13. Each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is.(the day of judgment is when Christ will judge the quality of His servants' work (2 Cor. 5:10). It is not a question of salvation which is a gift or a matter of individual deeds (Eph. 2:8-9) but of service which is judged on the basis of quality not quantity. Considerable apparent success can be had by dint of human effort and wisdom (1 Cor 2:4), but unless it is empowered by God in accordance with His plan it cannot last. (Ps. 127:1)
14. If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.
15. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. (The image of fire associated with the coming of Christ is used elsewhere in the NT (2 Thes 1:7; Rev. 18:8). (What the reward for the expert builder consists of was not detailed, though praise (1 Cor. 4:5) is certainly a part. The inept builder will see the loss of his labor, that he himself will be saved, like a burning stick snatched from a fire (Amos 4:11; Jude 23). Before such judgment the various materials may coexist and appear indistinguishable (Matt. 13:30)
16.Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? (However, a local church might come to the point where its structure is so weak that it collapses entirely or exists in name only, that is, it is destroyed. Paul did not want this to happen in Corinth (2 Cor 11:3, 13). If it did, the false minister would be paid back in kind by God Himself. The destroyer would be destroyed (Matt. 13:41-42).
17. If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
18. Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.
19. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He catches the wise in their own craftiness,
20. and again, The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.(Since this was so, Paul gave a pointed warning to ministers and to the congregation in Corinth. Ministers could avoid self-deception by evaluting their ministries and realizing that the wisdom of this world reflects the mind of Satan. (Eph 2:2) and is foolishness in God's sight (1 Cor. 3:19). Paul supported this fact by quoting from Job 5:13 and Psalm 94:11. The members needed to see that the practice of boasting (1 Cor 3:21) about ministers was similarly a self-centered spirit. Instead, they should boast in God to whom they belonged and who was the source of their every blessing.
21. Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours:
1 Corinthians 3:12-21
Are you sowing gold, silver, and precious stones or wood, hay, and straw?
