February 2005Jonathan Knox Purgatory The Final Purification

February 2005Jonathan Knox What is Purgatory? Purgatory is the “final purification of the elect” where “[a]ll who die in God’s grace and friendship, but [are] still imperfectly purified… undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven. -Catechism of the Catholic Church (1030, 1031)Catechism of the Catholic Church (1030, 1031)

February 2005Jonathan Knox Myths and Facts Myth: The doctrine of purgatory was invented. Myth: Purgatory serves as a source of income for the Church. Myth: Purgatory is not in Scripture. Myth: The doctrine of purgatory downplays Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Fact: Purgatory is entirely different from the punishment of the damned. Fact: Purgatory involves a cleansing, purifying fire.

February 2005Jonathan Knox History of the Doctrine The doctrine was defined at the Council of Florence and at the Council of Trent in Council of Trent

February 2005Jonathan Knox History of the Doctrine Before this, Pope Benedict XII in his 1336 constitution Benedictus Deus, on the Beatific Vision, said that the faithful who die “without need of any purification” will go to be present with God. He goes on to say that those that need to be purified will go to Him after their purification.

February 2005Jonathan Knox History of the Doctrine So with this proof, it is clear that the belief in purgatory came before the definition of the doctrine. It was not invented in the 16 th century or even the 14 th century.

February 2005Jonathan Knox St. Augustine "Temporal punishments are suffered by some in this life only, by some after death, by some both here and hereafter, but all of them before that last and strictest judgment. But not all who suffer temporal punishments after death will come to eternal punishments, which are to follow after that judgment." – St. Augustine (The City of God 21:13 [A.D. 419]).

February 2005Jonathan Knox St. Cyril of Jerusalem Then we commemorate… in a word all who in past years have fallen asleep among us, believing that it will be a very great benefit to the souls, for whom the supplication is put up, while that holy and most awful sacrifice is set forth. –St. Cyril of Jerusalem (Catechetical Lectures 23:5:9 [A.D. 350]).

February 2005Jonathan Knox History of the Doctrine So the idea of purgatory can be traced back into the 5 th and 4 th centuries. It can be traced farther back still, but the preceding proofs should suffice.

February 2005Jonathan Knox Purgatory in Scripture Christ refers to the sinner who "will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come" (Matthew 12:32)

February 2005Jonathan Knox Purgatory in Scripture For other foundation no man can lay, but that which is laid: which is Christ Jesus. Now, if any man build upon this foundation, gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble: Every man’s work shall be manifest. (continued on next slide…)

February 2005Jonathan Knox Purgatory in Scripture For the day of the Lord shall declare it, because it shall be revealed in fire. And the fire shall try every man’s work, of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide, which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work burn, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire. (1 Corinthians 3:11-15)

February 2005Jonathan Knox Purgatory in Scripture 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 clearly shows three things. Our salvation is in Christ Jesus. We build our works on this foundation. We will be tried by fire. Our impurities will burn, and we will suffer loss. But this same fire will save us.

February 2005Jonathan Knox Purgatory in Scripture It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins. (2 Maccabees 12:46)

February 2005Jonathan Knox Purgatory in Scripture The verse shows that there are some that the dead benefit from our prayers. The souls in hell can’t be helped, and the souls in heaven don’t need help! There has to be another state. The verse from 2 Maccabees offers the most support for purgatory. It supports it so much that the Protestant translators had to take it out of their Bibles! 2 Maccabees and the other books the Protestants took out had been in Catholic Bibles for the past 1,000 years.

February 2005Jonathan Knox Purgatory Does Not Belittle Christ’s Sacrifice We need Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. On the cross, Christ bought our salvation. This saves us from hell, if we choose to accept it and do not die in mortal sin. The eternal debt has been paid, but the temporary punishment must be carried out. This is necessary to cleanse us, and it is through Christ’s sacrifice that this is possible.

February 2005Jonathan Knox For More Info… The Catechism of the Catholic Church (on Purgatory)The Catechism of the Catholic Church (on Purgatory) Catholic Answers (An excellent Catholic apologetics site)Catholic Answers (An excellent Catholic apologetics site) Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) Q&A Experts ForumEternal Word Television Network (EWTN) Q&A Experts Forum Or me at: me at: