What does Paul mean by saying of works being burned, but the man himself saved, "Yet so as by fire"? How does the fire save the one that suffers loss? Y. D. B. Read the context of the scripture. First Paul tells us that as a wise master builder he had laid the foundation, and that foundation was Christ Jesus. The foundation was good, but caution was needed in building upon it. If any man built on it gold, silver, costly stones, they would endure the fire. If any man built upon it wood, hay, and stubble, the building would be burned, for "each man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself shall prove each man's work of what sort it is." That fire will be kindled by the transcendent glory of Christ when He shall come the second time. A multitude of scriptures teach this. Everything that is identified with sin will be burned. Everything identified with Christ will be preserved. One minister may do faithful work, and build on the foundation Christ Jesus characters which are likened to gold and silver and precious stones. They will endure. The fires of the last day will not touch them. Like the three Hebrew children, they will pass through the fire untouched. But a minister may also gather souls that are worthless characters, that are unestablished, those who make profession of religion but do not know its inward power to cleanse and transmute. Such are likened to wood and hay and stubble, and being identified with sin when Christ comes, will be burned. Now "if any man's work shall abide which he built thereon, 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 through fire," not that the fire saves him, but he will be tested to the uttermost. The clause itself, "yet so as through fire," may apply not simply to the man's work that shall be burned, but to the man's work that shall be saved, for the great testing shall be by fire. Let the servant of God labor to the end of building on that Foundation material joined in life and character to Christ Jesus. See the tract "Tormented Forever and Ever," Bible Students' Library, No. 111. Price by mail, two cents single copy.