Staples White debate on Purgatory

  • Thread starter Thread starter Catholicdeacon
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
I’m assuming from your evasion that you are admitting that the Apocryphya were in the original canon.

That’s quite an interesting position, CM.

So, now that you’ve accepted that men can be infallible when they wrote the Scriptures, and that men can be infallible when they determined the canon of Scripture (unless you’re going to tell me that it’s possible they were w*rong *when they declared the Gospel of Thomas not inspired but the Gospel of Mark theopneustos?), why can’t you accept that God, in preserving his church from the gates of hell, would not continue this tradition?
Wow! It’s amazing the hoops one has to jump with you. Again: Who were the infallible ones, those who determined the Apocrypha as part of the canon or those who didn’t?

You’re the one who brought this up. Now, can you please answer it.

CM
 
Interesting…

I did a search on this thread to see who first brought up the term infallible–CM or me?

Guess who it was?

And I also did a search here to see who first brought up the term infallibility–CM or me?

Can you guess who it was?

What about the term eisegesis?

Looks like someone who doesn’t want to answer questions that he brings up is looking for a way out. 🤷
 
Also, I predict that a post is forthcoming about my using the Apocrypha as another “red herring.”

Can you guess who first brought up the term Apocryphya in our discussion? 🍿
 
I have addressed it, as has cfrancis. Anyone is else free to read through the thread and determine if your points have gone unaddressed.
Humour me and quote the portion of your response that is relevant to dismissing Paul’s interpretation of his own metaphor in verse 9. I’ve gone back over what you’ve written and found that you provided no justification for substituting your interpretation for Paul’s-you just went ahead and did so-your own version of Pauline privilege perhaps? 😉

I know what Pauline privilege actually means so let’s not get off on that tangent :rolleyes:
 
Humour me and quote the portion of your response that is relevant to dismissing Paul’s interpretation of his own metaphor in verse 9.
Search any post of mine beginning with my first response to you for the word “minister” or “ordained.” If you don’t think I addressed the verse, then you can go forth and tell everyone I fit the bill in your signature.
If you want to cite “Early” Fathers on the topic (all of whom wrote at least 250 yrs after Paul wrote the Epistle with the exception of the heretic Origen who is quoted by Catholics when it benefits them and ignored when it does not) to attempt to bolster support for your preferred interpretation, that is your perogative.
p.s. if 250 years from the time Paul wrote disqualifies the interpretation of the Apostles’ successors, what do I do with your interpretation that there’s no sign of purification in this passage? :rolleyes:
 
Interesting…

I did a search on this thread to see who first brought up the term infallible–CM or me?

Guess who it was?

And I also did a search here to see who first brought up the term infallibility–CM or me?

Can you guess who it was?

What about the term eisegesis?

Looks like someone who doesn’t want to answer questions that he brings up is looking for a way out. 🤷
And yet more sidestepping. You aren’t getting out of this one PRmerger. Sure, if I brought it up, I brought it up in the context of your assertions. The reader can see this for themselves. But this isn’t about who brought up infallibility. Rather, it is about your implications and assertions. Thus, you kept bringing up canon issues as if they had something to do with infallibility – after all, us Protestants are indebted to the Catholic church for giving us the canon – yet, you can’t answer a simple question: WHO were the infallible ones, the ones who included the Apocrypha or the ones who didn’t? After all, if we are indebted to the RCC for canon, why is it that our canons are different. Who is infallibly right?

CM
 
Also, I predict that a post is forthcoming about my using the Apocrypha as another “red herring.”

Can you guess who first brought up the term Apocryphya in our discussion? 🍿
As I said, I (me, myself,) brought it up in the context of your assertions. The reader can see this for themselves. Furthermore, the reader can see the “red herrings” and how you continue to avoid the question. Don’t attempt to confuse it because it’s not going to work. The posts speak for themselves.

CM
 
Sorry for missing this one.
Ok, if you like, we can posit that it is possible he applied no Scriptural principles to his philosophy on Purgatory.
Unless we can come up with a primary source stating otherwise, I think this would be the better choice.
Why not? Unless you believe we can enter heaven impure.
This assumes that some will enter heaven impure. Why would you think so? What if the blood of Christ is much more powerful and capable of finishing the work before entering the kingdom. Can you back it up with Scripture? The part where some some may have impurities which impede their ability to enter heaven, but will not cause them hell.

CM
 
Search any post of mine beginning with my first response to you for the word “minister” or “ordained.” If you don’t think I addressed the verse, then you can go forth and tell everyone I fit the bill in your signature.
For those who want to do their own check forums.catholic-questions.org/search.php?do=finduser&userid=26934&searchthreadid=420835

All I found was the following:
Ok, then the heart of your point is not whether the passage has to do with ministers, which is probably why White didn’t focus on verse 9 either. But briefly, if only ministers were called to build upon Christ’s foundation, I might agree with you. But we all are called to build on Christ’s foundation in a way that is not the same as someone ordained, but as a lay person. The ordained may build in a particular way and that is the example Paul begins with here. But to the extent this passage goes, there is no rationale why the passage’s principle of building upon Christ’s foundation wouldn’t apply to anyone’s calling, particularly when his audience included all. He gave himself as an example, and in his example, his calling is to build as a minister. In your call, you build as a lay person, and help the Church build on the same foundation—Jesus Christ.
You acknowledge that Paul is speaking about ministers as builders and then claim the freedom to change that to “all are builders”. Yet in my last discussion with cfrancis, I showed how Paul specifically differentiates himself and Apollos from the church members in verse 9-if he had wanted them to think of themselves as builders, why did he tell them they were the building?

That’s what you haven’t addressed.
p.s. if 250 years from the time Paul wrote disqualifies the interpretation of the Apostles’ successors, what do I do with your interpretation that there’s no sign of purification in this passage? :rolleyes:
I never said it disqualified them, rather I was making the point that the use of the term “early” is a bit of a stretch. Had it been the Didache or Clement, that would be early (and Clement would really make your case, given that he is writing to the Corinthians.)

You provided their quotes and people can persue them to see if they offer evidence as to why Paul’s interpretation should be set aside or whether they simply proffer their own spin on the text.
 
Some good points here. I agree with you that Paul in a number of his Epistles also stresses that spiritual growth is essential for the church. He wants all to grow in grace so that (positively) they grow closer to Christ and (negatively) they don’t end up as a castaway at the judgment.

At the same time, Scripture never demeans numerical growth. Luke points out the 3000 at Pentecost and the subsequent additions to the church.

I believe that I can make a case for Paul referring to numerical growth in this passage. If we consider chapters 1-3 we see that Paul speals of the church as being people. He then talks about how these people have fallen into factions, bringing division into the church. In Ch 1 vs 23-26 he then talks about their calling and coming into the church-again the emphasis is on people and their membership in the church.

He continues on through chapter 2 reminding them how the message that brought them nto the church came from God and was focused on God, diminishing his own role in the process (keeping with his desire to refocus them on Christ).

Coming back to the original issue he reiterates his complaint with them, that they have put human partisanship ahead of Christ, a very unspiritual action(vs 1-4).

Then he shares his two metaphors to clarify his point. Given that he spoke of the Corinthians joining the church in Ch 1-2 (being called), would it not be logical to interpret his use of “growth” and “building” in the same fashion-the adding of people to the church through the actions of Paul and Apollos?
The “numbers”/“depth” issue is a sidebar; I don’t see a strong case for the “numbers” side, but really, it’s not essential.

More importantly, you and I agree that for the first two chapters, Paul is addressing the whole church: 1 Cor 2: To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling,
It can also be noted that his criticism isn’t limited to the laity - he doesn’t make that distinction. Note v11-12:
For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you.
Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I of Apollos,” and “I of Cephas,” and “I of Christ.”
Had he omitted “Paul” and “Cephas” and “Christ” and included, say, “Chloe” then one might be able to make an argument for distinction b/n priestly and laity; but it seems the defect affected people on both sides.
Again, the “numbers”/“depth” issue is ancillary to the main argument.
I agree that Paul often emphasizes the interconnected nature of all believers, regardless of their role in the body (Ephesians springs instantly to mind. Yet it must be pointed out that it is Paul who emphasizes distinction in his analogy. Looking at verse 9:

For we are God’s co-workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.

In this instance, Paul is emphasizing the “us-you” distinction between himself and Apollos and the members of the Corinthian church. With this verse, Paul specifically places himself and Apollos outside the building and in the role of worker. Note carefully that the members of the church are specifically excluded from the role of “worker” in this verse.
As I said earlier, we agree with the sentiment in v9 - there is a distinction being made, which fits Paul’s exhortation that comes later (“are all teachers…”).
(cont)
 
This assumes that some will enter heaven impure. Why would you think so? What if the blood of Christ is much more powerful and capable of finishing the work before entering the kingdom. Can you back it up with Scripture? The part where some some may have impurities which impede their ability to enter heaven, but will not cause them hell.
Rest assured, I’m arguing no one gets into heaven impure. Also, Christ’s blood is powerful enough to completely purify a person on earth. In fact Christ’s blood is powerful enough to save every person from hell—but people still go there.

