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What About Heb. 9:27 What point are you trying to make?
I didn't quote Hebrews 9:27. Are you saying that Hebrews 9:27 is evidence of purgatory?
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What About Heb. 9:27 What point are you trying to make?
I didn't quote Hebrews 9:27. Are you saying that Hebrews 9:27 is evidence of purgatory?
No! But it sounded like you were using Heb. 9:27 against Purgatory?
If Purgatory does not exist, then why is Paul praying for his dead friend in 1 Tim. 1:16-18?
Why is King David and his men fasting (doing penance) for those who have died (2 Samuel 1:12)?
Zeland
I'm not sure to be honest. But not understanding why they did is not a basis to support purgatory. That's an assumption. The bible doesn't say why they prayed for the dead and fasted. But you see that Paul says many times that our salvation has already been established and by saying we are holy and blameless without a single fault before God and we can enter the Most Holy Place. If purgatory did exist and it was taught by the apostles surely he would've mentioned it before saying we can enter the Most Holy Place and he wouldn't say that we are holy without a single fault in the present tense if purgatory is still required to remove sins and for temporal punishment. That would be an incorrect statement if purgatory did exist. What are your thoughts?
The Jews in Paul's time believed in Purgatory. If Purgatory does not exist, then Paul's actions, and King David's actions are pointless. 1 Tim 1: Is the earliest NT example of prayers for the dead. Paul states why he id praying for his friend. He is asking God to be merciful to his friend on judgment day.
2 Maccabees 12: 43-46 is another OT reference to Purgatory, and a very clear one. "43 And making a gathering, he sent 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,
44 (For if he had not hoped that they that were slain should rise again, it would have seemed superfluous and vain to pray for the dead,)
45 And because he considered that they who had fallen asleep with godliness, had great grace laid up for them.
46 It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins.
If these people are in Heaven they don't need any prayers. If they are in hell, prayers will do them no good. so obviously they must be someplace else. Someplace in a spiritual holding tank so to speak - a spiritual prison (Matt 5: 25-26; Luke 12:59).
The early Church believed in purgatory. Just look it up. The early church says that all the verses I listed refer to a place of final cleansing, a place we call purgatory.
Does that help any?
God bless
zeland
I don't recognize Maccabees as an inspired writing. I go by the Hebrews bible not the Septuagint. Purgatory was invented in the late 12th century. It is not biblical and people praying for the dead is not proof of purgatory. Notice there is no discussion or teaching of purgatory in the bible. That why the men who came up with it had to take scriptures out of context to support their theory. I've already shown you that the teaching of purgatory contradicts the scriptures. Jumping to conclusions based on assumptions still doesn't change that fact.
Hello, BNR32FAN, and welcome to CF, and to Traditional Theology. I pray you are blessed by being here.
I don't have time to evaluate everything that's been said (so this is not a particular warning) but I would ask that you read the Statement of Purpose for Traditional Theology if posting in this area.
It is not necessary that we agree with each other (I'm Orthodox, and we have never had the doctrine of purgatory and regard it as an innovation) ... but we aren't focused here on arguing who is wrong or right, but rather presenting the position of our own Tradition (if we have one).
Just wanted to welcome you since I see you are new.
God be with you!
Hello again and God bless you too. (oh and it's sister, but that's ok )Thanks brother I have read the SPTT. I hope I wasn't in violation of the rules. Perhaps I am off topic because the thread is Scripture references that support purgatory not scriptures that purgatory contradicts. Please forgive me I'm in the wrong room. I have noting to post here. God bless
Hello again and God bless you too. (oh and it's sister, but that's ok )
I'm not trying to run you out, and I tried to be clear that I hadn't had time to read everything so I wasn't saying you were in violation. I'm sorry if I didn't express that well. You're not off topic either that I saw.
I just didn't want it to dissolve into a debate of trying to prove one another wrong, since that isn't the purpose of TT. As I mentioned, we don't believe in purgatory either so you don't have to agree either way.
Discussion is allowed, but mostly we are here to understand each other (not necessarily to agree). And it's perfectly fine to post a different tradition's viewpoint. We're just not trying to argue to a conclusion, and I wanted to keep it from heading that way.
God be with you.
May I ask, what is the exact nature of purgatory in Catholic theology?
I am under the impression that it is a place of punishment, meant to atone for the temporal punishment that Catholics teach is necessary for all sin, and in so doing, purges the soul from ... (?) something?
We (Orthodox) do believe in an intermediate state, but that (generally speaking) the soul experiences a foretaste of the destiny it has fitted itself for. However ... we agree with you that the final judgement has not yet happened.
