1 COR 3:13 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) then their work will become obvious because it will be revealed on the day of judgement because it will be shown up by fire. The fire will expose what sort of building their work created:

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT the work of each one will become evident, for the day will display it; for it is revealed in fire, and the fire itself will test of what sort is the work of each one.

UST On the day when the Messiah returns to judge everyone, he will reveal what kind of work each person has done. The quality of the materials that builders use to construct a building becomes clear when the building catches on fire. In a similar way, a judgment like fire will occur on the day when the Messiah returns. This judgment will show the quality of what those who proclaim more about the gospel have taught.

BLB the work of each will become manifest, for the day will disclose it, because it is revealed in fire, and the fire itself will prove the work of each, what sort it is.

AICNT each one's work will become manifest, for the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.

OEB the quality of each man’s work will become known, for the day will make it plain; because that day is to be ushered in with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of every man’s work.

WEBBE each man’s work will be revealed. For the Day will declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself will test what sort of work each man’s work is.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET each builder’s work will be plainly seen, for the Day will make it clear, because it will be revealed by fire. And the fire will test what kind of work each has done.

LSV the work will become visible of each, for the day will declare [it], because it is revealed in fire, and the work of each, what kind it is, the fire will prove;

FBV but whatever is used to build with will be exposed. For on the Day of Judgment fire will reveal it and test it. Everyone's work will be shown for what it is.

TCNT his work will become evident, for the Day will make it clear, because it is revealed by fire. And the [fn]fire will test each person's work and reveal what sort of work it is.

3:13 fire ¦ fire itself CT

T4T Later it will become clear/evident what kind of material they used to build the house. Similarly, when people teach others God’s truth, it will later become clear what kind of things they taught. God will make that clear/evident at the time when he judges us [MTY].

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.

BBE Every man's work will be made clear in that day, because it will be tested by fire; and the fire itself will make clear the quality of every man's work.

Moff but in every case the nature of his work will come out; the Day will show what it is, for the Day breaks in fire, and the fire will test the work of each, no matter what that work may be.

Wymth the true character of each individual's work will become manifest. For the day of Christ will disclose it, because that day is soon to come upon us clothed in fire, and as for the quality of every one's work— the fire is the thing which will test it.

ASV each man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself shall prove each man’s work of what sort it is.

DRA Every man’s work shall be manifest; for the day of the Lord shall declare it, because it shall be revealed in fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work, of what sort it is.

YLT of each the work shall become manifest, for the day shall declare [it], because in fire it is revealed, and the work of each, what kind it is, the fire shall prove;

Drby the work of each shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare [it], because it is revealed in fire; and the fire shall try the work of each what it is.

RV each man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself shall prove each man’s work of what sort it is.

SLT The work of each shall be manifested: for the day shall manifest, for in fire it is revealed; and the work of each, what sort it is, the fire shall prove.

Wbstr Every man's work will be made manifest: for the day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will try every man's work, of what sort it is.

KJB-1769 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.

KJB-1611 Euery mans worke shall be made manifest. For the day shall declare it, because it [fn]shall bee reuealed by fire, and the fire shall trie euery mans worke of what sort it is.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation and footnotes)

3:13 Gr. is reuealed.

Bshps Euery mans worke shal appeare. The day shall declare it, because it shalbe reuealed by the fire: And the fire shall trie euery mans worke what it is.
(Every mans work shall appeare. The day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by the fire: And the fire shall try every mans work what it is.)

Gnva Euery mans worke shalbe made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shalbe reueiled by the fire: and the fire shall trie euery mans worke of what sort it is.
(Every mans work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by the fire: and the fire shall try every mans work of what sort it is. )

Cvdl euerymas worke shal be shewed. For the daye of the LORDE shal declare it, which shal be shewed with fyre: and the fyre shal trye euery mas worke what it is.
(everymas work shall be showed. For the day of the LORD shall declare it, which shall be showed with fire: and the fire shall try every man’s work what it is.)

