in the roman catholic bible...where in the bible is purgatory located?

Answer 1

It comes from a couple of places in scripture and elsewhere in tradition. Since the reformation restricted accepted tradition to the pages of scripture which are merely a specific element of tradition, I will ignore those. Also a note, purgatory is not a place of punishment nor strictly thinking a place, but rather a state of transformation. Purgatory is the point where you change from your imperfect mortal self to your perfect eternal form. Medieaval Germans viewed it as a place of fire because steel is purified in fire and it takes time to perfect steel. Of course that analogy isn't very useful to a being that knows no time, such as God. But that is how the medieaval Germans saw it and how it often gets imported as an idea into Protestantism.

When we die, we undergo what is called the particular, or individual, judgment. Scripture says that "it is appointed for men to die once, and after that comes judgment" (Heb. 9:27). We are judged instantly and receive our reward, for good or ill. We know at once what our final destiny will be. At the end of time, when Jesus returns, there will come the general judgment to which the Bible refers, for example, in Matthew 25:31-32: "When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats." In this general judgment all our sins will be publicly revealed (Luke 12:2–5).

Further, Jesus says "I tell you, you will never get out till you have paid the very last copper" (Luke 12:59). Again, it isn't a view toward punishment so much as toward perfection.

Finally, all initial Catholics were Jews and we still retain the old testament in use at the time of the apostles and Jesus. It was latter changed by the rabbis, but at the time of Jesus it was longer. You see prayers for the dead in 2 Maccabees 12:43-45 and Jews still say the Kaddesh and Jesus as a good Jew would have too.

What happens if a righteous man’s work fails the test? "He will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire" (1 Cor 3:15).

I think part of the issue is an attitudinal and doctrinal difference between Catholicism and Protestantism.

Protestants seem to see themselves as saved from a righteous judgment in court. Kind of like being dragged into court, where the Father is a righteous judge, and being saved by the blood of Jesus from being held accountable. So it is a negative concept of God, he is angry and you have been saved from harm. So purgatory would look like a little "Hell," instead of a positive thing.

Catholics see themselves as saved for sonship. It is like being an orphan and brought into a huge holy family governed by God the Father in Heaven. This adoption is through the sacrifice of Christ as a perpetual atonement for our sins, as evidence of the Father's extreme love for us. So purgatory isn't seen as a negative punishment but as the perfecting of our relationship with God. What is left of our sinful self is destroyed and we stand in the Presence of the Most High in the New Jerusalem. Like a surgery, the removal of the sins we held onto and didn't permit God to heal in our life seems like a little sacrifice, but not a punishment for our evil but as a goodness to make our brokeness better. To a Catholic, purgatory is a healing process not a punishment process. It is an act of love.

Catholicism is about family not salvation and punishment. We certainly do not ignore either, but how do you get someone to love you by threatening eternal damnation if they don't? How is that related to love? It is the living body of Christ, the divine family of the Living. It is where He-Who-Is lives every day.

Answer 2

+ Purgatory +

The concept of purgation is hinted at in the Bible. Here are a couple of places:

"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 on earth into perfect beings in heaven. Depending on the amount of change needed by different people, this can be an easy or slightly harder process. Everyone in purgatory is on his or her way to heaven. I do not think Mother Teresa of Calcutta had a very hard time of it.

+ Sources of Doctrine +

The Catholic Church does not only use Holy Scripture for the basis of doctrine. The early Catholic church existed before and during the time that the New Testament was written (by Catholics).

Catholics also believe that the Holy Spirit was guiding the early church (and is guiding the church today) to make the correct choices about things like
- The Holy Trinity (which is also only hinted at in the Bible)
- Going to church on Sunday instead of Saturday (which is actually directly against one of the ten commandments)
- Which books to include in the New Testament?
- How do our imperfect selves on earth get to be perfect in heaven?

This second source of doctrine is called Apostolic Tradition.

+ With love in Christ.

Answer 3

It isn't in the Bible.

The Pope in Rome around 1300 decided that the soul will reside in purgatory waiting the prayers of the saints to redeem them from unforgiven sins. Around that time he also stated that people could release their loved ones from purgatory through the purchase of indulgences. This was a major point of contention for Martin Luther, John Wycliffe, and John Hus, who Began the Protestant Reformation.

NOTE: The Catholic Church is no-longer teaching of Purgatory.

Answer 4

It isn't explicity stated in the Bible. Writings of the saints and theologians working to interpret the Bible have formed the basis for Purgatory.

It may be worthwhile to note that many Catholics no longer believe that Purgatory is an actual place in the Afterlife.

Answer 5

You will not find this in the Bible. The doctrine of Purgatory was established by Gregory the first in the year 593. It is one of the many man made Catholic inventions that they teach.

Answer 6

You will not find the doctrine of purgatory in the Catholic Bible or any other. It is a remnant of paganism that the Catholic Church has retained in her doctrines.