1 COR 3:15 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=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) but if their work is incinerated, those people will lose out, although they themselves will be saved but as if they’ve been through the flames.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, pink:genitive/possessor.
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 if anyone’s work will be burned up, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, but as though through fire.

UST Any builders who constructed a building that fire consumes lose respect and money. However, the builders do not die in the fire, but they escape from the flames. In the same way, when he judges everyone, God will not honor or reward all those who teach more about the good news in a way that God does not accept. However, God will still accept these teachers despite the wrong things that they have taught.

BLB If the work of anyone will be burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, but so as through fire.

AICNT If anyone's work is burned up, they will suffer loss, though they themselves will be saved, but only as through fire.

OEB If anyone’s work is burnt up, they will suffer loss; though they themselves will escape, but only as one who has passed through fire.

WEBBE If any man’s work is burnt, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, but as through fire.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET If someone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

LSV if the work of any is burned up, he will suffer loss, but himself will be saved, but so as through fire.

FBV Those whose building is burned up will lose out. They will still be saved, but it will be like passing through fire!

TCNT If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; yet he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

T4T If the things that we have taught are not valuable and long-lasting [MET], we will not get a reward. We will be saved {God will save us} from hell, but that is all that we will get. We will be like a man who escapes from a fire without saving any of his possessions.

LEB If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, but so as through fire.

BBE If the fire puts an end to any man's work, it will be his loss: but he will get salvation himself, though as by fire.

Moff if a man's work is burnt up, he will be a loser--
⇔ and though he will be saved himself, he will be snatched from the very flames.

Wymth If any one's work is burnt up, he will suffer the loss of it; yet he will himself be rescued, but only, as it were, by passing through the fire.

ASV If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as through fire.

DRA If any man’s work burn, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire.

YLT if of any the work is burned up, he shall suffer loss; and himself shall be saved, but so as through fire.

Drby If the work of any one shall be consumed, he shall suffer loss, but he shall be saved, but so as through [the] fire.

RV If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as through fire.
(If any man’s work shall be burnt, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as through fire. )

SLT If the work of any one shall be burned, he shall be caused damage: and he shall be saved; and so as by fire.

Wbstr If any man's work shall be burned, he will suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

KJB-1769 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
(If any man’s work shall be burnt, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. )

KJB-1611 If any mans worke shall bee burnt, he shall suffer losse: but he himselfe shall be saued: yet so, as by fire.
(If any mans work shall be burnt, he shall suffer losse: but he himself shall be saved: yet so, as by fire.)

Bshps If any mans worke burne, he shall suffer losse, but he shalbe safe hym selfe: neuertheles, yet as it were through fire.
(If any mans work burne, he shall suffer losse, but he shall be safe himself: nevertheles, yet as it were through fire.)

Gnva If any mans worke burne, he shall lose, but he shalbe saued himselfe: neuerthelesse yet as it were by the fire.
(If any mans work burne, he shall lose, but he shall be saved himself: nevertheless yet as it were by the fire. )

Cvdl Yf eny mans worke burne, he shal suffre losse: but he shal be saued himselfe, neuertheles as thorow fyre.
(If any mans work burne, he shall suffer losse: but he shall be saved himself, nevertheless as through fire.)

TNT If eny manes worke burne he shall suffre losse: but he shalbe safe him selfe: neverthelesse yet as it were thorow fyre.
(If any manes work burn he shall suffer losse: but he shall be safe himself: neverthelesse yet as it were through fire. )

Wycl If ony mannus werk brenne, he schal suffre harm; but he schal be saaf, so netheles as bi fier.
(If any man’s work brenne, he shall suffer harm; but he shall be safe, so nevertheless as by fire.)

Luth Wird aber jemandes Werk verbrennen, so wird er des Schaden leiden; er selbst aber wird selig werden, so doch wie durchs Feuer.
(Wed but someone work burn, so becomes he the damage/harm(n) suffer; he himself/itself but becomes blessed become, so though/but as/like through fire(n).)

ClVg Si cujus opus arserit, detrimentum patietur: ipse autem salvus erit, sic tamen quasi per ignem.
(When/But_if whose work/need arserit, detrimentum patietur: exactly_that/himself however safe will_be, so nevertheless as_if through fire. )

UGNT εἴ τινος τὸ ἔργον κατακαήσεται, ζημιωθήσεται; αὐτὸς δὲ σωθήσεται, οὕτως δὲ ὡς διὰ πυρός.
(ei tinos to ergon katakaaʸsetai, zaʸmiōthaʸsetai; autos de sōthaʸsetai, houtōs de hōs dia puros.)

SBL-GNT εἴ τινος τὸ ἔργον κατακαήσεται, ζημιωθήσεται, αὐτὸς δὲ σωθήσεται, οὕτως δὲ ὡς διὰ πυρός.
(ei tinos to ergon katakaaʸsetai, zaʸmiōthaʸsetai, autos de sōthaʸsetai, houtōs de hōs dia puros.)

RP-GNT Εἴ τινος τὸ ἔργον κατακαήσεται, ζημιωθήσεται· αὐτὸς δὲ σωθήσεται, οὕτως δὲ ὡς διὰ πυρός.
(Ei tinos to ergon katakaaʸsetai, zaʸmiōthaʸsetai; autos de sōthaʸsetai, houtōs de hōs dia puros.)

TC-GNT Εἴ τινος τὸ ἔργον κατακαήσεται, ζημιωθήσεται· αὐτὸς δὲ σωθήσεται, οὕτω δὲ ὡς διὰ πυρός.
(Ei tinos to ergon katakaaʸsetai, zaʸmiōthaʸsetai; autos de sōthaʸsetai, houtō de hōs dia puros. )

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s 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.”

3:15a

If it is burned up,

But if his work is burned up,
But if/when Christ says/declares that what a certain worker has done is not good,

If it is burned up: Fire is a metaphor for judgment as a testing time (see the note on 3:13c). The picture of work being burned up illustrates a situation in which Christ declares that a worker has not done his work faithfully. His work did not help the church as God meant it to. Just as a fire burns up poor-quality materials like wood or straw, so when Christ judges these people, he will show that the work they have done is of no value.

The verb is burned up is in the passive. There are at least two ways to translate it:

using a passive verb. For example:
if it is destroyed by the fire (CEV)
The one whose work is burned down… (NJB)
using an active verb. For example:
If the fire destroys/consumes someone’s work

Use the verb form that is most natural in your language in this context.

3:15b

he will suffer loss.

that worker will get nothing.
he/Christ will not reward that worker/person.

he will suffer loss: The clause he will suffer loss here means “the builder/worker will lose his reward,” that is, “the builder/worker will not receive his reward.” This verse part continues the metaphor. Its literal meaning is that a worker will lose (that is, not receive) what his boss had planned to give him as his pay. This figure of speech means that Christ will withhold some blessings or benefits which otherwise he would have given to his worker. Other ways to translate this include:

the builder will suffer great loss (NLT)

he will lose that reward

3:15c

He himself will be saved,

He himself, however, will be saved,
Yet God will save him personally.
He will receive salvation,

In the Greek text 3:15c connects to 3:15b with a conjunction that the GNT translates as “but.” The BSB does not translate this conjunction. Here the conjunction indicates contrast: what happens to the worker is different from what happens to his work. The RSV translates this conjunction as “though.”

You should indicate this contrast in a way that is natural in your language.

He himself will be saved: This clause literally indicates that the builder will not die, that is, perish in the fire that consumed his work. The metaphor indicates that a Christian worker will not fail to receive salvation even if he has not worked well. This is a passive clause. There are two ways to translate it:

Use a passive verb. For example:
the builder will be saved
Use an active verb. For example:
he himself will not lose his life
They/God will save the worker himself

himself: The Greek word that the BSB translates as himself here probably has a intensive meaning. It emphasizes the contrast between what happens to work done by the worker versus what happens to the worker himself.

3:15d

but only as if through the flames.

but only like somebody escapes though fire/flames.
But he will be like a person who has to be saved from a fire.
but only in the way a person is rescued from a burning building.

but only as if through the flames: There are two ways to interpret the Greek expression that the BSB translates as through the flames.

