What is the Biblical basis for Purgatory???

Question

Why do some people believe that people go to purgatory instead of heaven or hell. How do they get out of purgatory? What is purgatory and what supposedly goes on in purgatory?

Answer 1

"Purgatory (Lat., "purgare", to make clean, to purify) in accordance with Catholic teaching is a place or condition of temporal punishment for those who, departing this life in God's grace, are, not entirely free from venial faults, or have not fully paid the satisfaction due to their transgressions. "

"The faith of the Church concerning purgatory is clearly expressed in the Decree of Union drawn up by the Council of Florence (Mansi, t. XXXI, col. 1031), and in the decree of the Council of Trent which (Sess. XXV) defined: 'Whereas the Catholic Church, instructed by the Holy Ghost, has from the Sacred Scriptures and the ancient tradition of the Fathers taught in Councils and very recently in this Ecumenical synod (Sess. VI, cap. XXX; Sess. XXII cap.ii, iii) that there is a purgatory, and that the souls therein are helped by the suffrages of the faithful, but principally by the acceptable Sacrifice of the Altar; the Holy Synod enjoins on the Bishops that they diligently endeavor to have the sound doctrine of the Fathers in Councils regarding purgatory everywhere taught and preached, held and believed by the faithful'(Denzinger, "Enchiridon", 983). Further than this the definitions of the Church do not go, but the tradition of the Fathers and the Schoolmen must be consulted to explain the teachings of the councils, and to make clear the belief and the practices of the faithful."

It is not in the Holy Bible of most Christians. The only passage that speaks on a purging is found in 1 Corinthians 3:15 "If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire." This is NOT a place to go be punished for your worse sins... its the Refinery's fire where we all will pass through it and anything not of God will be burned off. Its like a final stage as in making us "pure", so we can be in the presence of God the Father. Like when a Potter is creating a masterpiece of pottery. It must go through the refinery a last and final time for it to be made perfect.

Answer 2

I am not a biblical scholar but I know that the teaching of purgatory comes from the Book of Maccabeus which was recognized by all Christians before Martin Luther. There are certain text of the scripture which speaks of a cleansing fire.

The Catholic Church believes that all who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven. I don't know what goes on or how long your in there, but I'm not going to argue about getting a second chance!

Answer 3

The catholic church came up with purgatory so they could send people there who have not been baptised, like babies that died before they were baptised, or people who were good people,but who lived before jesus. This gives comfort to mothers and fathers that have children die, knowing that their child is not burning in hell. (Since the death of children was so common back then when they came up with purgatory)

Edit: Also, purgatory is just a place. You don't suffer there, but you also don't get to feel the joy of heaven. You cannot get out of purgatory unless god specifically comes to get you. It's a transitional place between heaven and hell. (According to Dante's "Inferno")

Answer 4

Purgatory is a self-defined word. It is a place or state of purging, a catharsis of the soul. Purgatory isn't found in the expurgated version of the Bible; the protestant one in which the intertestamental books were removed. If you read 2 Maccabees 12: 38-45, you can discern the concept of purgatory.

How long purgatory lasts, or the method of purging are not given. It is simply understood that a sinful man needs some method of cleansing himself. True, the Bible teaches that one is washed with the blood of Christ, and his sins are removed, but does that change the NATURE of the man? These are the things that purgatory is supposed to take care of (from my understanding.

Answer 5

the only foundation for purgatory is while Dante wrote approximately it in 1294 the church desperate that it became a marvelous thought and would make a ton of money from people determining to purchase there way out of purgatory. You couldn´t purchase your way out of hell, yet purgatory became yet another concern and that they made a mint off it.

Answer 6

In 2 Maccabees 12 (yes, an apocryphal book, which is why Luther wanted it rejected), the commander of the Jewish forces orders prayers and sacrifice on behalf of Jewish soldiers who died wearing amulets of false gods. The idea of praying for forgiveness of the dead strongly implies there is a state after death in which the soul can be cleansed of imperfections that technically might disqualify it for heaven. This state of purgation was named purgatory.

Catholic theology makes a distinction between the guilt of unforgiven sin and the "effects" of sin even after forgiveness. The forgiveness saves one from hell, but some kind of restitution is required before one can properly enter heaven. Purgatory is not punishment, but final purification, although temporary denial of the beatific vision could be considered a type of punishment. The prayers and pious acts of the living apparently can help shorten the "time" of this purification. In the middle ages, the idea was abused, as some people began paying surrogates to pray on their own or family members' behalf, and some clergy even encouraged direct contributions to the Church (which Luther rightly condemned).

In general, purgatory is regarded as a hopeful place, demonstrating God's mercy and desire to preserve as many as possible from perdition by providing a means of recovering from technical states of sin at the time of death. The means of purgation is not described but apparently can be quantified in terms of time, at least according to pre-Vatican II descriptions. Once the soul is pure enough, it moves on to heaven.

Answer 7

Purgatory is needed because the Roman Church saying man can forgive the sins of men did not complete their job.

All RCs must go to purgatory to complete their prison sentences.

But if you are lucky, the pope can forgive all your sins before you die and if he feel like it make you into a saint..

You can therefore pray to the saints to intercede with God, or themselves forgive your sins.

To clear this all up, the Biblical version of Salvation is, you just need to surrender to God once, repent and receive Christ - you are already given Eternal life.

Not only that, all true believers are called saints, they can approach God without intercesseries like sinful priests.

And all our past and and future sins are covered by the blood of Christ for the sinner who repented, so that they can approach God as being sinless. The Bible said - unless your sins are covered by the blood of Christ, you cannot enter the presence of God.

Answer 8

There is no Biblical basis for Purgatory, and yes Catholics did come up with it, but it was so they could charge families to pray there loved ones out of Purgatory into heaven.

DOLLAR BILLS THAT IS WHAT IT IS ABOUT.

Answer 9

The Bible does not support Purgatory. This is something that the Catholic church began. From what I understand, people give money to the church to get the dead person out of purgatory.

Answer 10

There is no Biblical reference to purgatory.