“Riiight, 20 paragraphs or so to explain away 5 simple verses, that speak of burning off imperfections.”
No. That is NOT what the verses say. It is an illustration. Paul and others are building up the church - the CHURCH, NOT THEMSELVES. The passage in 1 Corinthians 3 is obviously and blatantly talking about building up the congregation, and calling the church the field where they labor and plant and harvest, or a building they are erecting.
And if someone builds with shoddy materials, “the quality of each person’s work will be seen when the Day of Christ exposes it. For on that Day fire will reveal everyone’s work; the fire will test it and show its real quality. If what was built on the foundation survives the fire, the builder will receive a reward.â€
That isn’t “explaining away”. It is a direct quote.
Paul didn’t leave a need for interpretation, because he GIVES one:
“the quality of each person’s work will be seen when the Day of Christ exposes it. For on that Day fire will reveal everyone’s work; the fire will test it and show its real quality. If what was built on the foundation survives the fire, the builder will receive a reward.â€
If anyone wants to know what 1 Cor 3 is referring to, all they need to do is READ IT!
“After all, who is Apollos? And who is Paul? We are simply God’s servants, by whom you were led to believe. Each one of us does the work which the Lord gave him to do: I planted the seed, Apollos watered the plant, but it was God who made the plant grow. The one who plants and the one who waters really do not matter. It is God who matters, because he makes the plant grow. There is no difference between the one who plants and the one who waters; God will reward each one according to the work each has done. For we are partners working together for God, and you are God’s field.
You are also God’s building. Using the gift that God gave me, I did the work of an expert builder and laid the foundation, and someone else is building on it. But each of you must be careful how you build. For God has already placed Jesus Christ as the one and only foundation, and no other foundation can be laid. Some will use gold or silver or precious stones in building on the foundation; others will use wood or grass or straw. And the quality of each person’s work will be seen when the Day of Christ exposes it. For on that Day fire will reveal everyone’s work; the fire will test it and show its real quality. If what was built on the foundation survives the fire, the builder will receive a reward. But if your work is burnt up, then you will lose it; but you yourself will be saved, as if you had escaped through the fire.â€
That is purgatory: the reward is given the soul (or souls) that is/are purified. All you need to do is read it.