Cr8ton;5946903:
Also, how can someone get the idea of purgatory from scripture than grant it as a part of their doctrine with such little reference in scripture and nowhere clearly stating “purgatory”.
This is a good question. Catholic doctrines, unlike those of our separated brethren, are not distilled from the Scriptures. Catholic doctrines come from Jesus, through the Apostles. They existed prior to the NT being written. They are reflected in the NT, but the NT was never designed to contain all of the Teaching of the Apostles.
There are biblical references to something equivalent to a Purgatory. Mormons do not believe in a Purgatory as such; but their theology provides for something equivalent. In Mormonism Purgatory is just hell, except that it doesn’t last forever. You stay there until you are punished enough for your sins; and then are taken out and saved in one of the three kingdoms of glory (usually the lowest one). Here are some biblical references that suggest some such arrangement in the afterlife:
Luke 12:
47 And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
That suggest that hell is not a place where everyone receives the same punishment. And after your “stripe” are ended, then you come out. You don’t stay there forever. The metaphor is coined on earthly punishment. Here is another reference:
Matthew 5:
25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
This is also a metaphor for punishment in the afterlife, coined on earthly punishment. You don’t stay there forever. After you have paid the “uttermost farthing,” you come out. That is how it is on earth; and that is how it will be in the next life.
Another interesting factor to note, with regard to the first quote especially, is that the servant who was punished with “many stripes” was not an outsider from the ranks of discipleship. He was a true servants of his Lord, but one who did not do his duty as he should. He had been negligent. He was not an infidel or unbeliever. That has other serious implications for Protestant theology, who believe in “once saved, always saved!”