Was the catholic pope who presented the idea of purgatory aware of jewish theology?

Question

Gehinom (Gehenna), according to rabbinic literature, is a place or state where the wicked are temporarily punished after death. “Gehenna” is sometimes translated as "hell", but the Christian view of hell differs from the Jewish view of Gehenna. Most sinners are said to suffer in Gehenna no longer than twelve months. Those who are too wicked to reach paradise are sometimes said to be punished forever. Other accounts reject the idea that a merciful God would punish anyone forever,in which case those too wicked for purification are destroyed.

I am not asking what the bible teaches about purgatory, or whether you believe in purgatory or not.

I am asking if the concept of purgatory could have arisen from the then pope's knowledge of judaism's gehenna. Which clearly has the ideology that Hell is not truly permanent, and there is a temporary holding place for people who need to become purified. That is why the surviving members of the family are asked to pray for 11 months.

No one prays to the dead.....

They pray for the dead. Notice the word "for"... not "to".... it means they pray TO god, to forgive their deceased relatives. So they are praying FOR their deceased relatives....

Answer 1

Much of Catholic theology is based on Jewish theology. Jesus Christ, our founder and Head, began His life as a Jew. Most of the earliest Christians began their lives as Jews, and Jewish Christians played a dominant role in the Church which included those pagan Romans and Greeks who had also converted.

I know of no Catholic teachings that were the original brainchild of any particular pope; everything was developed slowly over many years, the result of painstaking work and study by Catholic scholars and theologians in Rome, in Jerusalem, in Greece. Throughout many centuries, their work was based primarily upon Sacred Scripture and grounded in the earlier Jewish tradition.

In the Middle Ages, Europe rediscovered Aristotle and Plato; and the classical Greeks represented some of the first and earliest "new" streams influencing Catholic thought, which had hitherto been primarily Jewish.

Answer 2

Listen. Everything I read in the bible points to the Jewish people being the chosen people of God, apparently no one would accept the Law but the Jewish people which makes them holy i'd assume. According to what I read when it comes to messianic prophecies, peace on earth, every leader of each nation will turn to a jew for advice, every jew will expierence happiness, Jesus hasn't fulfilled these. Judaism has WAY more in depth than any other religion i've seen into. So, after all my rambeling, this is my answer. If the Jewish people say 12 months, it's 12 months. The religion doesn't force anyone what so ever to join their religion, it's a peaceful religion, no where in history have they forced their power on other nations but it's the other way around. Yeah, you get the point. I'd definitely ask a rabbi about their idea of "hell". I really hope this helped. Otherwise, it'd be me spewing useless words and i'm sorry if it was that.

Answer 3

The Jewish practice of praying for the dead is one of the sources for the doctrine of purgatory. One place this is shown is 2 Maccabees 12:40-46:

But under the tunic of each of the dead they found amulets sacred to the idols of Jamnia, which the law forbids the Jews to wear. So it was clear to all that this was why these men had been slain. They all therefore praised the ways of the Lord, the just judge who brings to light the things that are hidden. Turning to supplication, they prayed that the sinful deed might be fully blotted out. The noble Judas warned the soldiers to keep themselves free from sin, for they had seen with their own eyes what had happened because of the sin of those who had fallen. He then took up a collection among all his soldiers, amounting to two thousand silver drachmas, which he sent to Jerusalem to provide for an expiatory sacrifice. In doing this he acted in a very excellent and noble way, inasmuch as he had the resurrection of the dead in view; for if he were not expecting the fallen to rise again, it would have been useless and foolish to pray for them in death. But if he did this with a view to the splendid reward that awaits those who had gone to rest in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. Thus he made atonement for the dead that they might be freed from this sin.

http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/bible/2maccabees/2maccabees12.htm#40

Here are a couple of other places purgatory is hinted at in the Bible:

"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

But the souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace. For if before men, indeed, they be punished, yet is their hope full of immortality; Chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of himself. As gold in the furnace, he proved them, and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself. Wisdom 3:1-6

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.

For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, section 1030: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt3art12.htm#1030

+ With love in Christ.

Answer 4

purgatory was not the popes idea. Nor is confession, or communion of the saints. It is biblical, whether the bible says the word or not the concept is in the bible.
Get real, are people still that mideval minded thinking the pope just makes up things to believe? ridiculous.

Answer 5

Well that is the Catholics view on things. Regardless of what Jewish theology is, they will not agree with that belief.
It's sad to say because I really beleive that most if not all souls will be forgiven.
It seems that Catholicism as well as Christianity would rather put fear into the hearts of it's followers rather then the idea that your souls will be forgiven if you ask YHWH for it.
I find that to be a much more loving concept.
then you will suffer and be alone for eternity or will burn for eternity in Hell.

stars for you! *smiles*

Answer 6

<> particular. Purgatory is a theory of the Catholic faith. <> All Catholics are meant to have self belief in Purgatory. additionally, people who're "Perfected" on the time they 'investigate' go immediately to heaven. they have not got any prefer for Purgatory. maximum folk will require purification in Purgatory till now entering into Heaven. <> No, it fairly is a time a purification.

Answer 7

Praying To the dead is against the Bible and The disciples were the first church writers Catholic just make up there own ideas.

Answer 8

i was raised in that religion and used to believe that the pope was "god on earth". when i gave my life to Christ i left that religion because of every lie it had taught me. I went to catolic school. had catachism, 1st holy communion, confirned, was an alter boy. went to mass every sunday, said my confession every saturday, wore a cross , rosary,and scapular around my neck. had my idols on the wall even had my own little altar with holy water!! when i read my bible, i found that alll that stuff was not biblical and threw it away! purgatory DOES NOT exist, its just another lie!!Its either heaven or hell buddy , you choose where you wanna go

Answer 9

possibly so but the bible clearly states that we must be clensed of our sins before we enter into christs relm

Answer 10

Evidently not......There is no truth to that idea.......
Purgatory boils down to Christs blood be insufficient for our sins........ummmm- nada........