The Pope and Purgatory?????

Question

I'm a bit lost on this one. I believe the KJV Bible and everything in it. Though I sin, and sometimes go against what is in the bible, that does not mean I don't believe the Bible/God's word and that Jesus died on the cross for my sins. With that being said, where in the Bible does it mention the Pope or Purgatory? It is just me or does the Catholic church need to reread the Bible?

I'm not catholic, this was just a question for my own knowledge.

Thank you mywifeisbetterthanyours's

It says in the Bible that you are saved by Grace. That would be God's grace, not the prayers of other people praying you into heaven.

And for Peter and the "rock", I am no bible scholar, but I beileve the "rock" would be in reference to God. It wouldn't make sence anyway, why would God build his church on a falible man. We are human, we all sin regradless of what anyone says.

Just b/c that particular church studied something for 1900 years doesn't mean it is correct. I'm just there has always been athietism and they think they are correct, obviously without prayer, but do you see my point.

I'd say yeah, i do need to see something written in the bible in order to believe it. The bible is God's written word, and man is man, a sinner, every one of us. Who or what would i rather believe, the bible, or some sinner?

Answer 1

You are 100% correct in your thoughts on purgatory. I am a non-denominational Christian, and it is interesting to me how some of the more visible doctrines and beliefs in the Catholic church (whose main focus of study is the Bible) are only found in sources outside the Bible itself. The Bible does NOT mention anything about purgatory. Catholicism is a religion that offers little or no hope to its church body. The Bible teaches that salvation based on the belief that Christ paid the penalty for our sins means that we are to have eternal life in heaven with God. If there is still punishment after death for our sins, then Christ died for NOTHING. That's the point of Him dying, so we would not have to pay the price for our sins because the price of ONE sin is DEATH, which Christ paid for us.
One of the fundamental teachings that I believe that's in the Bible is that Christ, not any man, is the head of the church. If one man is put in charge of interpreting scriptures for its people and delivering messages based on what he believes (or thinks) God wants for His people, then we have the problems that are present in the Catholic church today. False teachings based on non-Biblical sources that cloud what their beliefs actually are.
I totally agree with you on this. I hope this helps clear this up for you.
Also, I would recommend the movie "Luther"... you will find it very interesting regarding the Catholic church and their beliefs.

Also, my comment for "Swordsman"... read up on the history of the Biblical canon and you will find that the books of the Apocrypha were removed from the final version of the Bible we have now because they were determined to either not be in line with or directly contradict the other books in the Bible and therefore, not the Word of God. So those books are not considered part of the canon. This all happened before the Roman Catholic church was actually founded. I believe that when Christ told Peter that upon this rock I will build my church he was referring to The Rock... Himself. The belief that Jesus is Son of the one true God... not Peter himself. It depends on how you want to interpret it, but if you go back to the original texts it's pretty clear that this is what Jesus was saying.

Answer 2

You will not find a satisfactory answer here because your interpretation is different from those who believe that the Papacy and Purgatory are justified in Scripture.

I would ask - does the Pope NEED to be mentioned in the Bible? What DOES Scripture say in regards to how a Church should be administered, especially a very large, worldwide one?

I would also ask, where is Ken Lay? Where is John Gotti? After a lifetime of corruption and sin, if at their last moment, with their dying breath, they confessed and apologized, is that sufficient to get into Heaven?

The Catholic Church has read and studied and prayed over and debated Scripture for more than 1900 years before you were even born. You are not obligated to believe what they say, but take your short lifetime and compare it to the lifetimes placed into advancing the Catholic Church to where it is today, and at least respect that one who is led to Christ through the Catholic Church was not led there in error.

Answer 3

There´s absolutely nothing in the Bible that teaches about purgatory or papacy. I should know, i´ve started reading the Bible 45 years ago. I used to be catholic until i saw how far away from the scriptures the catholic hierarchy was. That´s not a reflection on individual christian catholics but on the roman system of belief. I,m sure you will find many real Christians in all denominations that will share their experiences so you may arrive at the real truth. God bless you!!!

Answer 4

First of all you're reading the wrong Bible. You need to read the Catholic Bible. We're the ones who originally decided on what was in it. Second the Pope is the apostolic successor to St. Peter. Third, not everything is in the Bible. Jesus left a living body to be the authority on religious matters. i.e. the Catholic Church.

Answer 5

first of each and every of the KJV of the bible wa created in the sixteenth centurary. And the bible got here about in the 4 th centurary by using the Catholic Church. beforehand that each and every thing changed into oral custom. Purgatory is got here upon in the books of MAcabees wich is in the former testomony of the bible. The pope is clarly stated. The word pope isn't used yet giving the authority to peter the first pope is. Pope ability papa because the top of the Church like a father. you may imagine the position is Macabees? properly Martin luther took books out of the bible becasue they contradicted his teachings. Letter of James talks about doing reliable works not merely faith on my own. So who ever follows the coaching of Luther is in mistakes becaseu they p.c.. and chosen what to believe. Allso seem traditionally the catholic Church changed into round on the beging what about the others? Um no. imagine on that

Answer 6

+ Pope +

Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:17-19)

The Catholic Church believes the Lord made Simon alone, whom he named Peter, the "rock" of his Church. He gave him the keys of his Church and instituted him shepherd of the whole flock.

Pope Benedict XVI is the direct successor of Peter, the first Pope.

+ Purgatory +

"But if someone's work is burned up, that one will suffer loss; the person will be saved, but only as through fire." 1 Cor 3:15

"So that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." 1 Pet 1:7

Are you perfect now? Most people would say no.

Will you be perfect in heaven? Most people believe yes.

Purgatory (or purgation) is the process of God's love changing our imperfect selves into perfect beings. Depending on the amount of change needed by different people this can be an easy or slightly harder process. Everyone in purgatory is on their way to heaven. I don't think Mother Teresa of Calcutta had a very hard time of it.

With love in Christ.

Answer 7

The pope is a figurehead. The Catholic church needed guidance. They constructed a system of bishops, cardinals and the pope to help construct a hierarchy. It was not mandated in the bible. This does not make it wrong.

For more information on the Catholic church's stance on purgatory, see this website: http://www.catholic.com/library/Purgatory.asp

Answer 8

As a recovering Catholic, I can assure you that many people struggled with this one! There is no purgatory - plain and simple. If there was then that would mean that Jesus died for nothing! I don't know where that whole thing started but it ends with the Catholics. Jesus paid too high of a price for us to minimize his triumph! Thank you Jesus.....