D
Donna_P
Guest
May God be with you!
I have continuing debates with an evangelical/fundamentalist/ nondenominational co-worker. The lastest has to do with 2 Macc and our teaching on Purgatory. I will list his entire e-mail to me below. I would appreciate some help in educating him AND myself on this particular Scripture!
I understand that the Church looks to 2nd Maccabees to support Purgatory, and the prayer that may lift someone from Purgatory. I am confused in that Purgatory is for “All those that die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.” CCC 1030. This looks to me as a place for people going to heaven that needs a little purifying, or a little clean up to get them ready. Where I get confused is that the dead in Second Maccabees are dead as you can see because they were struck down because they were worshippers of the Idol Jamnia. This would seem to be a violation of one of those pesky commandments, the one about not having other Gods. Why would these folks be on there way to Heaven for something as grave as worshipping another God, I would have thought Idol worship would be an offense grave enough to send you to Hell, not to Purgatory for a little clean up before Heaven?
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**39]
**On the next day, as by that time it had become necessary, Judas and his men went to take up the bodies of the fallen and to bring them back to lie with their kinsmen in the sepulchres of their fathers. **
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**40] Then under the tunic of every one of the dead they found sacred tokens of the idols of Jamnia, which the law forbids the Jews to wear. And it became clear to all that this was why these men had fallen.
41] So they all blessed the ways of the Lord, the righteous Judge, who reveals the things that are hidden;
42] and they turned to prayer, beseeching that the sin which had been committed might be wholly blotted out. And the noble Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves free from sin, for they had seen with their own eyes what had happened because of the sin of those who had fallen.
43] He also took up a collection, man by man, to the amount of two thousand drachmas of silver, and sent it to Jerusalem to provide for a sin offering. In doing this he acted very well and honorably, taking account of the resurrection.
44] For if he were not expecting that those who had fallen would rise again, it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead.
45] But if he was looking to the splendid reward that is laid up for those who fall asleep in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. Therefore he made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin.
I have continuing debates with an evangelical/fundamentalist/ nondenominational co-worker. The lastest has to do with 2 Macc and our teaching on Purgatory. I will list his entire e-mail to me below. I would appreciate some help in educating him AND myself on this particular Scripture!
I understand that the Church looks to 2nd Maccabees to support Purgatory, and the prayer that may lift someone from Purgatory. I am confused in that Purgatory is for “All those that die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.” CCC 1030. This looks to me as a place for people going to heaven that needs a little purifying, or a little clean up to get them ready. Where I get confused is that the dead in Second Maccabees are dead as you can see because they were struck down because they were worshippers of the Idol Jamnia. This would seem to be a violation of one of those pesky commandments, the one about not having other Gods. Why would these folks be on there way to Heaven for something as grave as worshipping another God, I would have thought Idol worship would be an offense grave enough to send you to Hell, not to Purgatory for a little clean up before Heaven?
**
**39]
**On the next day, as by that time it had become necessary, Judas and his men went to take up the bodies of the fallen and to bring them back to lie with their kinsmen in the sepulchres of their fathers. **
**
**40] Then under the tunic of every one of the dead they found sacred tokens of the idols of Jamnia, which the law forbids the Jews to wear. And it became clear to all that this was why these men had fallen.
41] So they all blessed the ways of the Lord, the righteous Judge, who reveals the things that are hidden;
42] and they turned to prayer, beseeching that the sin which had been committed might be wholly blotted out. And the noble Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves free from sin, for they had seen with their own eyes what had happened because of the sin of those who had fallen.
43] He also took up a collection, man by man, to the amount of two thousand drachmas of silver, and sent it to Jerusalem to provide for a sin offering. In doing this he acted very well and honorably, taking account of the resurrection.
44] For if he were not expecting that those who had fallen would rise again, it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead.
45] But if he was looking to the splendid reward that is laid up for those who fall asleep in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. Therefore he made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin.
