The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum "only as through fire"

To all,
(ESV)
What is the proper exegesis of I Cor.3:15? What does it mean "saved,but only as through fire"? Thanks for the help. Jon

I think that the ESV in this particular place can be a little confusing. The Greek text literally says, "thus yet as through fire." I think Hodge says it best:

If the materials used by a spiritual builder stand the test of the day of judgment, he will receive the reward of a faithful servant.

If the work is burned. That is, if the materials used by any builder do not stand the test of that day.

The builder will suffer loss. That is, he will lose his reward.

The builder will be saved. Just as someone who has built his house of combustible materials may escape when the fire comes, yet his property is lost, and all his labour comes to nothing. The apostle is speaking here about those teachers who, although they retain the fundamental doctrines of the Gospel, combine them with error. This is clear from verse 12: 'If anyone builds on the foundation.' It is not enough, therefore, for a minister to hold fast to fundamental truth; he must take heed what he teaches in connection with that truth.

—Commentary on 1 Corinthians

I will bring the one-third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say, 'This is My people;' And each one will say, 'The LORD is my God.'" Zechariah 13.9

Malachi 3:3  "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." 
           
This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered
      what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.     
           One of the women offered to find out the process of refining    
      silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.          
           That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an           
      appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about  
      the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of
      refining silver.                                                     
           As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over  
      the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver,   
      one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the    
      flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.              
           The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then 
      she thought again about the verse that says:  "He sits as a refiner  
      and purifier of silver."  She asked the silversmith if it was true   
      that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the     
      silver was being refined.                                            
           The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding 
      the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time
      it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the  
      flames, it would be destroyed.                                       
          The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the            
      silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?"     
          He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy -- when I see my 
      image in it"                                                         
           If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God
      has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image
      in you.                                                              
        

Hello. Verses of 1 Corithians 3:12-15 address the evaluation of Christian ministry. Some who were seeking to build God's building in Corinth, but who depend on human wisdom, were using perishable materials ("wood, hay, straw") that will not survive the judgment of God's fire, while the builders themselves will barely escape destruction. Paul warns the church that they, like Solomon's temple
(1 Chronicles 22:14-16), should be built up with what is lasting. Study the Final Judgment!

Notes were taken and reviewed from "The Reformation Study Bible" ESV.