[MaxPowerPoker]

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Choose one of the leaders of the Reformation, in this case I am going to use Calvin, but you can choose any of them you wish, and then put him alongside Thomas Aquinas, who though living several hundred years earlier nonetheless in his writings put forth definitive explanations of catholic doctrine. These two then, Aquinas and Calvin, arrive before God to be judged after their deaths. In your opinion, which of the two outcomes below is most likely? (Note that I am not referring to their eternal judgement but to a judgement on their christian teachings.)

A. God said to one of them "well done good and faithful servant", while saying to the other, "you fool!".

B. God said to both of them, "well done although you both were partly wrong and thus lead some astray in matters of sound doctrine".


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I'll go with B. This would fit exactly with Paul's analogy in 1 Corinthians 3 about the building. Concerning the teachings of Paul and Apollos and any teacher (Aquinas, Calvin...) he has this to say:

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(1Co 3:9 ESV) For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.

(1Co 3:10 ESV) According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it.

(1Co 3:11 ESV) For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

(1Co 3:12 ESV) Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw --

(1Co 3:13 ESV) each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.

(1Co 3:14 ESV) If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.

(1Co 3:15 ESV) If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.


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If you choose B then also answer the following question: if they were both only partly right then how can that not partially render God's word void, which scripture says cannot happen,

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Where they were wrong, what they said was not the word of God. If I screw up God's message, it does not mean that his message is not true. This seems pretty basic.

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Bonus Question: Could OT figures and prophets such as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Elijah etc. have been saved, and if so by what means since they never could have accepted the gospel before their deaths? Keep in mind what the NT says regarding the possibility of faithfully keeping the old law.

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The book of Hebrews answers this one soundly. Chapter 11 explains exactly how those in the Old Testament were saved...namely, the same way anyone today is. They believe God's promise of the messiah. They walked by faith.

I would suggest reading the 11th chapter of Hebrews for your answer. Here are some verses that explain that those saved in the Old Testament are saved the same way we are, by faith:

(Heb 11:17 ESV) By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son,

(Heb 11:20 ESV) By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau.

(Heb 11:21 ESV) By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff.

Each of these instances has Jesus the messiah as its ultimate object of faith.