complete verse (1 Corinthians 3:14)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Corinthians 3:14:

  • Uma: “If the work of a person lasts/withstands the Lord’s inspection, he will receive a reward.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “If the material a person uses does not burn, that is his teaching is good, that person will receive good/blessing from God,” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “If there is a person and his work is not removed, then God will reward him.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “As for the person whose construction (lit. what he has built) on the foundation is not burned, he will be rewarded.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Thus if what they used to build upon the building’s far-from-ordinary giver-of-stability is not harmed by this fire, of course they will certainly receive a reward.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “The builder who put in that which does not burn, will be given a wage.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 1 Corinthians 3:14

Any man may refer to either men or women.

Revised Standard Version‘s foundation is not expressed in Greek but is present in the underlying meaning. Good News Bible fills out the meaning at various points even more than Revised Standard Version. For comments on the translation of foundation, see verse 10.

Survives is in the future tense in Greek, referring to the Day of Judgment. The meaning is that only work with good building materials will remain standing after the fire. This initial clause may be rephrased as “If someone builds on that foundation with material that doesn’t burn…,” or the whole verse can be restructured as follows: “God will reward the person who builds on this foundation with material that doesn’t burn.”

Reward: see the comments on 1 Cor. 3.8.

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, 2nd edition. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1985/1994. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .