TurretinFan: The Roman Catholic Dogma of Purgatory and 1 Corinthians 3

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"TurretinFan" (a pseudonym used in order to separate his secular career from his apologetics ministry), a contributor to Dr. James R. White's blog on the Alpha & Omega Ministries web site (http://www.aomin.org/), will address: "The Roman Catholic dogma of Purgatory and 1 Corinthians 3".

In 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 we read:
"According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on 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 on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire."

Roman Catholic apologists will point to this portion of Scripture as a proof for the existence of Purgatory, which, according to the Catholic Encyclopedia, is:

"...a place or condition of temporal punishment for those who, departing this life in God's grace, are, not entirely free from venial faults, or have not fully paid the satisfaction due to their transgressions..."

Tonight our guest TurretinFan will provide an Evangelical Christian response to the Roman Catholic interpretation of this passage by addressing:

1) The Timing of the Passage (What day is being discussed?)

2) The Subject of the Passage (What people are being discussed?)

3) The Object of the Fire in the Passage (What is the fire testing?)

4) The Meaning of "Saved as through Fire" in the Passage

4) The Meaning of "Suffer Loss" in the Passage

5) The Influence of the Latin Vulgate on the Roman Catholic Argument (with respect to "suffer loss" and "saved as through fire")