Bible Strands
1 Corinthians 3:15
If it is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as if through the flames.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul writes to the Corinthian church to evaluate how ministers construct upon Christ’s foundation. He addresses the moment of future judgment when each person’s service will be tested.
The words — κατακαήσεται (katakaēsetai) translates “will be burned up,” and ζημιωθήσεται (zēmiōthēsetai) translates “he will suffer loss.” These verbs describe the destruction of inferior building materials and the consequent forfeiture of reward.
The thread — The testing of service appears in 1 Corinthians 3:12 and 1 Corinthians 3:14, while the warning against losing reward runs through 2 John 1:8. Jude 1:23 similarly employs fire imagery to describe rescuing others from judgment.
Why it lands — The text states that a builder’s work will be consumed if it lacks enduring quality, resulting in loss though the person remains saved. It requires readers to prioritize lasting obedience over temporary achievement.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Cross-references
- 2 John 1:8 Watch yourselves, so that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be fully rewarded.
- 1 Corinthians 3:12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw,
- Jude 1:23 save others by snatching them from the fire; and to still others show mercy tempered with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh.
- Revelation 3:18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, white garments so that you may be clothed and your shameful nakedness not exposed, and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.
- 1 Peter 4:18 And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”
- Zechariah 3:2 And the LORD said to Satan: “The LORD rebukes you, Satan! Indeed, the LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you! Is not this man a firebrand snatched from the fire?”
- Amos 4:11 “Some of you I overthrew as I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and you were like a firebrand snatched from a blaze, yet you did not return to Me,” declares the LORD.
- Psalms 66:12 You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but You brought us into abundance.
- Acts 27:21 After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have followed my advice not to sail from Crete. Then you would have averted this disaster and loss.
- Acts 27:44 The rest were to follow on planks and various parts of the ship. In this way everyone was brought safely to land.