ATTENTION ALL CATHOLICS!!! purgatory???

Question

why do catholics believe in purgatory if there is no such place taught about or mentioned in the Bible. i would seriously like to know this.

can pew potato please help?

Answer 1

Actually the pope mandated it's non-existance somewhat recently.

Answer 2

The Bible also teaches (a) that some sins are forgiven in the next world; (b) that some souls are saved in the next world "by fire"; (c) that it is useful and beneficial to pray for the dead.

"And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of Man it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, NEITHER IN THE WORLD TO COME. ( i.e. Some sins can therefore be forgiven after death.)"— Mt. 12:32

"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. 15. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, YET SO AS BY FIRE."—1 Cor. 3:13 ,15

"It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead that they may be loosed from their sins." 2 Machabees, 12:46 (This is one of the Old Testament books omitted from the Protestant Bible SEE DUTEROCANONICAL or APOCHRYPHAL).

COMMENT: As nothing defiled can enter Heaven (Rev. 21-27), there must necessarily exist a state of cleansing or purgation usually called "purgatory."

The Existence of Purgatory
Jews, Catholics, and Eastern Orthodox have always historically proclaimed the reality of the final purification. It was not until the Protestant Reformers came in the 1500s that anyone denied this doctrine. As the following quotes from the early Church Fathers show, purgatory has been part of the Christian faith from the very beginning. 

Catholics believe that the only way to the Father is through Jesus, but the Bible also states that prayers of the faithful are brought before the Lord in Rev.8:3 "Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a gold censer. He was given a great quantity of incense to offer, along with the prayers of all the holy ones, on the gold altar that was before the throne." Prayers of the Holy Ones brought before the Lord...

Look at 2 Timothy 1:16-18 Paul is praying for the DEAD Onesiphorus.....

Answer 3

In the book of Baruch it says "pray for the dead". Why would they need prayers if they're in Heaven or Hell? Also, is not mentioned by word in the bible but neither is the Holy Trinity. Yet, most Christian denominations believe in the Trinity and it was the Catholic Church who established that doctrine.

Baruch 3:4 - Baruch asks the Lord to hear the prayers of the dead of Israel. Prayers for the dead are unnecessary in heaven and unnecessary in hell. These dead are in purgatory.


Edit- Note to those who answer without knowing anything about Catholicism. We don't do indulgences anymore! The Pope didn't do away with purgatory, that was limbo. Is a different issue. Pick up Catholicism for Dummies, people!

Answer 4

That Purgatory isn't biblical is debatable. What's not debatable by any informed and half-way intelligent person is that the Catholic Church is not a sola scriptura church. Given the Fact that the CC is not a bible only church, why do some people keep repeating the litany "It's not in the bible?" I'm amazed at this phenomenon and also by the belief that non-biblical equates to contra-biblical.

Answer 5

There is such a place in the Bible. Mathew 5th chapter. It is where Jesus tell the Disciples that every one will be judged and have to pay for the sins that they have committed.

Answer 6

http://www.scripturecatholic.com/purgatory.html

this site should cover it for you.

i forget the exact location of this example......

when jesus descended to the dead in a place set side out of hell for those waiting for the kingdom of heaven to be opened for them, it wasn't called purgatory in the bible but is a clear indication of a middle state or 3rd state where some need to be purified, naming it purgatory is no different than referring to the "trinity" or "rapture" etc.......

Answer 7

+ 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.

http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt3art12.htm#1030

+ Sources of Doctrine +

I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. (John 16:12-13)

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

There were hundreds of Christian writings during the first and second centuries. Which New Testament writings would become official was not fully decided until about 400 AD.

Catholics 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)
+ The Communion of Saints
+ Which writings include in the New Testament?

Things that are even more modern like
+ Slavery is bad. Slavery is never declared evil in the Bible. This was one of the justifications for slavery in the Confederate States.
+ Democracy is good. The Bible states that either God should be the leader of the nation like Israel before the kings or kings should be the leader, "Give to Caesar that which is Caesar's." This was talked about a lot during the American Revolution.

This second source of doctrine is called Apostolic Tradition.

Do Christians who do not allow the continuing guiding force of the Holy Spirit to make their beliefs more and more perfect, still endorse slavery as Colossians 3:22 commands, "Slaves, obey your human masters in everything"?

Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours. (2 Thessalonians 2:15)

We instruct you, brothers, in the name of (our) Lord Jesus Christ,to shun any brother who conducts himself in a disorderly way and not according to the tradition they received from us. (2 Thessalonians 3:6)

I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold fast to the traditions, just as I handed them on to you. (1 Corinthians 11:2)

http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect1chpt2.htm#80

+ With love in Christ.

Answer 8

To Meissen: It was Limbo that the Pope said we did not have to believe in and not Purgatory. There will be alot of people surprised to end up in some place they didn't think existed.

Answer 9

How's this ?

Jas 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Jas 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
Jas 4:9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
Jas 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

If this does not advocate purgation, I don't know what does.

Answer 10

Purgatory is, we believe, a state of sanctification before you can enter heaven. If your soul is not in a fit state of perfection, you can't really enter heaven, but having some venial sins on your soul is not necessarily going to cause God to condemn you to hell. So, if you die with some sins on your soul, you spend a while in purgatory before you can move on to heaven. We believe souls in purgatory are praying for us on earth, so we pray for them in turn to get to heaven quicker.

Answer 11

ATTENTION ALL PROTESTANTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Martin Luther removed books that proved a place like purgatory, that were in the Bible for hundreds of years because he was SCARED of purgatory...

you lose...