Is ‘purgatory’ Biblical?
Jesus spoke very clearly of only two choices in the afterlife in
Luke 16:19-31. There we find that a certain rich man had died as an unbeliever and was "in torment" (
Luke 16:23). Jesus made it clear that the afterlife offers two options, and that both heaven and hell are eternal.
Matthew 7:13-14 also notes, "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." Again, only two options are provided.
There is no third option.
Purgatory is an extra-biblical teaching developed beyond what Jesus and the apostles presented in the Bible. As such, it lacks biblical authority and is to be rejected. While the idea of a "middle ground" may find historical support in other places or seem sensible to many, the fact is that it is not supported by the Bible—the very book that forms the basis for Christian belief. Believers are not called to offer prayers or works on behalf of the dead. The dead's eternity has already been decided. Instead, we must seek to grow in Christ and share Him with others.
Is praying to ‘canonized saints’ Biblical?
The Greek word for saints is an interesting one. It is the word “hagios” and means “most holy thing” so a saint is a holy person but wait, aren’t all men sinners, even after they are saved? Yes, that’s true but
God sees us as having Jesus own righteousness because Christ became sin for us so that when the Father now sees us, He sees us as having the righteousness of Jesus Christ (
2 Cor 5:21). A saint is anyone who has been saved and then they are set apart for holy use.
Praying to Mary and other dead saints is not biblical and praying to anyone other than God is idolatry. Nowhere in Scripture does it say pray to dead saints. Nowhere in Scripture does it say ask dead saints to pray for you. Those who have died in the Lord have "ceased from their labor." They have already "finished the race." (see Rev 14:13 and 2 Tim 4:7). Jesus told us clearly who can pray with us. He said in Matthew 18:19, "Again, I tell you that if two of you
on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven." Notice the important clause
"on earth." The people who pray together must be
"on earth." This definitely rules out those who have left this earth.
When Jesus taught the disciples to pray, He never encourages the disciples to ask Abraham or Moses or Noah to pray for them.
Asking the deceased to pray for us is unheard of in the Bible, and contradicts the teaching of the Bible.
Timothy 2:5 There is one God. There is also
one mediator between God and human beings—a human, the Messiah Jesus.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father
except through me.”
Philippians 4:6-7 - Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known
unto God.