D
Daniel_Lysinger
Guest
Purgatory is a controversial topic, and though some protestants would deny that it exists, there are very many good reasons for its existence.
Ambrose, d. 397: “Blessed shall both of you be [departed Gratian and Valentinian], if my prayers can avail anything. No day shall pass you over in silence. No prayer of mine shall omit to honor you. No night shall hurry by without bestowing on you a mention in my prayers. In ever one of the oblations I will remember you.” De obitu Valent (A.D. 387)
Epiphanius, d. 403: " Useful too is the prayer fashioned on their behalf [of the dead], even if it does not force back the whole of guilty charges laid to them. And it is useful also, because in the world we often stumble either voluntarily or involuntarily, and thus it is a reminder to do better. Panarion, 75:8 (A.D. 375)
Origen, d. 254: " For if on the foundation of Chris you have built not only gold and silver and precious stones, but also wood and hay and stubble, what do you expect when the soul shall be separated from the body? Would you enter into heave with your wood and hay and stubble and thus defile the kingdom of God; of on account of these hindrances would you remain without and receive no reward for your gold and silver and precious stones; neither is this just. It remains then that you be committed to the fire which will burn the light materials, for our god to those who can comprehend heavenly things is called a cleansing fire. But this fire consumes not the creature, but what the creature has himself built, wood, and hay and stubble. It is manifest that the fire destroys the wood of our transgressions and then returns to us the reward of our great works. Homilies on Jeremiah, PG 13:445,448 (A.D. 244)
If purgatory exists, then this passage is completely logical. However, it is hard to explain away this one, because Paul himself implores the Lord to grant mercy to Onesiphorus, for any sins he may have committed.
Hebrews 12:22-24: “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, and to a judge who is God of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks more graciously than the blood of Abel.”
Purgatory also fits well with this verse. What could Paul mean by “Just men made perfect”?
1 Peter 1:6-7: “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold which though perishable is tested by fire, may redound to praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
1 Peter 4:12-13: “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal which comes upon you to prove you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice so far as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.”
2 Maccabees 12:41-45: " So they all blessed the ways of the Lord, the righteous Judge, who reveals the things that are hidden; 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. 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. For if he were not expecting that those who had fallen would rise again, it would have be superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead. 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."
- It was supported by the Church Fathers.
Ambrose, d. 397: “Blessed shall both of you be [departed Gratian and Valentinian], if my prayers can avail anything. No day shall pass you over in silence. No prayer of mine shall omit to honor you. No night shall hurry by without bestowing on you a mention in my prayers. In ever one of the oblations I will remember you.” De obitu Valent (A.D. 387)
Epiphanius, d. 403: " Useful too is the prayer fashioned on their behalf [of the dead], even if it does not force back the whole of guilty charges laid to them. And it is useful also, because in the world we often stumble either voluntarily or involuntarily, and thus it is a reminder to do better. Panarion, 75:8 (A.D. 375)
Origen, d. 254: " For if on the foundation of Chris you have built not only gold and silver and precious stones, but also wood and hay and stubble, what do you expect when the soul shall be separated from the body? Would you enter into heave with your wood and hay and stubble and thus defile the kingdom of God; of on account of these hindrances would you remain without and receive no reward for your gold and silver and precious stones; neither is this just. It remains then that you be committed to the fire which will burn the light materials, for our god to those who can comprehend heavenly things is called a cleansing fire. But this fire consumes not the creature, but what the creature has himself built, wood, and hay and stubble. It is manifest that the fire destroys the wood of our transgressions and then returns to us the reward of our great works. Homilies on Jeremiah, PG 13:445,448 (A.D. 244)
- It has strong Biblical support
If purgatory exists, then this passage is completely logical. However, it is hard to explain away this one, because Paul himself implores the Lord to grant mercy to Onesiphorus, for any sins he may have committed.
Hebrews 12:22-24: “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, and to a judge who is God of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks more graciously than the blood of Abel.”
Purgatory also fits well with this verse. What could Paul mean by “Just men made perfect”?
1 Peter 1:6-7: “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold which though perishable is tested by fire, may redound to praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
1 Peter 4:12-13: “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal which comes upon you to prove you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice so far as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.”
2 Maccabees 12:41-45: " So they all blessed the ways of the Lord, the righteous Judge, who reveals the things that are hidden; 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. 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. For if he were not expecting that those who had fallen would rise again, it would have be superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead. 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."
- It is supported by reason.