1 Corinthians 3 (v 15)

[Alan Patterson]

12 ει δε τις εποικοδομει επι τον θεμελιον χρυσιον αργυριον λιθους τιμιους ξυλα χορτον καλαμην

13 εκαστου το εργον φανερον γενησεται η γαρ ημερα δηλωσει οτι εν πυρι αποκαλυπτεται και εκαστου το εργον οποιον εστιν το πυρ αυτο δοκιμασει

14 ει τινος το εργον μενει ο εποικοδομησεν μισθον λημψεται

15 ει τινος το εργον κατακαησεται ζημιωθησεται αυτος δε σωθησεται ουτως δε ως δια πυρος


With regards to ζημιωθησεται, I would like to have feed back on translating this word as it shall be forfeited. Where it is referring to μισθον λημψεται, the reward in this context. Yielding a translation then like, If anyone's work shall be consumed, it/the reward shall be forfeited.

Any thoughts?

[Pat Ferguson]

Hi, Alan. You wrote:

Yielding a translation then like, If anyone's work shall be consumed, it/the reward shall be forfeited.

Any thoughts?

According to some Greek Lexicons, forfeit is an acceptable alternate rendering of ζημιωθησεται. But my English dictionaries indicate that when someone has or will have something "forfeited," s/he loses something--or loses the right to do something--due to some error, offense, or crime. FWIW, I don't see where the indicated "loss" will occur in one of those ways (unless the fire that will absolutely consume his or her work is an act of arson, but I question whether such a reading might be implied from 1 Cor. 3:11-15).

In short, I'd be hesitant to substitute your reading of "the reward shall be forfeited" in place of the "he shall suffer loss" seen in the KJV and many modern Bible versions.