Unburnable
What! How can they not burn?
Of course wood, hay and stubble are easily consumed by fire, but what are wood, hay and stubble in the first place?
Wood Hay and Stubble
Paul writes to the church at Corinth about many different issues, but in 1 Corinthians 3, he mentions an interesting concept.
Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
(1 Corinthians 3:12-15)
A common understanding of this passage is that every person’s works can either be gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay or stubble.
Once these works are tried, the bad ones—wood, hay and stubble—will be burned up, and the good ones—gold, silver and precious stones—will remain. Even though a person does bad works, they will still be saved.
This popular view doesn’t specifically answer what Paul means by this section of his letter.
Paul and Apollos
Paul reveals through the context of his letter what he truly means by gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay and stubble. Read More »
