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

If ... be burnt - If any man's work consist of such materials as the fire will destroy.

Suffer loss - i:e., forfeit the special "reward;" not that he shall lose salvation (which is a free gift, not a "reward," or wages), for he remains on the foundation (; ).

Saved; yet so as by fire - rather, 'so as if through fire' (; ; ). The 'as if' shows the phrase to be figurative: having a narrow escape (; ). The 'Lord suddenly coming to His temple' in flaming "fire" all parts of the building which will not stand that fire will be consumed; the builders will escape with personal salvation, but with the loss of their work. Again, we may regard the superstructure as representing less essential matters added to the essentials: a man may err as to the former, and have the mortification of seeing much of his labour lost, and yet be saved; but not so as to the latter (cf. ).

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