Christians Is this verse evidence of purgatory? 1 Cor 3:15?

Question

The primary Scriptural passage Catholics point to for evidence of Purgatory is 1 Corinthians 3:15, which says, “If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.” The passage (1 Corinthians 3:12-15) is using an illustration of things going through fire as a description of believers’ works being judged. If our works are of good quality “gold, sliver, costly stones,” they will pass through the fire unharmed, and we will be rewarded for them. If our works are of poor quality “wood, hay, and straw,” they will be consumed by the fire, and there will be no reward. The passage does not say that believers pass through the fire, but rather that a believer’s works pass through the fire. 1 Corinthians 3:15 refers to the believer “escaping through the flames,” not “being cleansed by the flames.”

Born again Catholic. Thanks so much for the Scripture verses. You can be sure that I will follow up every one of them.
Blessings

Born again Catholic. Do you have any comment about PDG's answer?

Sorry for the typo, I meant pgd.

Rescued by the Lamb: Please take no offence, but I would like to defend Born Again Catholic. Despite the unbiblical beliefs and practices of the Roman Catholic Church, there are genuine believers who attend Roman Catholic churches. There are many Roman Catholics who have genuinely placed their faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. However, these Catholic Christians are believers despite what the Catholic Church teaches, not because of what it teaches. To varying degrees, the Catholic Church teaches from the Bible and points people to Jesus Christ as the Savior. As a result, some Catholics have accepted Christ and have been born again.
Blessings.

Answer 1

The doctrine of purgatory does not hinge upon one solitary verse of Scripture, although certainly the one you mention is often quoted. But so are these:

Matt. 5:26,18:34; Luke 12:58-59
Matt. 5:48
Matt. 12:32
Luke 12:47-48
Luke 16:19-31
1 Cor. 15:29-30
2 Tim. 1:16-18
Heb. 12:14
Heb. 12:23
1 Peter 3:19; 4:6
Rev. 21:27

I have also provided links to the appropriate sections of the Catechism below.

Edit: It's doubtful that John XXIII "denounced" the doctrine, as he mentioned it quite clearly in his last will and testament: "As I face death, I recall each and every one—those who have preceded me in taking the final step, those who will survive me and who will follow me. May they pray for me. I will repay them from Purgatory or from Paradise, where I hope to be received, I repeat it once again, not because of my merits, but because of the mercy of my Lord." http://www.catholicculture.org/library/view.cfm?recnum=3234

I should like to see where, in the Vatican II documents, the doctrine was "fessed up to" as a "myth". Since the updated Catechism followed upon Vatican II, and John Paul II upheld the doctrine in his teachings (as one example from 1999, see the third link below, about two-thirds down the page), these assertions are baseless in fact and seem to exist only to those with very fertile imaginations as well as an axe to grind.

"K for Him": No need to be upset on my account. I did say, did I not, that the doctrine was not based upon just one verse of Scripture? This means that *all* of the references I listed do relate in some way to this doctrine. Please read some of the links. "Clueless" was unnecessary, my sister, and flinging 1 Cor 2:14 at me is unfounded.

Edit again: Thank you, Kait, but it's all right, I understand. At one time I was where she is.

Answer 2

If you look back a couple of verses and read the context--say, verses 12-15, you will see clear scriptural support for a refining fire of some sort. The Catholic doctrine of Purgatory states that during this process we will be separated from God.

Protestants deny that this process requires separation from God. Just as the High Priest of Israel wore a garment of God's choosing when entering the Holy of Holies, likewise we are clothed in the garment of Christ's righteousness and so we can enter God's presence despite our personal lack of sanctification. In fact, Protestants such as C.S.Lewis have argued that the very fact of entering God's presence is what brings about this refining process.

Answer 3

No this is not evidence of purgatory. I don't believe there is a purgatory. Yes we will be changed as we enter Heaven but that will be in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. And it will not be a change of suffering. Paul tells us to be absent from the body is to be present with Christ. No purgatory there. If and this is a big if purgatory ever existed it ended with the sacrifice of Jesus. That sacrifice makes us perfect. No purging necessary.

Answer 4

Thanks for that verse. That is one of the verses my Pastor preached right after my cousins funeral (he had committed suicide). My prayer to Jesus was asking if my cousin was in heaven. And Jesus gave me confirmation in my spirit he was, because he was born again at a Christian Church camp. But then in life was deceived by the devils lies & unforgiveness, so grieved Gods Holy Spirit & committed suicide.