It means through flames or through fire. The person must escape by passing through fire, or like someone passing through fire. For example:
though it will be like going through a fire (GW) (BSB, NIV, REB, GW, NLT, NASB, RSV, ESV, NET)
It means from flames or from fire. The person escapes the fire and does not necessarily have to pass through it. For example, the NJB says;
as someone might expect to be saved from a fire (NJB, CEV, NCV)

The KJV has “by fire,” which could mean either. If you must choose between the interpretations, it is recommended that you choose interpretation (1). The person is indeed saved from the fire, but he has to go through the flames, like a worker who is rescued from his burning building. This figure of speech shows how serious it is if a worker for God does not faithfully carry out his task. Paul was emphasizing how important it is for a worker to build well. Other ways to translate this include:

though only by passing through the fire (REB)

but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames (NLT)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-condition-hypothetical

εἴ τινος τὸ ἔργον κατακαήσεται, ζημιωθήσεται

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Εἰ τινός τό ἔργον κατακαήσεται ζημιωθήσεται αὐτός δέ σωθήσεται οὕτως δέ ὡς διά πυρός)

Here, just as in [3:14](../03/14.md), Paul uses if to introduce a true possibility. He means that a person’s work might remain, or it might not. He then specifies the result for each possibility. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this form by stating the if statement by using a relative clause. Alternate translation: [Anyone whose work will be burned up will suffer loss]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / exmetaphor

εἴ τινος τὸ ἔργον κατακαήσεται, ζημιωθήσεται; αὐτὸς δὲ σωθήσεται, οὕτως δὲ ὡς διὰ πυρός.

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Εἰ τινός τό ἔργον κατακαήσεται ζημιωθήσεται αὐτός δέ σωθήσεται οὕτως δέ ὡς διά πυρός)

Here Paul continues the metaphor about building a house. In this verse, those who proclaim more about the gospel are like builders whose structures do not survive a fire. They suffer loss, but they are saved, almost as if they were in the fire but escaped. Paul means that those who teach others wrongly about God will not receive honor or reward from God, but God will still accept them, although only just barely. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this metaphor with a comparable metaphor or express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: [If anyone teaches you more about the gospel with words that are not acceptable to God, he will receive no honor or blessing when God judges everyone, but he himself will be accepted by God, although just barely]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

τινος τὸ ἔργον κατακαήσεται

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Εἰ τινός τό ἔργον κατακαήσεται ζημιωθήσεται αὐτός δέ σωθήσεται οὕτως δέ ὡς διά πυρός)

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 is burned up rather than on what does the “burning up.” If you must state who does the action, Paul implies that the fire does it. Alternate translation: [fire burns up anyone’s work]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

τὸ ἔργον

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Εἰ τινός τό ἔργον κατακαήσεται ζημιωθήσεται αὐτός δέ σωθήσεται οὕτως δέ ὡς διά πυρός)

Here Paul uses work to refer 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: [project] or [house]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

τινος & ζημιωθήσεται & αὐτὸς & σωθήσεται

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Εἰ τινός τό ἔργον κατακαήσεται ζημιωθήσεται αὐτός δέ σωθήσεται οὕτως δέ ὡς διά πυρός)

Here, the words translated he and himself are written in masculine form, but they refer to anyone, no matter which their gender might be. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind he and himselfby using words that do not have gender, or you could use both genders. Alternate translation: [anyone’s … he or she will suffer loss … he himself or she herself will be saved] or [people’s … they will suffer loss … they themselves will be saved]

Note 6 topic: translate-unknown

ζημιωθήσεται

˱he˲_˓will_be_being˒_lost

The phrase he will suffer loss expresses the opposite of “receiving a reward.” Instead of gaining honor and money, the person loses honor and money. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind he will suffer lossby using a phrase that refers to losing honor and money. Alternate translation: [he will lose honor and money] or [he will be deprived of any reward]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

αὐτὸς δὲ σωθήσεται

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Εἰ τινός τό ἔργον κατακαήσεται ζημιωθήσεται αὐτός δέ σωθήσεται οὕτως δέ ὡς διά πυρός)

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 he who will be saved rather than the person doing the “saving.” you can express the idea with he saving himself or he not perishing. Alternate translation: [but he will not perish] or [but he will save himself]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / rpronouns

αὐτὸς & σωθήσεται

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Εἰ τινός τό ἔργον κατακαήσεται ζημιωθήσεται αὐτός δέ σωθήσεται οὕτως δέ ὡς διά πυρός)

Here, himself focuses attention on he. If himself would not draw attention in this way in your language, you could express the attention or focus in another way. Alternate translation: [he will be saved] or [he indeed will be saved]

Parallel 1 COR 3:15

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

Paragraph 3:10–15

3:15a

3:15b

3:15c

3:15d

Parallel 1 COR 3:15