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, 16holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain." (Philippians 2:14-16 NASB).

 

[JLB]

It's clear that those in the kingdom who are false are really only made up of hay, wood, and stubble,

This is absolutely true.

Please consider also, that those who began as true, having their foundation in Christ, but became false over time through heretical teaching, in which they embraced and and walked in as well as taught to others.

James says it this way -

19 Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. James 5:19-20


Here we have a brother among those in the Church, who turns from the truth and is likened again as a sinner, in need of saving from death.

I believe this is consistent with what Paul taught Timothy...Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. 1 Timothy 4:16



JLB

 

[chessman]

(1 Corinthians 3:8-16 NASB)
…
What is God's building that God's fellow workers work on?
What is it's foundation?
Who laid it there in Corinth?
Who is building on it?
What is the fire that will test the quality of each man's work on the building, and what is the 'day' that reveals the outcome of the testing by fire?

What is God's building that God's fellow workers work on?

A church full of Christians (some presently more founded upon Christ's blood than others are who still cling to their own blood sacrifices versus His)

1 Cor 3:9 9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.​

Whom God keeps in His hand till the end, BTW

1:8 who will also confirm you until the end​

What is its foundation?

The fundamental/foundational Gospel doctrine that is the testimony that Jesus is Christ (The man Jesus is The Messiah) that Paul preached to them of first importance (1 Cor 1:6 … Cor 15:3). Laying that foundational doctrine down, Paul expected them to have grown up more than they had (1 Cor 3:1-3a). “The Foundation” is clearly taught by Paul as the basic doctrine that saved them in the first place (1 Cor 2:2, 1 Cor 15:2). Paul was not yet (upon his first visit) able to go into the deeper doctrines presented in this letter at the time he first visited them (1 Cor 3:1-3). But boy, does he go deep throughout Chapters 5-14. They (the Christians there) were just babes in the Lord (3:1), then. And evidently some hadn’t matured much sense then either. But some had (Apollos for example).​

Who laid it there in Corinth?

Paul and the Holy Spirit.

1 Cor 2:3-5 (LEB) And I came to you in weakness and in fear and with much trembling, 4 and my speech and my preaching were not with the persuasiveness of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and power, 5 in order that your faith would not be in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.​

Who is building on it?

The Christians in Corinth like Paul, Apollos, etc. and the Holy Spirit of God (3:6, 3:9). Let’s not forget about God being a co-worker there. i.e. to use a modern term; ‘The First Baptist Church of Corinth’. Not sure if they had a website though I’m sure they had very strife filled monthly business meetings (3:3). This church evidently had members at various stages of spiritual maturity (or lack thereof). Ranging from infants in the Lord (3:1) to the very spiritually mature and wise (2:6, 2:15). And yes, even some that were teaching wrong doctrines (???) and living like unregenerate non-Christians (3:3) The church includes some members that quarrel (3:3) and divide over various doctrines (some true, some not true).​

3:6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing it to grow.
3:9 For we are God’s fellow workers
2:12-13 we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, in order that we may know the things freely given to us by God, 13 things which we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit
2:6 Now we do speak wisdom among the mature…
3:1 And I, brothers, was not able to speak to you as to spiritual people, but as to fleshly people, as to infants in Christ.
3:3 and do you not live like unregenerate people?
3:3 For where there is jealousy and strife among you​

What is the fire that will test the quality of each man's work on the building?

Jesus’ judgment of all Christians (including Paul) metaphorically described (as though) through fire.​

1 Cor 3:15 (LEB) If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, but so as through fire.​

What is the 'day' that reveals the outcome of the testing by fire?

The day that Jesus returns and Judges all men (Christian or not).​

1:7-8 (LEB) as you eagerly await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will also confirm you until the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.​

"who will also confirm you until the end," But hay, that just applies to those Corinthians, not everybody else, I guess???