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| Dante's envisionment of Purgatory |
Jews, Catholics, and the Eastern Orthodox have always historically
proclaimed the reality of the final purification. It was not until the
Protestant Reformation in the sixteenth century that anyone denied this
doctrine.
Biblical:
Matthew 5:25 “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it
while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you
over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and
you may be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny...48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
(Catholics believe that Jesus is the just Judge and
that the prison refers to Purgatory which will
"purge" us from all effects of sin even to the last "penny"
so that we are perfect as our heavenly Father is
-- as nothing unclean can enter into Heaven. (Rev 21:27)
1 Pet 3:19 In which also coming he preached to those spirits that were in prison: 20 Which
had been some time incredulous, when they waited for the patience of
God in the days of Noe, when the ark was a building: wherein a few, that
is, eight souls, were saved by water.
(Catholics believe that "prison" refers to Purgatory
and that the "spirits" were the holy ones who died before Jesus came.
They were righteous so they couldn't be in Hell, but they couldn't be in Heaven yet either.)
1 Cor 3:12-15 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
(Catholics believe that "Day" is the particular day of judgement
and that the sum of person's work will be tested through fire
before receiving a "reward" which is, entering heaven;
the person whose works were not of the finest quality
- not perfectly done - will suffer through the flames before entering Heaven.)
30 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
(Catholics believe that "or the age to come" refers to Purgatory
- the final opportunity for becoming perfect.)
Other verses often used by Catholics in support of Purgatory: 2 Macc 12:38, Matt 12:32, Matt 18:21-35, Matt 22:1-14, Luke 12:58, Luke 16:19-31, 1 Pete 4:6, 1 Cor 15:29, 1 Tim 1:16
Early Church Fathers:
180-200AD, Epitaph of Abercius:
The citizen of an eminent city, this monument I made whilst still living, that there I might have in time a resting place for my body. My name is Abercius, the disciple of the holy shepherd who feeds his flocks of sheep on the mountains and in the plains, who has great eyes that see everywhere. This shepherd taught me the Book worthy of belief. It is he who sent me to Rome to behold the royal majesty and to see the queen arrayed in golden vestments and golden sandals. There also I saw the people famous for their seal. And I saw the plains of Syria and all its cities, and also Nisibis when I crossed the Euphrates. Everywhere I met brethren in agreement, having Paul as a companion. Everywhere faith was my guide and everywhere provided as my food the Fish of exceeding great size and pure whom the spotless virgin caught from the spring. And faith ever gives this food to his disciples to eat, having the choicest wine and administering the mixed drink with bread. I, Abercius, standing by, ordered these words to be inscribed, being in the course of my seventy second year. Let him who understands these words and believes the same pray for Abercius.
(Why would the early Christians want to be prayed for and offer up sacrifices for the dead
when those in Heaven have no need for prayer
and those in Hell can't be helped by prayer?
Catholics believe that it is so that those in "prison"
can be helped in paying the "last penny" quicker and be with God sooner.
For example, those in earthly prisons can't do much for themselves and need others to post bail, etc., )
208-212 AD Tetrullian, The Soul: Every soul, therefore, is shut
up in Hades? Whether you do or not, it is a fact. And there are already
punishments and rewards there; and there you have a poor man and rich
one( Luke 16:2). The soul does not perform all its operations with the
assistance of the flesh; and divine judgment pursues even simple
thoughts and mere desires. "Whoever shall look in lust has already
committed adultery in his heart. (Matt 5:28)" Therefore and on this
account it is most fitting that the soul, without waiting for the flesh,
be punished for what it did without the partnership of the flesh. And
for the pious and benevolent thoughts in which it shared not with the
flesh, without the flesh it will be refreshed.... In short, if we
understand that prison which the Gospel speaks to be Hades, and if we
interpret the last farthing (Matt 5:25-26) to be the light offense which
is to be expiated there before the resurrection, no one will doubt that
the soul undergoes some punishments in Hades, without prejudice to the
fullness of the resurrection, after which recompense will be made
through the flesh also.
(Purgatory is often understood as a temporary outer part of Hell
that will pass away at the end of "time".
Hell, where the wicked reside, will remain for eternity.)
that will pass away at the end of "time".
Hell, where the wicked reside, will remain for eternity.)
208-212 AD Tetrullian, The Crown: We offer up sacrifices for the dead on their death anniversaries.
208-212 AD Tetrullian, Monogamy: A woman, after the death of her
husband, is bound not less firmly but even more so, not to marry another
husband... Indeed, she prays for his soul and asks that he may, while
waiting, find rest; and that he may share in the first resurrection. And
each year, on the anniversary of his death, she offers sacrifice.
304-310 AD, Lactantius, The Divine Institutions: First
of all, therefore, we say that the power of God is so great, that He
perceives even incorporeal things, and manages them as He will. For even
angels fear God, because they can be chastised by Him in some
unspeakable manner; and devils dread Him, because they are tormented and
punished by Him. What wonder is it, therefore, if souls, though they
are immortal, are nevertheless capable of suffering at the hand of God?
For since they have nothing solid and tangible in themselves, they can
suffer no violence from solid and corporeal beings; but because they
live in their spirits only, they are capable of being handled by God
alone, whose energy and substance is spiritual. But, however, the sacred
writings inform us in what manner the wicked are to undergo punishment.
For because they have committed sins in their bodies, they will again
be clothed with flesh, that they may make atonement in their bodies; and
yet it will not be that flesh with which God
clothed man, like this our earthly body, but indestructible, and
abiding for ever, that it may be able to hold out against tortures and
everlasting fire, the nature of which is different from this fire of
ours, which we use for the necessary
purposes of life, and which is extinguished unless it be sustained by
the fuel of some material. But that divine fire always lives by itself,
and flourishes without any nourishment; nor has it any smoke mixed with
it, but it is pure and liquid, and fluid, after the manner of water. For
it is not urged upwards by any force, as our fire, which the taint of
the earthly body, by which it is held, and smoke intermingled, compels
to leap forth, and to fly upwards to the nature of heaven, with a
tremulous movement. The same divine fire, therefore, with one and the
same force and power, will both burn the wicked and will form them
again, and will replace as much as it shall consume of their bodies, and
will supply itself with eternal nourishment: which the poets
transferred to the vulture of Tityus. Thus, without any wasting of
bodies, which regain their substance, it will only burn and affect them
with a sense of pain. But when He shall have judged the righteous, He
will also try them with fire. Then they whose sins shall exceed either
in weight or in number, shall be scorched by the fire and burnt: but
they whom full justice and maturity of virtue has imbued will not
perceive that fire; for they have something of God in themselves which
repels and rejects the violence of the flame. So great is the force of
innocence, that the flame shrinks from it without doing harm; which has
received from God this power, that it burns the wicked, and is under the
command of the righteous. Nor, however, let any one imagine that souls
are immediately judged after death. For all are detained in one and a
common place of confinement, until the arrival of the time in which the
great Judge shall make an investigation of their deserts. Then they
whose piety shall have been approved of will receive the reward of
immortality; but they whose sins and crimes shall have been brought to
light will not rise again, but will be hidden in the same darkness with
the wicked, being destined to certain punishment.
315-386AD, St Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures:
Other sources:
