Bringing the Word of Life Q & A  

Purgatory or Christ?

Question:  I am aware that there is no reference in the Bible to the existence or nature of purgatory. However, Purgatory has been inferred by the Catholic Church from a number of passages in the Bible. I believe that by his death on the cross, Jesus gave me the opportunity to make amends for my sin in this life, and after death in purgatory.

Answer: The Catholic Church teaches that "Purgatory is the state in which those suffer for a time who die guilty of venial sins, or without having satisfied for the punishment due to their sins...in it the souls are purged or purified from all their stains" (Baltimore Catechism).

The purpose of purgatory is the expiation of sin, or the discharge of the debt of temporal punishment (Trent, Session 6, Canon 30). The Catechism of the Catholic Church refers to "those who are expiating their sins in purgatory" (paragraph 1475). To "expiate" means to make reparation for an offence or injury.

This expiation is achieved through suffering of the soul. Unless completed on earth, 'expiation must be made in the next life through fire and torments or purifying punishments.' And again, those 'who had not made satisfaction with adequate penance of their sins and omissions are cleaned after death with punishments designed to purge away their debt' (Vatican II, Apostolic Constitution on the Revision of Indulgences).

Catholic evidence for purgatory

Roman Catholics admit that the doctrine of purgatory is not explicitly taught in the Bible. For example, the Roman Catholic theologian Richard McBrien concedes that: 'There is, for all practical purposes, no biblical basis for the doctrine of purgatory. This is not to say that there is no basis at all for the doctrine, but only that there is no clear biblical basis for it.' Nonetheless, appeal is made to several biblical verses which are said to support this doctrine. The most important passages are: 2 Maccabees 12:38-46; Matthew 12:32; 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 and Revelation 21:27. Let's take a look at them.

2 Maccabees 12:38-46. The book of Maccabees is apocryphal and is not part of the inspired Scriptures. St Jerome says that 'the Church reads Judith, Tobit, and the books of Maccabees, but does not admit them among the canonical Scriptures' and continues that they are read 'for the edification of the people, not to give authority to the doctrines of the Church.' We can read Maccabees for its historical value. After a certain battle, idols were discovered hidden under the clothes of the dead Jewish soldiers. The Jewish general, Judas Maccabeus, sent money to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices for them. In doing this, Judas was not following the Scriptures because among the many precepts of the Law of Moses, there was no sacrifice intended for the dead. In all the Scriptures there is no example of Jews or Christians offering sacrifices or praying for the departed. Moreover, this passage proves too much for the Catholic for these soldiers were guilty of idolatry, a mortal sin, and therefore they were damned to eternal punishment in Hell.

1 Corinthians 3:11-15. The 'fire' which Paul mentions in this passage is interpreted as a 'cleansing fire' and a 'purifying fire,' i.e., the soul suffers to make expiation for sin (Catechism, paragraph 1031). However, Paul is speaking about the testing of works and not the suffering of souls. He is simply teaching that in the Day of Judgment, the works of every Christian will be tested and everyone will be rewarded accordingly. Unworthy works will be burned up and the individual will lose the reward for these works though he himself will be saved. This occurs on the Day of Judgement, and not in the interval between death and the resurrection (as the doctrine of purgatory would require).

Matthew 12:32. Jesus said that "whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come." From this, Catholics argue that some sins can be forgiven in the age to come. This implication in not necessarily true and certainly it goes beyond what Jesus meant. Jesus simply wanted to emphasize the gravity of the sin and that it would never be forgiven, as the parallel passage in the Gospel of Mark records: "But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness" (Mark 3:29).

Revelation 21:27. "And there shall in no wise enter into it (the heavenly Jerusalem) any thing that defileth..." Since the Bible here clearly teaches that impure persons will not enter heaven, it is argued that there is a place of cleansing for those who die with minor sins. However, it can be observed that this verse does not offer any hope of cleansing for those who are unclean at death, nor does it teach that  that sins are cleansed by personal suffering.

The Biblical teaching on purgatory

We agree with Catholics on the necessity of 'cleansing' for we are all defiled by sin and need to be thoroughly cleansed before we can enter into the heavenly Jerusalem in the majestic presence of the Lord.

We disagree however on how this cleansing is achieved. Following baptism, they insist that the individual must expiate his sins by penance in this world, and by the pains of purgatory in the next. We believe that the Scripture teaches that only the blood of Christ cleanses the soul from sin.

We recognize the value of suffering and trials given to us by divine providence. Our heavenly Father also disciplines us, His children, with appropriate chastisement so that we learn to despise sin, and to become mature in our character, in patience, hope and righteousness. Nonetheless, the Bible never presents personal suffering or works as the expiation or satisfaction for our sins.

Scripture sets the believer's heart to rest. "You were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Corinthians 6:11). It's not purgatory's flames that cleanse the sinner from evil. The Word of God teaches that "the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:7). His blood is purification not just of some or even most sins, but from all sins. Certain blots and blemishes are hard to remove from clothes but the blood of Christ is thoroughly effective and purifies from all defilement, whatever it is. His blood really and actually cleanses "from all sin."

Nobody will be heard claiming that he succeeded to enter heaven because of his penances and sufferings. Heaven will be populated by those who trust completely in the Son of God. This is the song that they joyfully sing: "Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen" (Revelation 1:5,6). This is the Christians' confession about their Lord Christ: "When He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high" (Hebrews 1:3).

Perhaps up till now you have hoped to go to a place of suffering to undergo cleansing from sin. Such a place does not exist. The opportunity to experience purification and complete forgiveness is during this present lifetime. You have challenged God's lordship over you by your disobedience; but He is truly merciful and compassionate. He really forgives: He cancels the debt of all those who turn to Him by faith. Look to Jesus the Deliverer, whose death on Calvary is a full and adequate payment for the sins of His people. His blood was not shed in vain; it actually purifies the soul from all defilement.