Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians John Calvin
Commentary on the Corinthians
from all dross.
This is the meaning of the clause so as by fire. He means, therefore, to intimate, that he does not take away from them the hope of salvation, provided they willingly submit to the loss of their labor, and are purged by the mercy of God, as gold is refined in the furnace. Farther, although God sometimes purges his own people by afflictions, yet here by the name of fire, I understand the touchstone of the Spirit, by which the Lord corrects and removes the ignorance of his people, by which they were for a time held captive. I am aware, indeed, that, many refer this to the cross, 184 but I am confident that my interpretation will please all that are of sound judgment.
It remains, that we give an answer in passing to the Papists, who endeavor from this passage to prop up Purgatory. "The sinners 185 whom God forgives, pass through the fire, that they may be saved." Hence they in this way suffer punishment in the presence of God, so as to afford satisfaction to his justice I pass over their endless fictions in reference to the measure of punishment, and the means of redemption from them, but I ask, who they are that pass through the fire? Paul assuredly speaks of ministers alone. "There is the same reason," they say, "as to all." It is not for us 186 but for God to judge as to this matter. But even granting them this, how childishly they stumble at the term fire. For to what purpose is this fire, 187 but for burning up the hay and straw, and on the other hand, for proving the gold and silver. Do they mean to say that doctrines are discerned by the fire of their purgatory? Who has ever learned from that, what difference there is between truth and falsehood? Farther, when will that day come that will shine forth so as to discover every one's work? Did it begin at the beginning of the world, and will it continue without interruption to the end? If the terms stubble, hay, gold, and silver are figurative, as they must necessarily allow, what correspondence will there be between the different clauses, if there is nothing figurative in the term fire? Away, then, with such silly trifles, which carry their absurdity in their forehead, for the Apostle's true meaning is, I think, sufficiently manifest.
1 Corinthians 3:16-23
1 Corinthians 3:16-23 16. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
16. An nescitis, quod templum Dei estis et Spiritus Dei habitat in vobis? 17. If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
184"Et affliction;" — "And affliction." 185"Les pecheurs, (disent-ils);" — "The sinners, (say they)." 186"Je respon, que ce n'est pas a nous;" — "I answer, that it is not for us." 187"Car a quel propos est-il yci parle du feu?" — "For to what purpose does he speak here of fire?"