We do not teach the necessity of temporal punishment as some kind of atoning for sin (I'm not sure if Catholics view it that way exactly?). But we do agree that suffering can be a means of purging the soul from passions. Many people draw closer to God and put away passions during earthly life as a response to suffering we experience.
We do agree that any necessary purification of the soul upon departing the body must take place. However, we consider it entirely possible that such purification (while the soul may find it painful) is not a necessarily long process, but can possibly be instantaneous (or nearly so, as the soul separates itself from the passions).
We have the same Scriptures as the Catholics, but interpret them differently. Do Catholics cite any of the ECFs on Scripture in support of purgatory?
MY REPLY
I am under the impression that it is a place of punishment, meant to atone for the temporal punishment that Catholics teach is necessary for all sin, and in so doing, purges the soul from all it's Imperfections. Yes True - any imperfections that we failed to atone for in this life while we were alive.
Our sins have consequences, and we must undo the harm they have caused. See 2 Samuel 2:13-14. For example, if some kids playing ball accidentally hit and break a window in your house, you will forgive then, but you still expect them to pay for a new window. Purgatory is for cleaning up the mess our sins have caused while in this life.
12We (Orthodox) do believe in an intermediate state, but that (generally speaking) the soul experiences a foretaste of the destiny it has fitted itself for. However ... we agree with you that the final judgement has not yet happened. YES, TRUE. Our particular judgement happens at the moment of death. The general judgment will take place at the end of the world.
We do not teach the necessity of temporal punishment as some kind of atoning for sin (I'm not sure if Catholics view it that way exactly?) YES, As the example above indicates. Any imperfections we fail to atone for in this life, are atoned for in Purgatory.
But we do agree that suffering can be a means of purging the soul from passions. Many people draw closer to God and put away passions during earthly life as a response to suffering we experience. YES,TRUE.
We do agree that any necessary purification of the soul upon departing the body must take place. However, we consider it entirely possible that such purification (while the soul may find it painful) is not a necessarily long process, but can possibly be instantaneous (or nearly so, as the soul separates itself from the passions). TRUE. It is possible to purify ourselves while in this life and avoid Purgatory all together. We do this by offering up all our daily prayers and sufferings in reparation for our sins and offenses. Look up St. Teresa's "Little Way". You can get a plenary indulgence by doing various good works and prayers. For example, spending an hour in front of the Blessed sacrament. Some people will experience a long Purgatory, others little if any.
In general, Protestants, those who do get to heaven, will suffer the longest in Purgatory. Because they don't believe in it, they make no effort in this life to avoid it. Also they have no one to pray or offer sacrifice for them (Except Catholics and Orthodox)
Also, See the following
Purgatory | Catholic Answers
We have the same Scriptures as the Catholics, but interpret them differently. Do Catholics cite any of the ECFs on Scripture in support of purgatory?
MY REPLY
I am under the impression that it is a place of punishment, meant to atone for the temporal punishment that Catholics teach is necessary for all sin, and in so doing, purges the soul from all it's Imperfections. Yes True - any imperfections that we failed to atone for in this life while we were alive.
Our sins have consequences, and we must undo the harm they have caused. See 2 Samuel 2:13-14. For example, if some kids playing ball accidentally hit and break a window in your house, you will forgive then, but you still expect them to pay for a new window. Purgatory is for cleaning up the mess our sins have caused while in this life.
12We (Orthodox) do believe in an intermediate state, but that (generally speaking) the soul experiences a foretaste of the destiny it has fitted itself for. However ... we agree with you that the final judgement has not yet happened. YES, TRUE. Our particular judgement happens at the moment of death. The general judgment will take place at the end of the world.
We do not teach the necessity of temporal punishment as some kind of atoning for sin (I'm not sure if Catholics view it that way exactly?) YES, As the example above indicates. Any imperfections we fail to atone for in this life, are atoned for in Purgatory.
But we do agree that suffering can be a means of purging the soul from passions. Many people draw closer to God and put away passions during earthly life as a response to suffering we experience. YES,TRUE.
We do agree that any necessary purification of the soul upon departing the body must take place. However, we consider it entirely possible that such purification (while the soul may find it painful) is not a necessarily long process, but can possibly be instantaneous (or nearly so, as the soul separates itself from the passions). TRUE. It is possible to purify ourselves while in this life and avoid Purgatory all together. We do this by offering up all our daily prayers and sufferings in reparation for our sins and offenses. Look up St. Teresa's "Little Way". You can get a plenary indulgence by doing various good works and prayers. For example, spending an hour in front of the Blessed sacrament. Some people will experience a long Purgatory, others little if any.
