Does the Bible talk about Purgatory and if so where?
2007-05-30 05:28:58 · 14 answers · asked by Al M 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
purgatory is a Catholic Church-made doctrine for the purpose of being able to extract money from the surviving family. When a family doesn't want uncle buck to burn in hell forever, the catholic church says he is in purgatory and for a small cash donation, they can pray him into heaven.
This is a doctrine straight from the pits of hell.
2007-06-01 09:49:47 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Purgatory is not mentioned in the Bible ... neither is the Internet, yet the Internet exists.
The Pope's of the Catholic Church have not been focusing on "Purgatory" since the 1960's (Pope Paul VI). They feel that they do not have fully have comprehension of the Holy Spirit to use this theology well. Pope Paul Vi, Pope John Paul II, and Pope Benedict XVI all agree that Purgatory isn't a worthy subject to focus on at this time. None of these Pope's has declared *Infallibility* with the existence or non-existence of "Purgatory".
2007-05-30 12:40:41 · answer #2 · answered by Giggly Giraffe 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some churches, especially of the Eastern Orthodox tradition, believe that when the Bible refers to a place called Hades (or Sheol), it is referring to this idea of Purgatory. The problem is that in modern terminology, Hades and Hell (Gehenna) are often used interchangeably. Originally, Hades was not a place of fire and punishment, but simply the realm that spirits go to directly after death, where they await the Resurrection. It is a place either of prison or progress. Some in Hades will likely receive damnation. These individuals are in Prison. Others are destined for Salvation -- these are progressing through a process called Theosis -- in which they are preparing to live in the presence of God and be like him. Others, who never knew the Law or Gospel are given the opportunity to hear it. It is to these people that Jesus preached after his crucifixion when he went to Hades -- see 1 Pet. 3:19, 1 Pet. 4:6, Heb. 12:23.
I don't think that the Roman Catholic idea of purgatory is supported in the scriptures -- the idea that even the righteous must undergo punishment by fire in Purgatory until they are purified. This is exactly what Jesus came to prevent. Those who believe in him and repent need not suffer for their sins. Only those who do not follow Christ will undergo this punishment. Mormons believe in the former idea of Hades in their beliefs about the Spirit World. The afterlife is divided into prison and paradise, where spirits will wait for the resurrection and final judgment. The "fires" of Hell are a temporary punishment as un-believers pay the price for the sins they committed. Afterwards, they will be received into a degree of Heaven, depending on how they lived their life. Orthodox and Mormon belief in this area is quite similar.
2007-05-30 12:54:06 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Purgatory is a Roman doctrine, drawn primarily from the book of Macabees.
The basic problem is that the presupposition of purgatory is that the atonement of Christ was not sufficient for justification, and that each of us must perform further works in order for us to have complete redemption, which to my mind logically goes against the entire notion of the atonement. What exactly can I do that God himself did not do on the cross?
This is why the protestant world would respectfully (hopefully it is always respectful) disagree with that doctrine.
Soli Deo Gloria
2007-05-30 12:34:31 · answer #4 · answered by doc in dallas 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Only Catholics believe in Purgatory. Its in their Bible. But Christians dont believe there is such a place as purgatory....The Catholics used that as a way to make money. They told the followers that they can pay to have their loved ones saved from purgatory...watch the movie Luther for more details on that
2007-05-30 12:34:16 · answer #5 · answered by jlcrit 3 · 4⤊ 2⤋
The only thing in the Bible that remotely points to it is a single reference in one of the epistles where the author refers to Jesus "preaching to souls in prison" after his death. There are some vague references in the Apocrypha/Deuterocanonicals which are a part of the Catholic bible. But I see very little solid scriptural support for a "halfway house" on the way to heaven. On the contrary- the Bible constantly says Jesus' blood was a fully sufficient sacrifice for all sin. So why would we have to spend time after death purging sin?
This is the same problem with penance. Jesus bore the scourging, abuse, and shame that I deserve. Who am I to say that what He did is insufficient? It robs the significance of His sacrifice. Time spent doing penance would be much better spent praising God for the mission He accomplished and doing good in the world around us.
2007-05-30 12:38:32 · answer #6 · answered by hoff_mom 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Purgatory is a town in Utah and thats about it. There is either Hell or Heaven. There is no inbetween.
2007-05-30 12:32:30 · answer #7 · answered by Christmas Light Guy 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It does not. And you can look on the Roman Catholic sites and see that it is not really supported with distinction, only by a few verses that must be stretched in order to display any support at all.
2007-05-30 12:37:24 · answer #8 · answered by Christian Sinner 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is in the Apocrypha in the Catholic Bible, not in the Christian Bible that was canonized.
2007-05-30 12:34:28 · answer #9 · answered by Bruce7 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
There are way too many passages to post here. This site lists them:
http://www.scripturecatholic.com/purgatory.html
2007-05-30 12:32:42 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