1 Cor 3:10-15
10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another builds thereon. But let every man take heed how he builds thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Paul is not just talking about any man here, he is talking about a Preacher or Bible Teacher. Paul is giving a caution here for any Bible Preacher or Teacher to be very careful about what they teach, that it follows the revelation he received from God.
12 Now if any man builds upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
Paul says that there are two types of building that can be built upon the foundation he has laid. One type can survive a test of fire and another type that will be consumed by fire. The gold, silver and precious stones can survive a test by fire and remain standing, but that which is made of wood or hay or stubble will be consumed by the fire.
The gold, silver and precious stones represent the truth of God’s Word, but the wood, hay and stubble represent false teaching about God’s Word, which is not according to scripture. The fire which tests what is built upon Paul’s foundation is God himself, for our God is a consuming fire as the scripture states. (re: Deut 4:24)
13 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.
Paul says that every preacher’s work shall be made manifest or made known as to what they have taught the people. He says that the day shall declare it. What day? The day of Judgment of course. The fire that will try or prove ever preachers work is the consuming fire of God.
14 If any man's work abides which he has built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
Paul states that if a preacher’s work abides or survives the test by fire, he will receive a reward from God.
15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Now here is where a poor translation into English makes this verse say just the opposite of what it really means. It says that if a Preacher’s work does not survive the test by fire, he shall suffer a loss. Now here is where the problem exists as nit continues to say “but he himself shall be saved”. First it states that “he will suffer a loss”, then it says he will be saved.
If a preachers work does not survive the test then why would he? It did say that he would suffer a loss didn’t it? That is exactly right. If his work failed the test then he failed also. You see, the words saying “but he himself will be saved” are translated incorrectly. It should have been translated as “the other people will be saved”.
God will hold a preacher accountable for what he teaches his people and if his teaching is in error, he will be punished for it, but those people that he has taught in error will be saved.
Now here is the way the whole passage should have been translated:
12 Now if any preacher builds upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every preacher’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 preacher’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any preacher’s work abides which he has built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any preacher’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but the other people shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Do you understand now?
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