Verse eight is perhaps the key to understanding the passage. Here again he is talking about himself and Apollos as ministers and their labour among the Church and Corinth.
St. Paul does speak of "every man" repeatedly in the passage. So, no, the passage in question, starting at verse 9, where people are likened to buildings is directed at all of us, not only the clergy, even though previously St. Paul was talking of himself and Apollo. He says: "let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon" (v. 10).
The passage is not saying anything about purification after death but about what will be lost at death
When inferior things are removed from something, for example, from a building, that is purification. Did you ever clean anything?
The passage indeed speaks of events that happen at death of an individual who has a foundation of faith, yet has allowed impurities of carnal nature in his life. Those impurities will be lost before he enters heaven. The passage does not say anything about the duration of this process that is likened to the burning building. The metaphor of a house on fire does suggest some limited duration, but it is possible to think of the Purgatory as an instant event accompanying some deaths.
>> St. Paul does speak of “every man” repeatedly in the passage. So, no, the passage in question, starting at verse 9, where people are likened to buildings is directed at all of us, not only the clergy,<<
He is still talking about carnal acts of the people at Corinth. The entire passage is referencing whether people are putting their efforts in carnal thought and work or advancing toward more Godly thought and work.
[8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.]
In verse 8, look at the reference to planting and watering of he and Apollo the following reference to man is pertaining to work of he and Apollo. As you keep reading look again at verse 13. He again references the comment in verse 8 and is still talking about the work that ministers have done among the people.
[13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.]
There is no reference or inference of any of the purification happening after death. Any attempt to imply it does hinges on heresy.