What Does the Bible Teach About Purgatory?

 
The Best Evidence
Imagine that you are sitting on a jury at a homicide trial. The prosecution offers two pieces of evidence: a fingerprint belonging to the defendant that was found on the murder weapon lying next to the victim, and the defendant’s DNA recovered from the body of the victim. These two items of evidence are rather conclusive. The defendant’s attorney, however, offers some evidence as well: the fact that defendant once said that the victim was a friend of his, and the fact that victim was unpopular with many people. As a juror, you are going to have to evaluate and compare the prosecution’s hard physical evidence to the defense’s circumstantial evidence. The prosecution is offering something that requires little interpretation; it is clear and concise. The defense is offering circumstantial evidence that is rather unclear and may be interpreted to support the defendant’s case, or interpreted as consistent with the case made by the prosecution! A simple rule of evidence dictates that we must always interpret what is ‘unclear’ by what is ‘clear’, and not the other way around! The prosecution’s direct physical evidence, therefore, trumps the interpretive circumstantial evidence of the defense!

In many ways, this is exactly the scenario we face when examining the case for ‘purgatory’ in the Bible. Purgatory is the idea that there is a ‘place’ or ‘state of being’ in the afterlife where some of us (even though we are saved Christians) will spend time ‘purging’ ourselves of past sins so that we will be ready and fit for heaven. This view assumes that many of us die with unforgiven sins that need to be purged from our account; that some of us are not good enough to go to heaven but not bad enough to go to hell. Purgatory, therefore is a temporary, intermediate place (or state of being) where good deeds and works can be performed in order to purge our impurity prior to our final destiny with God. Purgatory has become a doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church, and Catholic believers trust that their masses, prayers and offerings for the dead are assisting loved ones who have been assigned to purgatory. Although millions of Catholics believe purgatory to be a reality, the idea needs to be tested in light of the scriptures. Is purgatory something that we, as Bible believing Christians, should accept as true?

The Case For Purgatory
Now it’s important to note that no Christian theologian until 6th century cited any passage of scripture in support of the existence of purgatory. It wasn’t until Gregory the 1st that Roman Catholics began to point to several key passages of scripture to make their case. Let’s take a look at the best Biblical evidence they offer:

 
Matthew 16:27
For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.

 
See anything here that indicates there is a place or state of being where sins are purged by works or deeds performed? No, this passage seems to be talking about reward and judgment assigned in heaven and says nothing about a temporary place such as purgatory. This passage may be consistent with someone’s pre-conceived idea of purgatory, but it doesn’t make the case explicitly.

 
Revelation 21:27
Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.

 
This passage is referring to those who will enter into the New Jerusalem and once again, nothing specific is stated about a temporary place where our sins will be purged by good works. If you hold a view that purgatory exists, this piece of evidence may seem consistent, but it could just as easily fit within a traditional orthodox view of heaven that does not allow for purgatory! Now let’s look at the most quoted passage cited by those who make a case for purgatory:

 
1 Corinthians 3:12-15
If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his 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 man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

 
This passage describes the activity of believers, but does it describe their activity in this life or in some temporary place or state of purgatory? Paul is clearly talking about our activity in this life, even as he describes his own past activity in this life:

  
1 Corinthians 3:10
By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds.

 
In addition to this, is Paul saying that we actually have the power to purge our sins through our own good works or deeds? No, he actually is quite clear about the fact that no one can do anything to ‘build’ their own salvation:

 
1 Corinthians 3:11
For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

 
Nothing in First Corinthians says anything about a temporary place or state of being where sins can be purged. In fact, nothing in all of scripture describes such a place! So why do Roman Catholics believe in purgatory? Aside from the proclamations of their leaders, is there ANYTHING in the Bible to support such a claim? Well, there is a passage that is quite clear, but unfortunately, it’s not from the Christian Bible:

 
2 Maccabees 12:39-45
And the day following Judas cam with his company, to take away the bodies of them that were slain, and to bury them with their kinsmen, in the sepulchres of their fathers. And they found under the coats o the slain some of the donaries of the idols of Jamnia, which the law forbiddeth the Jews: Then they all blessed the just judgment of the Lord, who had discovered the things that were hidden. And so betaking themselves to prayers, they besought him, that the sin which had been committed might be forgotten. But the most valiant Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves from sin, forasmuch as they saw before their eyes what had happened, because of the sins of those that were slain. And making a gathering, he twelve thousand drachms of silver to Jerusalem for sacrifice to be offered for the sins of the dead, thinking well and religiously concerning the resurrection, (For if he had not hoped that the that were slain should rise again, it would have seemed superfluous and vain to pray for the dead,) And because he considered that the who had fallen asleep with godliness, had great grace laid up for them.