Now, the heavenly person is completely, utterly devoted to love for God with no trace of pride, jealousy, any vice or selfishness of any kind, etc… Perhaps some pious ascetics have been moved to this perfection prior to death; I don’t know as I am not their judge.

But, both of us have admitted two things, and you can correct me if I’m wrong.
A. The earthly person has sinful tendencies; and
B. The heavenly being is without blemish, will never choose sin again.

These two principles are Scriptural and we can go into that if you want. I say it’s self-evident that there must be a transition from point A to B called Purgatory. I say this must occur at death because of point A. You could test this with your own life. Do you consider yourself a Christian, and have you sinned in any way lately, chosen self over God? And will you have that nature in heaven?

You say perfect sanctification must occur on earth, and you prefer not to use the term Purgatory, correct? What is your Scriptural evidence that all Christians are total, complete, and perfectly devoted to God while still on earth.
 
And yet more sidestepping. You aren’t getting out of this one PRmerger. Sure, if I brought it up, I brought it up in the context of your assertions. The reader can see this for themselves. But this isn’t about who brought up infallibility. Rather, it is about your implications and assertions. Thus, you kept bringing up canon issues as if they had something to do with infallibility – after all, us Protestants are indebted to the Catholic church for giving us the canon – yet, you can’t answer a simple question: WHO were the infallible ones, the ones who included the Apocrypha or the ones who didn’t? After all, if we are indebted to the RCC for canon, why is it that our canons are different. Who is infallibly right?

CM
Well, since you’re talking about the “Apocrypha”, then you are necessarily talking about the Old Testament canon put together by the Jews - not the Catholic Church. The argument boils down to the acceptance of the canon used by the Palestinian Jews (without the deuterocanonicals) or the canon accepted by the Alexandrian Jews (including the deuterocanonicals). The Catholic Church accepted the latter – and Protestants the former. It only took Luther a few years to decide that he (in his infinite wisdom) knew better than the Early Church approximately 1,200 years his senior.

Now here’s a question for you: Why do Protestants unquestionably accept the canon of the New Testament set forth by the Catholic Councils in the 4th century, yet reject the O.T. canon from that same Bible in favor of one codified by the Palestinian Jews – the very people who denied the Divinity of Jesus and crucified him? :rolleyes:
 
Rest assured, I’m arguing no one gets into heaven impure. Also, Christ’s blood is powerful enough to completely purify a person on earth. In fact Christ’s blood is powerful enough to save every person from hell—but people still go there.
Well, sin separates us from Christ and unless we repent have faith in His sacrifice, regardless of the blood, they are lost. That is the message of Scripture. However, what about those who have repented and put their faith in Christ. These are those who Christ can purify before entering the kingdom. Therefore, the question remains. Why can’t He?
Now, the heavenly person is completely, utterly devoted to love for God with no trace of pride, jealousy, any vice or selfishness of any kind, etc… Perhaps some pious ascetics have been moved to this perfection prior to death; I don’t know as I am not their judge.
Ascetics or not, these people remain sinners. They continue to have a sin nature.
But, both of us have admitted two things, and you can correct me if I’m wrong.
A. The earthly person has sinful tendencies; and
B. The heavenly being is without blemish, will never choose sin again.
A. True
B. True
These two principles are Scriptural and we can go into that if you want. I say it’s self-evident that there must be a transition from point A to B called Purgatory.
Well, so you say.
I say this must occur at death because of point A.
Well, so you say.
You could test this with your own life. Do you consider yourself a Christian, and have you sinned in any way lately, chosen self over God? And will you have that nature in heaven?
Again, one doesn’t demand the other. I am a sinner, saved by grace. I have a sin nature and this causes me to fall into sin at times. However, by God’s grace I am growing in sanctification and will continue to do so until He calls me home. Now, does that mean that anything that’s “outlying” or an assumed “stain” will need to be dealt with before I can enter His presence. That’s where we get into presumption. I don’t see that in Scripture or in the early church. And I am firmly confident that Christ is able to present me unblemished because of what He did on the cross without the need for presumptions.
You say perfect sanctification must occur on earth, and you prefer not to use the term Purgatory, correct?
I would say neither.
What is your Scriptural evidence that all Christians are total, complete, and perfectly devoted to God while still on earth.
I never said that or implied it. Fact is, I would say quite the opposite. It is because of who Christ is and not because or our own merits.

