1 Corinthians 3:15 Meaning and Explanation
“If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →If someone's work is burned up, they lose that work, yet are themselves saved, as one rescued through the flames.
What Does 1 Corinthians 3:15 Mean?
Paul gives the other outcome. If a builder's work is burned, he suffers loss, watching what he raised go up in smoke. Yet he himself shall be saved, though only so as by fire, like a man escaping a burning house.
The verse holds two truths together with great tenderness. Wasted labor is a genuine loss and a warning not to build carelessly. Even so, the one whose foundation is Christ is not himself destroyed. Grace rescues the builder even when his work cannot be salvaged.
1 Corinthians 3:15 in the Original Language
zemioo (ζημιόω), 'suffer loss' -- to forfeit or be deprived of something one possessed.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 3:15
What does 1 Corinthians 3:15 mean?
If someone's work is burned up, they lose that work, yet are themselves saved, as one rescued through the flames.