1Cor 3:15: Has nothing to do with your having to go through hell to enter heaven.

Dear in Christ,

1Cor 3:15  If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Haven't you come across folks who claim that the verse is about one having go through hell to enter heaven? I've. Do you know something? It has nothing to do with the man on the street, that's you and me!

Let's read the previous verse as well.

1Cor 3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

Please note the words “built thereupon”. The verse is talking about someone who is into building up something. Going still further up we see the same expression in:

1Cor 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

The talk here's about someone who builds upon the foundation laid by Paul. Going still further up, again, we see the proceedings with much more clarity:

1Cor 3:6  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
1Cor 3:7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
1Cor 3:8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
1Cor 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.

The talk is about Apollos taking up from where Paul left off and continuing to nurture the church. As it's evident from the context, it's about teachers or preachers, and it's not about the man on the street.

A teacher of the gospel has a greater responsibility than a secular teacher, as they deal with the destiny of their students, who are the temple of God, the building the teacher is supposed to build up.

1Co 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

The one who defiles the temple is a false teacher or a bad builder. Bad teachings can drive people away from God and His Christ. A teacher of the gospel is accountable for the spirits of the people entrusted to them by the Lord. (1Cor 3:5)

The entire passage is summarized by James in just one statement:

James 3:1 My brethren, be not many masters (teachers, G1320 in Strong's), knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

1 Corinthians 3 is a deterrent against too many taking up teaching or preaching, just as James 3:1 is. It's not about going through hell to enter heaven. It's word of caution to those who seek to be teachers/preachers.

In Christ,

Tomsan Kattackal