D
Dimmesdale
Guest
Hello all,
I’m having trouble understanding this passage in relation to the doctrine of Purgatory.
1 Cor. 3:10-15
“According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But let each man be careful how he builds upon it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds upon the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built upon it remains, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as through fire.”
I assume the “building” upon the foundation (Jesus Christ) is one’s works, and that these works are “tested” in the fires of purgatory. However, I have trouble understanding how in Purgatory one man (the first ‘any’) receives a REWARD, while another, (the second ‘any’) suffers LOSS – though he is nonetheless saved, “as through fire.”
As I see it, this can be looked at in only two ways. One is that there is both reward and loss in purgatory for each man. This is to mean that, a person who goes to Purgatory (‘any’ person) has some works that are burnt up, being inadequate, but that he has other works which are good, and for which he receives a reward. So there is both reward and loss for each, respecting different works.
However, the way Paul uses the word “any” inclines me to think that he refers to two distinct types of human being, - that is, either one who experiences loss, or one who experiences reward. If these two types of person are distinct and are mutually incompatible, how can they go to the same place, Purgatory, where there obviously IS loss? It would seem only the man who suffers loss can go there, not the man who receives a reward. The man who receives only a reward would not suffer any loss in other words. He would not have to be saved “through fire” as it were. He would belong in a completely different category.
So the question then is, are these verses talking about Purgatory at all, or something different?
I look forward to hearing from you all. God Bless.
I’m having trouble understanding this passage in relation to the doctrine of Purgatory.
1 Cor. 3:10-15
“According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But let each man be careful how he builds upon it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds upon the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built upon it remains, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as through fire.”
I assume the “building” upon the foundation (Jesus Christ) is one’s works, and that these works are “tested” in the fires of purgatory. However, I have trouble understanding how in Purgatory one man (the first ‘any’) receives a REWARD, while another, (the second ‘any’) suffers LOSS – though he is nonetheless saved, “as through fire.”
As I see it, this can be looked at in only two ways. One is that there is both reward and loss in purgatory for each man. This is to mean that, a person who goes to Purgatory (‘any’ person) has some works that are burnt up, being inadequate, but that he has other works which are good, and for which he receives a reward. So there is both reward and loss for each, respecting different works.
However, the way Paul uses the word “any” inclines me to think that he refers to two distinct types of human being, - that is, either one who experiences loss, or one who experiences reward. If these two types of person are distinct and are mutually incompatible, how can they go to the same place, Purgatory, where there obviously IS loss? It would seem only the man who suffers loss can go there, not the man who receives a reward. The man who receives only a reward would not suffer any loss in other words. He would not have to be saved “through fire” as it were. He would belong in a completely different category.
So the question then is, are these verses talking about Purgatory at all, or something different?
I look forward to hearing from you all. God Bless.