And the message was even more on this. And example of one who remained in faith & died compared for one who seemed not haveing victory in faith & who died. The one received great rewards, while the other couldn't receive the gifts Jesus had planned to give him. But Jesus said that since he was still His child, he could enter heaven.

So? I understood this that my cousin's unforgiveness & lies he believed that led to his suicide didn't go to heaven with him. These works got fried. So? He didn't get the rewards Jesus wanted to give him. I am sure he got some rewards though. And the other 2 persons in my life who died at that time, was a lady & a different cousin who were of strong faith, & I believe they got many rewards.

Yes I thought this seemed like 'purgatory'. After this happened in my life. But 'purgatory' would be only for those who really are born again Christians & actually got on the Rock Foundation, Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God. I think Catholics should specifically define what they think 'purgatory' is.

Purgatory isn't for those who never quite committed to Christ, confessing Jesus Christ Lord & Savior of their life. Everyone's works will be tested by fire. Gods Word is everlasting. So the things we do that is trusting & obeying God & Gods Word is where we get the everlasting rewards; faith, hope, love, joy, peace, patience, honesty, truth, etc...

Answer 5

It is not only Catholics that have an understanding of Purgatory. Most eastern Orthodox and many Anglican Christians share a similar view.

If we imagine that heaven is like a king’s castle, most of us arrive at its gates after death as country bumpkins, in ragged clothes and muddy boots. We need a good scrubbing.
Purgatory is the "place" that provides that scrubbing. How it is manifested is not fully known.

Christians aware of their own human fallibility know they are still unfit to see God, and may be in need of Jesus' cleansing grace. Few of us die totally clean and without undue attachments to this world.

Pope Benedict XVI has decribed Purgatory as the “fire” of
that moment when Jesus judges us and conforms us to our new glorious resurrected body.

Answer 6

Absolutely nothing to do with "Purgatory". It has to do with the
Bema. The Judgment Seat of Christ for the believer(those who have accepted Christ in this life).
This is so simple. Why would you even think of Purgatory concerning this verse. I have no degree in Bible. Never attended a seminary. Even I can understand this.
I Cr 13;8a
Ps 122;6

Answer 7

who knows? the way i see it, the bits and pieces we're given in the bible concerning the afterlife could be interpretted in several different ways, and we all seem to have a little bit different idea about it. the important thing is that we've been promised eternal life. until we get to the sweet by and by, the focus should be on the here and now. we should be asking ourselves daily what we have done to show the love of Christ to others, and just trust God to do what He does with us when we pass on. whatever the details are, it's more important to realize that what we've been promised to us as saints is far more than what we deserve as sinners, and that He who brings us together is worth far more than the things that seperate us. maybe if we start to realize this there can be a little more unity in *the* church, but it definitely won't happen if all we can do is nitpick at the specifics of those who belong to other denominations.

peace,
drew

Answer 8

I don't believe that is evidence of purgatory but rather evidence to the fact that we are saved by grace not by works. But our work will determine our standing or status in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ , that is in the world to come when Jesus will set up His Kingdom on the new earth...Only what you do for Christ will last...

Answer 9

This is not referring to purgatory, rather it's referring to the Judgment Seat of Christ. Here, all who have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb will have their works tested by the fire of His righteous judgment. If a believer's work was done to bring glory and honor to Him, it will remain and be rewarded. If, on the other hand, one's work was done with selfish motives, to glorify one's self, it will be burned up and they will lose their reward. The Lord is the only one who knows the motives behind our works, and it is at the Judgment Seat of Christ where these motives will be brought out in the open. God bless you!!!

Answer 10

From Hebrews Chapter 9:
26Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. ***27Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,*** 28so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.


Judgement comes straight after death; no Purgatory. No repeated sacrifice in the Mass, either. Jesus was sacrificed ONCE.

Answer 11

Purgatory is a catholic concoction and not of God.

The scripture you refer to is speaking of the good works, the acceptable offerings unto the Lord.

There are two offerings men offer up to God. That of Cain and that of Abel.

Cain's was rejected while Abel's was accepted. Why?

Because Abel gave his offering from a loving heart. He gave because he wanted to give, because he wanted to please God.

Cain on the other hand did not and his offering was rejected.

So when a man offers up an acceptable work unto the Lord, his offering must be that of Abel's. IN other words, the offering that come through the love of Christ are the only acceptable offerings unto the Lord.

If a man gives for any other reasons then the love in his heart and the desire to please God, his offering is unacceptable, and will burn up, be lost.

Yet, to be least in heaven is far better then to be great in hell.