TNT every mannes worke shall appere. For the daye shall declare it and it shalbe shewed in fyre. And ye fyre shall trye euery mannes worke what it is.
(every mannes work shall appere. For the day shall declare it and it shall be showed in fire. And ye/you_all fire shall try every mannes work what it is. )

Wycl for the dai of the Lord schal declare, for it schal be schewid in fier; the fier schal preue the werk of ech man, what maner werk it is.
(for the day of the Lord shall declare, for it shall be showed in fire; the fire shall prove the work of each man, what manner work it is.)

Luth so wird eines jeglichen Werk offenbar werden; der Tag wird‘s klar machen. Denn es wird durchs Feuer offenbar werden, und welcherlei eines jeglichen Werk sei, wird das Feuer bewähren.
(so becomes one/a anyone work apparently become; the/of_the day it_will clear make. Because it becomes through fire(n) apparently become, and which_kind one/a anyone work be, becomes the fire(n) bewähren.)

ClVg uniuscujusque opus manifestum erit: dies enim Domini declarabit, quia in igne revelabitur: et uniuscujusque opus quale sit, ignis probabit.[fn]
(of_each work/need obvious will_be: days because Master declarabit, because in/into/on with_fire will_be_revealed: and of_each work/need quale be, fire probabit. )

3.13 Dies enim. Hic, dies est hominis pro nutu suo agentis, sed in judicio vel morte cujusque, dies est Domini secundum merita judicantis, imo et hic judicium incipit a domo Dei, id est, a salvandis incipit pœna, quæ consummabitur in reprobis. Ideo enim puniuntur electi, ut ibi non puniantur. In quo die est ignis tribulationis quo uritur amor rerum temporalium, dum contristantur de amissis, unde et dicitur: Tribulationem carnis habebunt hujusmodi. Ignis vero extremi judicii tam diu durabit, quousque purgati sint qui salvandi erunt. Ignis probabit. Duos ignes futuros legimus. Unum æternum, quo æternaliter punientur reprobi, qui sequetur judicium. Alterum qui præcedet, quo exuretur facies mundi hujus, qui emendabit eos qui superædificaverunt lignum, fenum, stipulam. Qui autem aurum, argentum, lapides pretiosos de utroque igne securi sunt.

3.13 The_day because. Hic, days it_is of_man for nutu his_own agent, but in/into/on judgement or death each_one, days it_is Master after/second merits judgentis, rather and this/here judgement begins from at_home of_God, that it_is, from savendis begins punishment, which consummabitur in/into/on reprobates. Therefore/For_that_reason because puniuntur chosen, as there not/no puniantur. In where day it_is fire tribulation where uritur love things temporal, while contristantur from/about amissis, from_where/who and it_is_said: Tribulation of_flesh they_will_have of_this_kind. Ignis indeed/however extremi judgement tam long_time hardbit, how_long purgati let_them_be who/which savendi they_will_be. Ignis probabit. Duos with_fires futures we_read. Unum eternal, where eternally they_will_be_punished reprobate, who/which will_follow judgement. Alterum who/which will_precede, where exuretur faces world of_this, who/which emendabit them who/which superthey_built wood/timber, hay/rate(n), straw. Who however gold, silver, stones preciouss from/about both with_fire securely are.

UGNT ἑκάστου τὸ ἔργον φανερὸν γενήσεται; ἡ γὰρ ἡμέρα δηλώσει, ὅτι ἐν πυρὶ ἀποκαλύπτεται; καὶ ἑκάστου τὸ ἔργον, ὁποῖόν ἐστιν, τὸ πῦρ αὐτὸ δοκιμάσει.
(hekastou to ergon faneron genaʸsetai; haʸ gar haʸmera daʸlōsei, hoti en puri apokaluptetai; kai hekastou to ergon, hopoion estin, to pur auto dokimasei.)

SBL-GNT ἑκάστου τὸ ἔργον φανερὸν γενήσεται, ἡ γὰρ ἡμέρα δηλώσει· ὅτι ἐν πυρὶ ἀποκαλύπτεται, καὶ ἑκάστου τὸ ἔργον ὁποῖόν ἐστιν τὸ πῦρ ⸀αὐτὸ δοκιμάσει.
(hekastou to ergon faneron genaʸsetai, haʸ gar haʸmera daʸlōsei; hoti en puri apokaluptetai, kai hekastou to ergon hopoion estin to pur ⸀auto dokimasei.)