CM
 
So we have Paul addressing and referring to all Corinthian Christians through Chap 2, and even beginning Chap 3. I don’t see this distinction in v9 as abandoning that trend.
If we recognize the distinction made by Paul in verse 9, this leads to a very different interpretation. Paul is saying no man (and I agree that he chose his language carefully-first to diminish he and Apollos and exalt Christ and secondly to show that he wasn’t limiting this distinction to just the Apostles) can build on a foundation other than Christ.
Agree - "no man" (v11). Even in v10, he carries the distinction, using "each man", which fits with v9. But in v11, in keeping with his universal message, Paul is back to the all-inclusive language that meshes nicely with Chap 1,2 and the rest of 3 and on: "no man"
.
Having already identified himself as a builder and worker, in contrast to the Corinthians who are the “building” that was built, it becomes clear that Paul is talking about **each ministers **actions in adding to the church AND the quality of those in the church at the time of judgment. Some added to the church will be gold, some silver, some precious gems who will inherit heaven and be counted as reward to the minister who served them and some will be such that they are lost in the fire of judgment on “the Day”. The minister will still be saved, but the loss of church members will be a bitter loss, like on who has escaped from a fire with nothing.
I emphasized your words to contrast them with Paul’s, especially in context to v11:
11 For ***no man ***can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if ***any man ***builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,
13 ***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.
14 If ***any man’s ***work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.
15 If ***any man’s ***work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
Given the switch to inclusive language in v11, vv12-15 are seen to apply to all. Again, this jives with Paul’s concept of Church - a united body only as strong as its weakest member. We can even use the image of each brick of the Church being a Church, that is, the Church of Corinth being made up of different Churches (eg, Chloe’s gathering), and those Churches being made up of individual families (the domestic Church).
I find your words to support this idea:
(cont)
 
I find your words support this idea:
Some added to the church will be gold, some silver, some precious gems who will inherit heaven and be counted as reward to the minister who served them and some will be such that they are lost in the fire of judgment on “the Day”. The minister will still be saved, but the loss of church members will be a bitter loss, like on who has escaped from a fire with nothing
What is it that makes someone - a brick - in the Corinthian Church, or Chloe’s Church in the Corinthian Church, or a family in Chloe’s Church - gold, silver or precious gems? It is, as Paul says, their works, or rather, do they let Christ work through them. Therefore, each member of the Church - at all levels - has a responsibility to build on the foundation of Christ with gold, silver and precious gems - good works.
As regards to the loss issue, I don’t think your idea squares with Christ’s parable of the Sower and the Seeds. Yes, there are some things a priest can control, like preaching and practicing orthodoxy. But each believer, ultimately, bears individual responsibility, and a priest cannot be held responsible for each person’s ultimate end.
In 16-17 Paul is letting the church members know that pursuing a course of division will cause them to be judged and lost.
16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
17 If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.
If I accept your argument of exclusive language from vv9-15, Paul gives no indication of a return to inclusive language in vv16-17. In your argument, the "you" in v16 still refers to Paul and Apollos and ministers.
I agree with your thoughts on our imperfect attempts to serve God, but if the passage is referring to people being lost in the fire of judgment on “the Day”, that isn’t purgatory and the lack of purification language makes sense. So it becomes a question of whether or not one can dismiss Paul’s interpretation given in verse 9 and replace it with an interpretation that is more amenable to a purgatorial interpretation of the passage. For the reasons listed above and elsewhere I don’t believe that is possible.
Notice in vv13-15 Paul makes no mention of damnation, which would equate to your idea of “people being lost in the fire of judgment on ‘the Day’.” All he speaks of are those who will be saved:
14 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, ***he will receive a reward.***15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
This is very clear language to a process where our building is tested and either found nearly pure or not so nearly pure, and of people being purified of their wood/straw/hay works to enter heaven pure.
Again, there is no - can be no - separation of man and his works, else Christ’s telling of the sheep and the goats in Mt 25 makes no sense.
It comes down to that I do not agree with your interpretation of Paul in 1 Cor 3.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top