Ed and Patsy now live in Athens, Alabama and are members at the Pepper Road church. As administrator of this blog, he enjoys sharing thoughts about spiritual maters. Not only his thoughts but good articles from other authors. He is also thankful to have been able to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ for over sixty years.
“If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” (1 Corinthians 3:15).
This verse is sometimes taken out of context to support the “once saved always saved” doctrine. As one commentary puts it:
“If any man’s work shall be burned. If it shall not be found to bear the test of the investigation of that day–as a cottage of wood, hay, and stubble would not bear the application of fire. If his doctrines have not been true; if he has had mistaken views of piety; if he has nourished feelings which he thought were those of religion, and inculcated practices which, however well meant, are not such as the gospel produces; if he has fallen into error of opinion, feeling, practice, however conscientious, yet he shall suffer loss … But he himself shall be saved. The apostle all along has supposed that the true foundation was laid, (1Co 3:11;) and if that is laid, and the edifice is reared upon that, the person who does it shall be safe. There may be much error, and many false views of religion, and much imperfection; still the man that is building on the true foundation shall be safe. His errors and imperfections shall be removed, and he may occupy a lower place in heaven, but he shall be safe.” (Albert Barnes’ NT Commentary, excerpts from comments on 1 Cor. 3:15).
In other words, according Barnes, while a Christian’s sinful works will be burned away at judgment, the Christian himself will be saved but just with lesser rewards than one who has taught and practiced the truth. This is a perversion of this verse.
Having noticed what it is not saying, let’s consider what it is saying in context.
In this section, Paul deals with the immaturity and carnal mindedness of some in the church at Corinth. They had an inordinate loyalty to men who had taught them (“I am of Paul; … I am of Apollos”) rather than to Christ who had been crucified for them and in whose name, they had been baptized. (1:13). This was causing division and strife among them.
In 3:4ff, Paul reminds them that he and Apollos were only men – servants of God by whom they had believed. He uses two analogies for their work at Corinth – making a crop and building a building. In verse 9, he declares that he and Apollos were laborers together in their efforts and that the Corinthians were God’s field or God’s building.
Using the building analogy, he declares himself to be a wise master builder who had laid the foundation at Corinth, with others building upon that foundation. (v. 10). They were placing various building materials upon the foundation. So, the “work” of these builders were the disciples they were bringing into the building – the church. He then warns those who are doing the work of building thereon (making disciples) to take heed how they did it. Then he lists six possible building materials available for their use – gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, and straw – three imperishable and three perishable. These materials represent the people being added to the building, the local church. It should always be the goal of God’s workers to bring into the church those who are genuinely converted – those that will survive fiery trials. The builders should make every effort to see that the material is imperishable – gold, silver, and precious stones. This requires careful work. It involves more than just adding to the head-count as quickly as one can get people baptized – ready or not. It involves ample teaching to produce a reasoned response rather rushing them into the water by emotional manipulation. Christian workers are to “make disciples.” Making disciples involves more than just persuading people to be baptized, it also involves teaching them to obey all things commanded. (Matt. 28:18-20). To be a true disciple one must FIRST “count the cost.” (Luke 14:27-28). They will not initially know all things commanded, but they will be committed to obeying all things commanded as they learn them. They will arise from baptism not only rejoicing in their salvation, but also with a sense of commitment to obey the Lord in everything – understanding there will be a cost to pay.
However, being as careful as he can to lay on the foundation lasting materials, a builder (one making disciples) of the Lord’s building will, through no fault of his own, bring in some materials that prove to be perishable (wood, hay and straw). When the trials of fire, that God’s people must endure, arise these people will be burned off but the faithful builder himself will be saved. He will suffer loss when the person he has carefully built into the building apostatizes, but he himself will be saved.
So, taken in context, our verse means:
“If any man’s work [disciples made] shall be burned [fall away], he [disciples maker] shall suffer loss: but he himself [disciples maker] shall be saved; yet so as by fire [disciples maker will himself face the same fire].” (My comments in brackets – eb).