1Cor 3:12-13 | RWP | e4.org | Gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble ( χρυσιον, αργυριον, λιθους τιμιουσ, ξυλα, χορτον, καλαμην ). The durable materials are three (gold, silver, marble or precious stones), perishable materials (pieces of wood, hay, stubble), "of a palace on the one hand, of a mud hut on the other" (Lightfoot). Gold was freely used by the ancients in their palaces. Their marble and granite pillars are still the wonder and despair of modern men. The wooden huts had hay ( χορτος , grass, as in ) and stubble ( καλαμη , old word for stubble after the grain is cut, here alone in the N.T., though in LXX as ) which were employed to hold the wood pieces together and to thatch the roof. It is not made clear whether Paul's metaphor refers to the persons as in God's building in verse or to the character of the teaching as in verse . Probably both ideas are involved, for look at the penalty on shoddy work (verse ) and shoddy men (verse ). The teaching may not always be vicious and harmful. It may only be indifferent and worthless. A co-worker with God in this great temple should put in his very best effort.

‏ 1 Corinthians 3:12-13

Gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble ( χρυσιον, αργυριον, λιθους τιμιουσ, ξυλα, χορτον, καλαμην ). The durable materials are three (gold, silver, marble or precious stones), perishable materials (pieces of wood, hay, stubble), "of a palace on the one hand, of a mud hut on the other" (Lightfoot). Gold was freely used by the ancients in their palaces. Their marble and granite pillars are still the wonder and despair of modern men. The wooden huts had hay ( χορτος, grass, as in Mr 6:39) and stubble ( καλαμη, old word for stubble after the grain is cut, here alone in the N.T., though in LXX as Ex 5:12) which were employed to hold the wood pieces together and to thatch the roof. It is not made clear whether Paul's metaphor refers to the persons as in God's building in verse 9 or to the character of the teaching as in verse 13. Probably both ideas are involved, for look at the penalty on shoddy work (verse 15) and shoddy men (verse 17). The teaching may not always be vicious and harmful. It may only be indifferent and worthless. A co-worker with God in this great temple should put in his very best effort.

The day ( η ημερα ). The day of judgment as in 1Th 5:4 (which see), Ro 13:12; Heb 10:25. The work ( εργον ) of each will be made manifest. There is no escape from this final testing.

It is revealed in fire ( εν πυρ αποκαλυπτετα ). Apparently "the day" is the subject of the verb, not the work, not the Lord. See 2Th 1:8; 2:8. This metaphor of fire was employed in the O.T. (Da 7:9f.; Mal 4:1) and by John the Baptist (Mt 3:12; Lu 3:16f.). It is a metaphor that must not be understood as purgatorial, but simple testing (Ellicott) as every fire tests ( the fire itself will test, το πυρ αυτο δοκιμασε ) the quality of the material used in the building,

of what sort it is ( οποιον εστιν ), qualitative relative pronoun. Men today find, alas, that some of the fireproof buildings are not fireproof when the fire actually comes.