RP-GNT ἑκάστου τὸ ἔργον φανερὸν γενήσεται· ἡ γὰρ ἡμέρα δηλώσει, ὅτι ἐν πυρὶ ἀποκαλύπτεται· καὶ ἑκάστου τὸ ἔργον ὁποῖόν ἐστιν τὸ πῦρ δοκιμάσει.
(hekastou to ergon faneron genaʸsetai; haʸ gar haʸmera daʸlōsei, hoti en puri apokaluptetai; kai hekastou to ergon hopoion estin to pur dokimasei.)

TC-GNT ἑκάστου τὸ ἔργον φανερὸν γενήσεται· ἡ γὰρ ἡμέρα δηλώσει, ὅτι ἐν πυρὶ ἀποκαλύπτεται· καὶ ἑκάστου τὸ ἔργον ὁποῖόν ἐστι τὸ πῦρ [fn]δοκιμάσει.
(hekastou to ergon faneron genaʸsetai; haʸ gar haʸmera daʸlōsei, hoti en puri apokaluptetai; kai hekastou to ergon hopoion esti to pur dokimasei. )

3:13 δοκιμασει ¦ αυτο δοκιμασει CT

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translation Notes:

Section 3:1–23: Christian workers serve the Lord by building his church together

In this section Paul told the believers in Corinth that they had not become spiritually mature. That was why they were dividing into separate groups and arguing with one another about teachers. They needed to learn about God’s plan for Christian workers and leaders. Christian workers and leaders all belong to God and are all building God’s church together.

Other possible section headings include:

Paul and all the other apostles were the Lord’s servants

All believers belong to the Lord and should remain united

Paragraph 3:10–15

In this paragraph Paul used an extended metaphor. This is about constructing a building. Paul said that he was an expert builder who laid a foundation. This means that he started the church in Corinth. He was the one who first preached the gospel in Corinth and first taught the people there to believe in Jesus.

Paul said that other people were building on the foundation that he had laid. This means that other Christian workers were continuing the work in Corinth. They were teaching the believers. God will reward such workers if they do their work faithfully.

In these verses Paul talked about a building, housebuilders, the materials used to build the building, and about fire. It is best if you can keep this metaphor in your translation. But if the people who read your translation will not understand what Paul was saying, you may need to change how you translate it. There are several ways to translate these verses:

literally, as a metaphor. For example:
I was the expert builder who laid the foundation.
as a simile. For example:
I was like an expert builder who laid a foundation.
giving both the metaphor and the meaning. For example:
I began God’s work among you. I was like an expert builder who laid the foundation.
giving the meaning of the metaphor without the metaphor. For example:
I began God’s work among you.

This metaphor is an important part of Paul’s teaching in 3:10–15. Because of this, it is best if you translate these verses using one of the first three methods above. You should remove the metaphor only if the people in your language group cannot understand the metaphor when it is translated in any of the first three ways. In the footnote is a sample translation of 3:10–15 that follows the third method.Here is a sample translation of 3:10–16 that translates the extended metaphor as a simile and also gives the meaning:“(10a) God graciously gave me ability to do his work. So, using that ability, (10b) I began God’s work among you. I was like a wise house builder who begins building a house by laying the foundation. (10c) Now, other workers are continuing God’s work among you. they are like house builders who are building on top of the foundation that I already laid. (10d) But I warn each of those who are doing God’s work: Be careful what you do! (11) No one should teach any other way to be saved, except the way that God has given us. Jesus Christ is the only Savior that God has given us. He is like the foundation to the house.(12a) Some workers do God’s work well. They are like house builders who build on the foundation using good quality materials like gold, silver and valuable stones. (12b) Other workers do not do God’s work well. They are like house builders who build on the foundation using poor-quality materials like wood, hay and straw. (13a) In the future it will become clear what kind of work each worker has done, (13b) because when Jesus returns, he will make this all clear. (13c) When he returns he will judge what everyone has done. When he judges people, it will be like a fire. (13d) It will be like a person who tests different materials by putting them in a fire to see if they are good quality or not. (14a) When Jesus judges the works of some workers, he will say/declare that their works are good. Their works will be like good quality materials that do not burn up in the fire. (14b) He will reward those workers. (15a) But when he judges the works of other workers, he will declare/say that their work was not good. Their works will be like poor-quality materials that burn up in the fire. (15b) These workers will not get any reward. (15c) God will still save them from the punishment of their sins, (15d) but all of the work they have done will be of no value. They will be like a person who has run out of a burning house: he did not die but everything he had was burned up.”

