Why do Catholics believe in Purgatory and Protestants do not?

[PJM]

=Katholikos;65129]Christianity – which was also known as Catholicism for the first thousand years A.D. – was a natural outgrowth from Judaism. The Catholic Church was founded by the Jewish Messiah – the Christ, the Anointed One – upon Peter, the Rock. His Twelve Apostles, all leaders of the newborn Church, were faithful and observant Jews.

Even after the Crucifixion and Ascension of Our Lord and the birth of His Church, the Apostles continued to attend synagogue services. Then they and their followers – first called Christians at Antioch (Acts 11:26) – who were the Church, gathered together in members’ houses to celebrate the “breaking of the bread” – the Mass (Acts 2:42, 20:7, et al.). Acts documents how intertwined were Christianity and Judaism.

The Jews believed that souls were purified after death, in preparation for their union with God (example: “Therefore he made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin” (RSV, See 2 Maccabees 12:38-45). They still do. They just don’t call this process “purgatory.” Jews prayed for their dead at the time of Jesus and still do today. The Apostles – all devout Jews – taught the concept of after-death purification to their new Greek-speaking converts, the first Christians.

The Catholic Church was founded by Jesus Christ for the salvation of the world. Christ taught the Apostles and the Apostles taught the Church. The Church has been teaching the concept of the purification of souls after death (purgatory) for the past 2,000 years because she learned it from the Apostles.

Protestants, basing their faith on Sola Scriptura, not only do not find purgatory in the Scriptures (because they don’t know how to recognize the Truth when they read it), but they are so far removed in time from the beginning of historical Christianity that they have cut themselves off from this knowledge.

The New Testament came out of the Church. The teachings of the Catholic Church are reflected in the NT, not the other way around. Just because there is not a flat statement in the NT that “souls are purified after death in a process called purgatory” does not mean it isn’t there, or that Christ and His Apostles didn’t believe it and teach it.

Latin: purgare (v.) To purify, to cleanse.

There’s much more to be said about purgatory. Comments?

Ave Cor Mariae, Jay

I suspect that more than any other reason it is because Catholics use the entire bible, and this doctrine is Biblical, while others pick and choose [much like Luther himself] what they will and will not accept as devinely inspired. The fact that the word Purgatory was not invented until after the end of the First Century, is glossed over.

Love and prayers,

 

[The_Reginator]

I suspect that more than any other reason it is because Catholics use the entire bible, and this doctrine is Biblical, while others pick and choose [much like Luther himself] what they will and will not accept as devinely inspired. The fact that the word Purgatory was not invented until after the end of the First Century, is glossed over.

Love and prayers,

 

[Berean2]

Somebody “resurrected” this interesting old thread, so I’ll just weigh in with my 2c worth (I have not waded thru 26 pages of threads, so if I’m repeating someone else’s post, I apologize). Consider this passage:

1 Cor. 15: Lo! I tell you a mystery. (a) We shall not all sleep, but (b) we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the (c) dead will be raised imperishable, and (d) we shall be changed. For this perishable nature must put on the imperishable, and this mortal nature must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

(a) is talking about Xtians still alive @ the time of the 2nd Coming; (b) talks about the split-second change that takes place for all believers, dead or alive; (c) gives the specifics for the way the dead will be “changed,” and (d) again refers to the folks in (a). Notice, it’s in the “twinkling of an eye,” and there’s no reference to any kind of pre-change purification for those still alive. Why would all the believers left on earth @ the 2nd Coming be exempted from Purgatory?

As for the passage on the works being burned (1 Cor. 3) : Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—each man’s work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. The context is men of the cloth, so if you interpret it very tightly, it’s referring to the clergy, and how well they do their job, but even if you stretch the meaning to include Christians in general, it does not say the person will be put thru the fire, but the person’s works. Big difference. Notice also the crucial point that it’s on the Judgement Day, which doesn’t come till the end of time, so the “revealing” would not be happening right after a person dies.

 

[KathleenGee]

Works come from the intent of the heart.

It is thus a purgation of the heart through the soul.

 

[Berean2]

What about the 2 passages of Scripture, Kathleen? As elsewhere, no interaction with them, sigh…

 

[KathleenGee]

Berean2,
Last time I responded to a post of yours but you never came back.

The first passage would be context in which Paul said it. I also heard a Dominican teach that the earliest confessions were said publicly in the ecclesia, and were infrequent, because people were living Christianity on the edge, meaning they could be reported any day and lived most devoutly. Paul is addressing an experience he had, a taste of heaven, and sharing that with those who upon death, would know no purgatory. These had perfect desire of heaven and suffered for their faith, and avoided sin. In these days, people went before the assembly and presbyter to confess their sins; they could not receive the Eucharist for some time.

If I recall, you have an image of Catholics that we think our works will take us to heaven. It is Jesus. Works are an expression of one’s faith…Paul is meaning that kind of faith that bears sin. And we have the Eucharist which brings us eternal life. Jesus is the perfection of all virtues. So I don’t know what you are referring to about Catholic works.

Through the Eucharist, many Catholics are already experiencing heaven here on earth, however imperfectly.

 

[Berean2]

Berean2,
Last time I responded to a post of yours but you never came back.

The first passage would be context in which Paul said it. I also heard a Dominican teach that the earliest confessions were said publicly in the ecclesia, and were infrequent, because people were living Christianity on the edge, meaning they could be reported any day and lived most devoutly. Paul is addressing an experience he had, a taste of heaven, and sharing that with those who upon death, would know no purgatory. These had perfect desire of heaven and suffered for their faith, and avoided sin. In these days, people went before the assembly and presbyter to confess their sins; they could not receive the Eucharist for some time.

If I recall, you have an image of Catholics that we think our works will take us to heaven. It is Jesus. Works are an expression of one’s faith…Paul is meaning that kind of faith that bears sin. And we have the Eucharist which brings us eternal life. Jesus is the perfection of all virtues. So I don’t know what you are referring to about Catholic works.

Through the Eucharist, many Catholics are already experiencing heaven here on earth, however imperfectly.

Kathleen, I find it hard to respond to a lot of what you write bec. you slip-slide all over the place—like here: what does your comment have to do with the Bible verses? “Last trumpet” is the Judgement Day—that’s the context. Nothing mysterious there. Paul is clearly talking about The End. Engage with the text, please! If you go off on all kinds of unrelated stuff, there’s no way to discuss anything with you. It’s sort of like if I post “What is your favorite food?” and you reply something like, “My stomach has been diagnosed with polyps and the doctor says I need to have surgery.” Apples and oranges.

FYI, in actuality, the passage where Paul is talking about the “taste of heaven” is this one (2 Cor. 12): * I must boast; there is nothing to be gained by it, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven – whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into Paradise – whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows — and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.
*

And apparently you’re confusing me with numerous other (unknown to me) Protestants who seem to “have an image of Catholics that we think our works will take us to heaven” (or perhaps you could refresh my memory with a link to the exact location where I claim that RCCers hold that idea). Certainly, there’s nothing here in this thread where I say anything about RCCers + works + heaven. Please stick to factuality. Thanx.