This Wayne Jackson article appeared in the Christian Courier of January, 1981. The paper was published by the East Main Street Church of Christ in Stockton, California and was also edited by Jackson.
In the August 27, 1980 issue of the National Catholic Register, Roman Catholic theologian Raymond Bosler was asked the following question. "Does the Catholic Church still teach there is a purgatory? Where are the Scripture proofs for it, especially punishment by fire?" In part, Mr. Bosler replied, "The notion of purgatory cannot be found explicitly in Scripture but tradition, the living experience of the Church with the word of God, discovered that it must be presumed from other truths clearly contained in the Bible."
In other words, the doctrine has been invented! The concept of purgatory cannot be found explicitly, nor can it be found implicitly in the sacred Scripture. The fact of the matter is, it contradicts the word of God at several points. The word "purgatory" derives from the Latin term purus (purging or "pure"), and ago (to do or to make), hence to make pure. A Biblical concordance will reveal that the term is not to be found in the Scriptures. But what is the concept supposed to be?
A book distributed by the church of Rome declares: "Catholics believe that the generality of mankind are neither so obstinately wicked as to deserve everlasting punishment, nor so good as to be admitted into the society of God and His blessed spirits, and therefore that God is gracious to allow a middle state where they may be purified by certain degrees of punishment" (Truth About Catholics, p. 12).
Moreover, a kindred concept among Catholics is that one may, for various financial considerations have masses said on behalf of loved ones in purgatory and thus speed up their release from the penal fires. John Tetzel, a Roman mercenary of the early 16th century, was fond of proclaiming, "At the very instant that the money rattles at the bottom of the chest, the soul escapes from purgatory and flies liberated to heaven" (D'Aubigne, Life and Times of Martin Luther, p. 93). St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome was completed with such revenues.
The doctrine of purgatory is anti-Biblical for the following reasons. (1) It contradicts the principle of personal preparation. "So then each one of us shall give account of himself to God" (Romans 14:12; cf. Second Corinthians 5:10). (2) It is contrary to the truth that neither wickedness nor righteousness is transferable from one person to another. "...the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him" (Ezekiel 18:20b). (3) The notion of purgatory ignores the scriptural teaching that all preparation must be made before a person dies. In the parable of the virgins, the Lord made it abundantly clear that those foolish virgins who, "slumbered and slept" (i.e., died) without an adequate supply of oil (the necessary preparation) could neither borrow from others, nor were they prepared when the bridegroom came (Matthew 25:1-12). (4) The Bible plainly teaches that after death, there is judgment; not a state for further purification (Hebrews 9:27). (5) Christ made it clear that the fate of the dead is irrevocable. In the narrative regarding the rich man and Lazarus, the Lord revealed that these men were separated from one another by a "great gulf" that had been "fixed" between them (Luke 16:26). The perfect tense form of the verb "fixed" reflects the abiding nature of their respective fates. One could no more leave the state of punishment and enter the state of bliss than he could depart from the latter to the former. The gulf is impassible!
Though there are some things about the regions beyond death that we may not be able to understand at present, one this is for sure. The doctrine of purgatory is not a part of it. May more people have the disposition of the querist cited above and demand Scriptural proof for theological assertions. The final authority is the Bible, not clerical presumptions!
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