3:13a

his workmanship will be evident,

Someday everyone will see the quality/kind of work each one has done,
In the future it will become clear/obvious whether or not a person worked well.

his workmanship will be evident: This refers to what will happen in the future, when Christ returns. At the present time it is not always obvious whether the work that each person has done for God is good or not. When Christ returns and judges everything, it will become obvious.

There are at least two ways to translate the clause his workmanship will be evident:

using a passive verb. For example:
each builder’s work will be plainly seen (NET)
their work will be clearly seen (NCV)
using an active verb. For example:
one/they/you will be able to see clearly what kind of work he has done
God will show everyone/others what kind of work he has done

3:13b

because the Day will bring it to light.

because when Jesus returns, he will make these things clear/obvious.
I say that because Jesus Christ will clearly make these things known when he returns.

because the Day will bring it to light: The Greek word that the BSB translates as Day here refers to the future time when Jesus will return to earth and judge people. He will examine the way believers worked for him. In some languages it may be necessary to make it clear what Day Paul was referring to. For example:

the Day of Judgment will make it visible (NCV)

In many languages it is not natural to talk about a Day bringing something to light. Since the Day here means the time when Jesus return and judges people, you can make Jesus the subject of the sentence in your translation:

because Christ Jesus will make it visible on the Day when he returns/judges

General Comment on 3:13a-b

These two verse parts are talking about the same thing in different words. So in some languages it may be natural to combine them. For example:

On the day/time when Christ judges all things, he will expose the quality of every person’s work.

The day will make what each one does clearly visible. (GW)

3:13c

It will be revealed with fire,

The day will come/arise/dawn with fire.
That day will be a time of fiery testing.
For that time will be like a time when materials are put in a fire to test them.
In that day Christ is going to judge the work of people. It will be like putting it through fire.

In the Greek text 3:13c begins with a conjunction that is generally translated as “because.” 3:13c gives the reason why the Day will bring the quality of everyone’s work to light. The BSB does not explicitly translate this conjunction, but the RSV translates it as “because” and the GNT as “For.” You should connect 3:13c to 3:13b in the way that is most natural in your language.

It will be revealed with fire: There are two ways of interpreting this clause. The subject, It, could refer to:

the day, that is, the day Christ returns, judgment day. For example:
That day will appear with fire. (NCV) (NJB, REB, NCV)
each man’s work, that is, the quality of what each worker did. For example:
The day will make what each one does clearly visible because fire will reveal it. (GW) (GNT, GW, NLT)

Several English versions translate literally and do not explicitly say to what It refers: BSB, KJV, RSV, NASB, ESV, NIV.

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This is the interpretation recommended by the majority of commentators. The Greek word for be revealed usually means that in the future someone will come or an event will take place. It does not normally refer to something being made clear by testing it.

with fire: In both the OT and NT, fire is a common metaphor for judgment. For example, see 2 Thessalonians 1:7–8: “When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire…he will punish…” Here also in 1 Corinthians 3:13 the fire probably refers to testing and judgment. In some languages it may be helpful to make this explicit. For example:

with the fire of judgment

3:13d

and the fire will prove the quality of each man’s work.

