Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Corinthians 3:13

"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." — 1 Corinthians 3:13 (ASV)

Paul turns his attention to the kind of materials Christian workers are using: the materials of preaching the cross for salvation, building up believers (cf. 1:18), and living a Christian life that is commensurate with that preaching (2:2–4). The purity and depth of such Christian teaching and a life corresponding to it are crucial, for that kind of building material will stand the test of fire on the day of the Lord’s judgment.

Since valuable metals and precious stones were used to adorn ancient temples (cf. Revelation 21:18–21), Paul could have taken his imagery from Herod’s temple in Jerusalem (Matthew 24:1–2) or from the beautiful public and religious buildings in Athens (Acts 17:23) and Corinth. Such imagery would be sufficient to convey the thought of pure doctrine. The frames of ordinary houses and buildings were built of wood; hay or dried-grass, mixed with mud, was used for the walls; and roofs were thatched with straw or stalks. So the kind of insipid teaching and life represented by these lesser things will also have to face the test of the pure fire of God’s justice and judgment, when it will be consumed.

“The Day” (GK 2465) is “the day of the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 5:2–9), the day of the second coming of Christ (cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:2). The “quality” of each one’s work refers to the kinds of materials of doctrine and life that are used. The fire is the fire of God’s judgment. Fire in Scripture is used figuratively in two ways: as a purifying agent (Matthew 3:11; Mark 9:49) and as that which consumes (Matthew 3:12; 2 Thessalonians 1:7–8; Hebrews 12:29). So it is a fitting symbol here for God’s judgment, as he tests the quality of the Christian’s work.

Those Christians whose works stand the test of fire (cf. 1 Peter 1:7) will be rewarded (cf. Matthew 25:14–30). Those whose works are consumed by the fire will themselves escape the flames (as if they were jumping out of the burning wooden structure they had built) and be saved, but without any works of praise to present to Christ.