Purgatory Q&A

Catholicism

By YBible

Is purgatory in the Bible?

The short is answer is no, not if you let the Bible interpret itself. Catholic purgatory requires adding dogma to the Bible text.

The main passage Catholics claim teach purgatory is 1 Corinthians 3:11-15. Other verses may be presented but are not as relevant.

Proper Bible interpretation is to compare scripture with scripture (1 Cor. 2:13). Nothing added to the Bible and nothing subtracted (Dt. 4:2; Pro. 30:6; Rev. 22:18-19). God’s word always defines itself (2 Pt. 1:20-21).

Here’s what Catholics have added to 1 Corinthians 3:11-15:

Purification of the soul/payment for sins: The verse doesn't mention it, to teach this would imply that Jesus’ sacrifice wasn’t enough, the Bible repeatedly says it was (Hebrews 10:10, 14).

An extended torture process: The verse doesn't mention this either. Catholics teach it could take 1,000s of years for some people.

Here’s what 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 teaches in the context of the Bible:

The Bible calls it the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10): its a judgment only for saved Christians. Jesus reviews your life from after you were saved. Your works are tried by fire, not you yourself. Rewards may be given or taken away. It takes place on “the day” a single day of judgment.

Does the Catholic Church teach you can pay money to reduce purgatory time?

For a substantial period of Catholic Church history, yes they did. Indulgences were near always practiced in different forms in Catholicism but especially from around 1000 AD to 1576 AD.

“As soon as a coin in the coffer rings, a soul from purgatory springs”.

Indulgences sparked the Protestant reformation. Though official church doctrine has been modified, the theological framework of purgatory, the treasury of merits, and the Church’s authority to remit temporal punishment in this way still stands. To this day Popes claim the authority to prescribe “good deeds” to reduce your time in purgatory, for example visiting (worshipping) certain statues.

Imagine suffering the loss of a loved one only for a priest to tell you that if you give him money to say magical prayers he can reduce the amount of time they are tortured for. Needless to say none of this is in the bible.

When was purgatory invented and made official Catholic doctrine?

Catholic purgatory evolved over the history of the church, it was expressed in essence by some early gnostic Christians, but it wasn’t fully developed until around the 12th century (roughly 1170-1200 AD).

Bible verses that contradict purgatory

Immediate presence with the Lord:

And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. - Luke 23:42-43

Jesus promises the repentant thief immediate presence with Him in paradise that very day. No delay or purification is mentioned, even for a criminal who had only just believed.

Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. - 2 Corinthians 5:6-8

Paul presents only two options for the believer: in the body (absent from the Lord) or absent from the body (present with the Lord). There is no third state of purification.

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better. - Philippians 1:21-23

Paul’s desire is to “depart, and to be with Christ.” He treats departure and being with Christ as the same event, which is “far better” not a period of suffering.

And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. - Acts 7:59

Stephen, as he dies, asks the Lord Jesus to receive his spirit at once. There is no intermediate purifying state.

For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. - 2 Timothy 4:6-8

Paul speaks of his imminent departure and the crown already laid up. He anticipates receiving it, not first enduring further purification.

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. - 1 Thessalonians 4:17

Immediately together with Jesus.

Death followed by judgment / only two destinies

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. - Hebrews 9:27

Death is followed by judgment not by an intermediate purifying process.

And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. - Revelation 14:13

Those who die in the Lord rest from their labours. This is presented as immediate blessing and rest, not ongoing suffering that must still be endured or shortened by the living.

And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments… And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. - Luke 16:22-23, 26 (the rich man and Lazarus)

Jesus describes an immediate assignment to comfort or torment after death, with a fixed gulf that prevents crossing. No third place of temporary purification is indicated.

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. - Matthew 25:46

Jesus presents only two final destinations everlasting punishment or eternal life with no third temporary state of purification for the righteous.

And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. - Daniel 12:2

Only two outcomes are described at the resurrection: everlasting life or everlasting contempt.

Revelation 20:12-15 (final judgment)

The dead are judged out of the books; those not written in the book of life are cast into the lake of fire. No intermediate purifying destination appears in the picture of final judgment.

Completeness of Christ’s finished work

By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. … For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. - Hebrews 10:10, 14

Christ’s single offering perfects forever those who are set apart. No remaining punishment or post-death purification is required.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. - 1 John 1:7

The blood of Jesus cleanses from all sin not some sins now and the rest later in purgatory

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross. - Colossians 2:13-14

All trespasses are forgiven; the debt is fully canceled at the cross.

Additional verses

• Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus…”

• John 5:24 Believers “shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”

• Ephesians 2:8-9 Salvation is by grace through faith, “not of works,” which undercuts any system of works after death.

Believers are already justified and at peace.

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. - Romans 5:1

Justification brings present peace with God. There is no remaining or unpaid penalty that must still be purged after death.

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus… Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. - Romans 8:1, 33-34

No condemnation remains for those in Christ. Christ Himself intercedes.

For he that is dead is freed from sin… For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. - Romans 6:7, 23

Death frees from sin, for those that are saved.

No human can pay a ransom or redeem another after death.

None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him… that he should still live for ever, and not see corruption. - Psalm 49:7-9

- KJV