1 Corinthians 3:14-15

The opp [570] issues of the fiery assay are stated under parl [571] hypotheses: εἴ τινος τὸ ἔργον … μενεῖ … εἴ τινος τὸ ἔργον κατακαήσεται, “If any one's work shall abide … shall be burned up”. The double ind [572] with εἰ balances the contrasted suppositions, without signifying likelihood either way: for the opposed vbs., cf. 1 Corinthians 13:8; 1 Corinthians 13:13; μενεῖ recalls ὑπομενεῖ of Malachi 3:2. ὃ ἐποικοδόμησεν (wanting augment: usage varies in this vb [573]; Wr [574], p. 83) reminds us that the work examined was built on the one foundation (1 Corinthians 3:10 ff.). μισθὸν λήμψεται and ζημιωθήσεται are the corresponding apodoses, μισθὸν being carried over to the second of the parl [575] clauses (Mr [576], Gd [577], Lt [578], Ed [579]): “He will get a reward … will be mulcted (of it)”. ζημιόω retains in pass [580] its acc [581] of thing, as a vb [582] taking double acc [583]; derived from ζημία (opp [584] of κέρδος : cf. Philippians 3:7), it signifies to fine, inflict forfeit (in pass [585], suffer forfeit) of what one possessed, or might have possessed. “ αὐτὸς δέ opposed to μισθός : his reward shall be lost, but his person saved” (Lt [586]); αὐτὸς is nearly syn [587] with the ψυχὴ of Matthew 16:25 f., etc. The man built on the foundation, though his work proves culpably defective: σωθήσεται promises him the σωτηρία of Christ's heavenly kingdom (see 1 Corinthians 1:18, and other parls.). Such a minister saves himself, but not his hearers: the opp [588] result to that of 1 Corinthians 9:27, etc. αὐτὸς δὲ σωθήσεται, οὕτως δὲ ὡς διὰ πυρός (δὲ correcting δέ, as in 1 Corinthians 2:6) “yet so (saved) as through fire,” like Lot fleeing from Sodom; his salvation is reduced to a minimum: “He rushes out through the flame, leaving behind the ruin of his work … for which, proved to be worthless, he receives no pay” (Bt [589]), getting through “scorched and with the marks of the flame” upon him (Lt [590]); “s'il est sauvé, ce ne peut être qu'en échappant àtravers les flammes, et grâce àla solidité du fondement” (Gd [591]); to change the figure, “ut naufragus mercator, amissa merce et lucro, servatus per undas” (Bg [592]). For the prp [593], in local sense, see Gm [594], and Wr [595], p. 473; διὰ πυρός, proverbial for a hairbreadth escape (see Lt [596] ad loc [597]; Eurip., Andr., 487; Elec., 1182, and LXX parls.). The διὰ has been read instrumentally, “by means of fire,” sc. the fire of purgatory (see Lt [598]); an idea foreign to this scene. Cm [599], by a dreadful inversion of the meaning, reads the διὰ as ἐν πυρί “will be preserved in fire! ” (σώζω nowhere has this sense of τηρέω): εἰπὼν Σωθήσεται, οὐδὲν ἕτερον ἢ τὴν ἐπίτασιν τῆς τιμωρίας ᾐνίξατο. For other interpretations, see Mr [600]

[570] opposite, opposition.

[571] parallel.

[572] indicative mood.

[573] verb

[574] Winer-Moulton's Grammar of N.T. Greek (8th ed., 1877).

[575] parallel.

[576] Meyer's Critical and Exegetical Commentary (Eng. Trans.).

[577] F. Godet's Commentaire sur la prem. Ép. aux Corinthiens (Eng. Trans.).

[578] J. B. Lightfoot's (posthumous) Notes on Epp. of St. Paul (1895).

[579] T. C. Edwards' Commentary on the First Ep. to the Corinthians. 2

[580] passive voice.

[581] accusative case.

[582] verb

[583] accusative case.

[584] opposite, opposition.

[585] passive voice.

[586] J. B. Lightfoot's (posthumous) Notes on Epp. of St. Paul (1895).

[587] synonym, synonymous.

[588] opposite, opposition.

[589] J. A. Beet's St. Paul's Epp. to the Corinthians (1882).

[590] J. B. Lightfoot's (posthumous) Notes on Epp. of St. Paul (1895).

[591] F. Godet's Commentaire sur la prem. Ép. aux Corinthiens (Eng. Trans.).

[592] Bengel's Gnomon Novi Testamenti.

[593] preposition.

[594] Grimm-Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the N.T.

[595] Winer-Moulton's Grammar of N.T. Greek (8th ed., 1877).

[596] J. B. Lightfoot's (posthumous) Notes on Epp. of St. Paul (1895).

[597] ad locum, on this passage.

[598] J. B. Lightfoot's (posthumous) Notes on Epp. of St. Paul (1895).

[599] John Chrysostom's Homiliœ († 407).

[600] Meyer's Critical and Exegetical Commentary (Eng. Trans.).