In general, Protestants, those who do get to heaven, will suffer the longest in Purgatory. Because they don't believe in it, they make no effort in this life to avoid it. Also they have no one to pray or offer sacrifice for them (Except Catholics and Orthodox)
Also, See the following
Purgatory | Catholic Answers
We have the same Scriptures as the Catholics, but interpret them differently. Do Catholics cite any of the ECFs on Scripture in support of purgatory?
MY REPLY
I am under the impression that it is a place of punishment, meant to atone for the temporal punishment that Catholics teach is necessary for all sin, and in so doing, purges the soul from all it's Imperfections. Yes True - any imperfections that we failed to atone for in this life while we were alive.
Our sins have consequences, and we must undo the harm they have caused. See 2 Samuel 2:13-14. For example, if some kids playing ball accidentally hit and break a window in your house, you will forgive then, but you still expect them to pay for a new window. Purgatory is for cleaning up the mess our sins have caused while in this life.
12We (Orthodox) do believe in an intermediate state, but that (generally speaking) the soul experiences a foretaste of the destiny it has fitted itself for. However ... we agree with you that the final judgement has not yet happened. YES, TRUE. Our particular judgement happens at the moment of death. The general judgment will take place at the end of the world.
We do not teach the necessity of temporal punishment as some kind of atoning for sin (I'm not sure if Catholics view it that way exactly?) YES, As the example above indicates. Any imperfections we fail to atone for in this life, are atoned for in Purgatory.
But we do agree that suffering can be a means of purging the soul from passions. Many people draw closer to God and put away passions during earthly life as a response to suffering we experience. YES,TRUE.
We do agree that any necessary purification of the soul upon departing the body must take place. However, we consider it entirely possible that such purification (while the soul may find it painful) is not a necessarily long process, but can possibly be instantaneous (or nearly so, as the soul separates itself from the passions). TRUE. It is possible to purify ourselves while in this life and avoid Purgatory all together. We do this by offering up all our daily prayers and sufferings in reparation for our sins and offenses. Look up St. Teresa's "Little Way". You can get a plenary indulgence by doing various good works and prayers. For example, spending an hour in front of the Blessed sacrament. Some people will experience a long Purgatory, others little if any.
In general, Protestants, those who do get to heaven, will suffer the longest in Purgatory. Because they don't believe in it, they make no effort in this life to avoid it. Also they have no one to pray or offer sacrifice for them (Except Catholics and Orthodox)
Also, See the following
Purgatory | Catholic Answers
We have the same Scriptures as the Catholics, but interpret them differently. Do Catholics cite any of the ECFs on Scripture in support of purgatory?
I don't know what you mean by ECFs? Please explain. Thanks.
God bless.
zeland
zeland2236 Thanks.
I found its always good to see if scripture supports an idea or belief, mentions it, or goes against it.
Do you think this one has relevance?
Colossians 3:25 For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.
Both Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox pray for their dead, have liturgies served for them, perform acts of charity in their name and have regular memorials for them yet there is no concept of purgatory in either Church and Rome's divergence from them predates any development of the doctrine of purgatory in the West. So it would seem that the doctrine of purgatory is a modern innovation that did not exist in the early Church, else you would see some form of it in every ancient Church.
The simplest definition? Purgatory is the STATE that the saved soul after death is cleansed of all spiritual impurities left on their soul.May I ask, what is the exact nature of purgatory in Catholic theology?
It may be the case that it is. Some of the Early Church Fathers who discussed the matter thought that pain was definitely involved. Some referenced a cleansing fire based upon what St. Paul wrote in 1 Cor.I am under the impression that it is a place of punishment, meant to atone for the temporal punishment that Catholics teach is necessary for all sin, and in so doing, purges the soul from ... (?) something?
Okay.We (Orthodox) do believe in an intermediate state, but that (generally speaking) the soul experiences a foretaste of the destiny it has fitted itself for. However ... we agree with you that the final judgement has not yet happened.
Okay. Temporal punishment is part of our theology.We do not teach the necessity of temporal punishment as some kind of atoning for sin (I'm not sure if Catholics view it that way exactly?). But we do agree that suffering can be a means of purging the soul from passions. Many people draw closer to God and put away passions during earthly life as a response to suffering we experience.
We do believe that there is a time component, but we don't really know what or how much.We do agree that any necessary purification of the soul upon departing the body must take place. However, we consider it entirely possible that such purification (while the soul may find it painful) is not a necessarily long process, but can possibly be instantaneous (or nearly so, as the soul separates itself from the passions).
Yes quite a few. St. Gregory of Nyssa, St Augustine, St. Cyprian, Origen, Tertullian, St. Clement of Alexandria, St Gregory the Great, among others.We have the same Scriptures as the Catholics, but interpret them differently. Do Catholics cite any of the ECFs on Scripture in support of purgatory?