The fire will test/show whether each worker has done good work.
Just as fire makes clear/apparent which building materials are good/strong/valuable, so Christ will declare whether or not each worker has worked well.

the fire will prove the quality of each man’s work: In this verse part Paul indicated that the fire would test how all the builders had done their work. It would check if they had used good materials. Here is another possible way to translate this:

the fire will test everyone’s work to see what sort of work it was (NCV)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / exmetaphor

ἑκάστου τὸ ἔργον φανερὸν γενήσεται; ἡ γὰρ ἡμέρα δηλώσει, ὅτι ἐν πυρὶ ἀποκαλύπτεται; καὶ ἑκάστου τὸ ἔργον, ὁποῖόν ἐστιν, τὸ πῦρ αὐτὸ δοκιμάσει

˱of˲_each ˱of˲_each (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἑκάστου τό ἔργον φανερόν γενήσεται ἡ γάρ ἡμέρα δηλώσει ὅτι ἐν πυρί ἀποκαλύπτεται καί ἑκάστου τό ἔργον ὁποῖον ἐστίν τό πῦρ αὐτό δοκιμάσει)

Here Paul continues the metaphor about building a house. He speaks as if the day of God’s judgment is like a fire that will test the building and show what kind of building materials the builders used. Paul speaks in this way to illustrate how God’s judgment will reveal whether what those who proclaim more about the gospel teach is pleasing to him or not. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this metaphor with a comparable metaphor or express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: [the truth of what each one has taught you will become evident, for God will show how true it is when he comes to judge everyone; when he comes, he will judge everyone, and his judgment will reveal whether what each person has taught is true or not]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

ἑκάστου τὸ ἔργον

Here, work refers to the product or result of the work, not the action of “working.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind workwith a word or phrase that refers to the product of the work. Alternate translation: [what each one has made]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἑκάστου τὸ ἔργον φανερὸν γενήσεται

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Paul uses the passive form here to focus on the work that will be evident rather than the person doing making it evident. If you must state who does the action, Paul implies that “God” does it. Alternate translation: [God will make the work of each one evident]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἡ & ἡμέρα δηλώσει

the & day ˓will_be˒_making_evident_‹it›

Here Paul uses day in the same way the Old Testament uses it: to refer to an event in which God saves his people and punishes his enemies. Paul specifically refers to the event in which Jesus returns to judge everyone. If it would be helpful in your language, you could include more words that clarify what Paul means by day. Alternate translation: [the day of Christ’s return will display] or [when Christ returns, he will display it]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἐν πυρὶ ἀποκαλύπτεται

in (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἑκάστου τό ἔργον φανερόν γενήσεται ἡ γάρ ἡμέρα δηλώσει ὅτι ἐν πυρί ἀποκαλύπτεται καί ἑκάστου τό ἔργον ὁποῖον ἐστίν τό πῦρ αὐτό δοκιμάσει)

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Paul uses the passive form here to focus on what is revealed rather than the person doing the “revealing.” If you must state who does the action, Paul implies that “God” does it. Alternate translation: [God reveals it in fire]

Note 6 topic: writing-pronouns

ἀποκαλύπτεται

˱it˲_˓is_being˒_revealed

Here, it is revealed refers to the day. It does not refer to the work. If it would be helpful in your language, you could clarify that it refers to the day. Alternate translation: [that day is revealed]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / pastforfuture

ἀποκαλύπτεται

˱it˲_˓is_being˒_revealed

Here Paul speaks as if the day is revealed right now. In his language, he can use the present tense to speak about the way in which something happens in general, even if it is not happening in the present moment. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind this use of the present tense by using the future tense. Alternate translation: [it will be revealed]

ἐν πυρὶ

Alternate translation: [with fire] or [in a fiery way]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / rpronouns

τὸ πῦρ αὐτὸ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἑκάστου τό ἔργον φανερόν γενήσεται ἡ γάρ ἡμέρα δηλώσει ὅτι ἐν πυρί ἀποκαλύπτεται καί ἑκάστου τό ἔργον ὁποῖον ἐστίν τό πῦρ αὐτό δοκιμάσει)

Here, itself focuses attention on the fire. If itself would not draw attention in this way in your language, you could express the attention or focus in another way. Alternate translation: [that fire] or [the fire indeed]

Parallel 1 COR 3:13