 
This passage CLEARLY describes both prayers and offerings that are being made for the dead. Since prayers for those already in Heaven are nonsensical (they’ve already received their reward) and prayers for those in Hell are meaningless (they are beyond help) it is reasonable to assume there must be a third place (Purgatory) where the dead are able to benefit from the good works of those left behind. But there is one problem with this passage of scripture: it’s not scripture! 2 Maccabees is part of the ‘apocryphal’ collection of non-canonical books that are accepted by Roman Catholics, but rejected by Christians in the reformed tradition. From the earliest of times, these apocryphal books were of doubtful authenticity and were separated from the New Testament and Old Testament writings. They were NOT considered to be on level with the letters and books of the apostles in the New Testament. They are simply NOT within the accepted catalogue (or ‘canon’) of scripture. For this reason, 2 Maccabees does not have the authority of scripture.

 
The Case Against Purgatory
Now let’s look at the Biblical case against purgatory. Is there any Biblical evidence that is clear and concise on this topic, like the fingerprint or the DNA marker in our homicide trial? Is there any clear evidence that can help us to understand the ‘unclear’ circumstantial evidence that is offered by those who try to make a case for purgatory from the Bible? As it turns out, the Biblical doctrine of Salvation eliminates the need for purgatory and the Biblical doctrine of Heaven eliminates the possibility of purgatory. Let’s look at the clear case against purgatory:

 
According to the Biblical doctrine of Salvation, forgiveness is not based on the good works of the believer. For this reason, we know that deeds or works performed for those in purgatory are both unnecessary and ineffectual:

 
Romans 3:21-24, 27-28
But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus… Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.

 
Romans 8:1
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering.

 
According to the Biblical doctrine of Salvation, Jesus’ work on the cross (His blood) purifies us from ALL sin. For this reason, we know that there is not a lingering sin problem that must be taken care of in a place like purgatory:

 
Titus 2:13-14
we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

1John 1:7b
…the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

1John 1:9b
…he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

1John 2:2
He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

Hebrews 10:14
because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

 
According to the Biblical doctrine of Salvation, Jesus has already purified and purged believers of sin based on our faith in Him. For this reason, there is no need for a place like Purgatory where additional purging can be performed:

 
1 Corinthians 6:11
But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Hebrews 1:3
Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high

 
According to the Biblical doctrine of Heaven, believers will not be subjected to the continuing wrath of God; they have been justified in spite of their sinfulness. For this reason, we do not believe that God’s wrath or condemnation needs to be addressed in a place like purgatory:

 
Romans 5:9
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!

John 5:24
"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life”.

 
According to the Biblical doctrine of Heaven, believers are united with God in Heaven the moment they die. For this reason, the existence of purgatory is simply inconsistent with the nature of Heaven as it is described in the Bible:

 
2 Corinthians 5:6-8
Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

Philippians 1:20-23
I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far

Luke 23:39-43
One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

 
The Evidential Difference
The case against the existence of Purgatory is clear and concise, like the fingerprint or the DNA marker in our homicide trial. The Bible tells us with certainty that we cannot earn our salvation with good works, that Jesus’ death on the cross pays for ALL our sin, that Jesus alone has purged us from our impurity, that we will not suffer the wrath of God if we are believers, and that we will join God in Heaven the moment that we die. That’s pretty straightforward evidence! The Biblical evidence eliminates the need for (and the possible existence of) purgatory.

The biblical passages cited in support of purgatory fail to specifically make the case for such a place or state of being. At best, these passages must be interpreted in a particular way (by those who already believe in the idea of purgatory) to be of any use at all. They are just like the circumstantial evidence in our homicide trial; they require interpretation and can actually be used to support the fact that there is no purgatory at all!

Remember our simple rule of evidence: never interpret ‘clear’ evidence by ‘unclear’ evidence! What is ‘unclear’ must instead be understood in light of what is ‘clear’ and concise. The case against purgatory helps us to understand the interpretive passages offered by those who argue for purgatory’s existence. Based on the evidence from the Biblical scripture alone, there is simply no reason to believe that purgatory exists, and solid evidence to demonstrate that it does not.