“Every Man’s Work Shall Be Made Manifest”
Categories: Bible Study LessonsA querist asks, “Could someone please explain to me what I Corinthians 3:10-15 means, especially vss. 14,15?”
In 1 Corinthians 3:1-15, Paul is discussing the work of the Lord at Corinth which he and Apollos shared (1 Corinthians 3:4-5). Paul goes on to say in 1 Corinthians 3:5 – “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos; but ministers by whom ye believed….” These men were the instruments by which the saving gospel had been preached to those at Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:2).
1 Corinthians 3:10 – “…. I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon” – The church is spoken of as a spiritual building, having a “foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone” (Ephesians 2:20). The saints (called “stones”; i.e. “gold, silver, precious stones” – 1 Corinthians 3:12), being a part of that building (Ephesians 2:19,21,22; 1 Peter 2:5). Paul (one of the apostles – 1 Corinthians 15:8-9) refers to himself as “a wise masterbuilder” who had “laid the foundation” which was Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11;; cf. Matthew 16:16-18). Paul exhorts the Corinthian brethren to heed how they build upon that foundation (by not allowing the teaching of false doctrine).
1 Corinthians 3:11 – “For no other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” – Devout attention must be given to sound doctrine (1 Timothy 6:3; 2 Timothy 1:13; Titus 1:9). Paul had laid the foundation of sound doctrine when he preached in Corinth that Jesus was the Christ (Acts 18:1-5).
1 Corinthians 3:12 – “Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble” – These items represent those who are faithful to the Lord’s church and those who are not faithful (cf. 2 Timothy 2:20-21).
1 Corinthians 3:13 – “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” – The “work” that Paul talks about are those individuals in Corinth to whom he taught the gospel (1 Corinthians 9:1; cf. 1 Corinthians 4:15). Some of those individuals who were converted by the teaching of that sound doctrine (the gospel) would remain faithful (i.e., “gold, silver, precious stones”), while others would not remain faithful (i.e., “wood, hay, stubble” – 1 Corinthians 3:12). The refining “fire” (testing agent) of trials, persecutions and tribulations would reveal their faithfulness or unfaithfulness (1 Corinthians 3:13; cf. Job 23:10; Proverbs 17:3; 1 Peter 1:6-7).
1 Corinthians 3:14 – “If any man’s work abide” – The teacher of those who remain faithful, “shall receive a reward.” The reward being the knowledge of knowing that he was instrumental in their admittance into that “everlasting kingdom” (2 Peter 1:11; cf. 1 Thessalonians 2:19).
1 Corinthians 3:15 – “If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire” – The teacher of unfaithful individuals will suffer personal loss but the teacher’s personal salvation will not be jeopardized. So far as the apostate is concerned, the teacher’s labor will have been in vain. Paul provides a preview of such anxiety when he bluntly tells the Galatian saints, “I fear for you, that I may have labored over you in vain” (Gal. 4:11 – NASV). Jesus felt some personal sense of “loss” when Judas defected and ended up in perdition (John 17:12; cf. Luke 6:16; John 6:70).
Two important truths clearly stand out from a consideration of this section of Scripture:
1) One’s converts through the teaching of God’s word may defect from the faith and be lost (1 Corinthians 3:15a).
2) In the event that such occurs, though the teacher may experience the loss of his apostate disciple, yet he himself will not be held responsible for the defection. He will be saved if he personally passes the “fire” test (1 Corinthians 3:15b).