Table of Contents
Definition/Origin
The word Purgatory (medieval Latin: purgatorium) is not found in the Bible but comes from a Roman Catholic doctrine. According to the the Catholic Encyclopedia, Purgatory is “a place or condition of temporal punishment for those who, departing this life in God’s grace, are not entirely free from venial sins, or have not fully paid the satisfaction due to their transgressions.” This doctrine was defined in the Second Council of Lyon (1274), the Council of Florence (1438–1445), and the Council of Trent (1545–63).
The Roman Catholic Church holds that all who have died in a state of grace and friendship but still imperfectly purified, undergo the process of purification which it calls purgatory, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven. In other words, Purgatory is an intermediate state between death and eternal life that the souls of the dead go to, to expiate their sins that had not been fully cleansed during life.
The Catholic Church teaches that the process of purgatory (the final purification of the elect) is entirely different from the punishment of the damned. It holds that the time spent in Purgatory is equal to the severity of the sins that one has committed. And it claims that a person’s time in purgatorial fire may be shortened, and his pains alleviated, by the faithful prayers and charitable works of those still alive. But this teaching of temporary punishment is not supported by the Scriptures. For more, check: https://bibleask.org/is-prayer-for-the-dead-wrong-or-useless/
Catholicism bases the conception of purgatory, and the practice of praying for the dead, on the Deuterocanonical book – 2 Maccabees 12:46. The Deuterocanonical books teach doctrines that are not in harmony with the Holy Canon and that are not historically accurate. For this reason, Protestants don’t accept the teaching of purgatory on the basis of their Sola Scriptura stand. This belief means that the Bible alone should be the primary and absolute source for all doctrines and practices. Also, Protestants don’t uphold 2 Maccabees as part of the inspired Scriptures but as only part of the Apocryphal Literature.
Is Purgatory Biblical?
To understand why purgatory is not biblical, we must first examine the Scriptures themselves. The NKJV Bible, like many translations, emphasizes key doctrines such as salvation by grace alone, the sufficiency of Christ’s atonement, the finality of judgment, and the certainty of eternal life for the believer. These teachings do not align with the concept of purgatory. Throughout the Bible, there is no clear, unambiguous reference to a post-death state where souls are purified. The absence of such a doctrine in the Bible strongly indicates that purgatory is a man-made concept, not a biblical one.
The Biblical Doctrine of Salvation: Finished in Christ
A key issue with the doctrine of purgatory is that it contradicts the biblical teaching that salvation is fully accomplished through the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the cross. The New Testament consistently presents the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ as the completed and final act of atonement for sin. According to the Bible, salvation does not depend on any post-death purification process but rather on the sufficiency of Jesus’ sacrifice.
The Sufficiency of Christ’s Atonement
In John 19:30, as Jesus hung on the cross, He declared:
“So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!’ And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.” (John 19:30, NKJV)
This statement, “It is finished,” indicates that the work of redemption was fully completed at the cross. Jesus’ sacrifice was sufficient to cover all sin, and there is no further need for additional purification, either in this life or after death. The concept of purgatory, which suggests that further purification is necessary, directly contradicts this finality.
In Hebrews 10:12-14, the writer affirms the completeness of Christ’s sacrifice:
“But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:12-14, NKJV)
Jesus’ single offering is sufficient to perfect those who are being sanctified. There is no need for a second or subsequent purification, either before or after death, as purgatory suggests. The idea that believers need additional cleansing after death undermines the sufficiency of Christ’s work on the cross.
Salvation by Grace Through Faith
Another key argument against the concept of purgatory is the biblical teaching that salvation is a gift of God, given by grace alone, and received through faith. Ephesians 2:8-9 states:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9, NKJV)
Salvation is entirely the work of God, not something that can be earned or completed through human effort, whether in life or after death. If a person were required to undergo purification after death, it would suggest that salvation is not truly a gift of grace, but something earned through additional suffering or works. This is incompatible with the biblical message that salvation is given freely to those who trust in Christ’s finished work.
The Finality of Judgment: One Life, One Judgment
The Bible consistently teaches that judgment occurs once after death, and there is no opportunity for further purification after death. Purgatory, however, implies that souls must undergo a period of cleansing before they can enter heaven. This notion contradicts the finality of judgment presented in Scripture.
Hebrews 9:27: Once for Judgment
Hebrews 9:27 makes a clear statement about the finality of judgment:
“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27, NKJV)
This verse teaches that after death, there is no further opportunity for purification or atonement. The judgment is immediate, and there is no reference to any intermediary state, such as purgatory. In the biblical worldview, death is followed by a final judgment, where the individual’s eternal destiny is determined.
The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus
In Luke 16:19-31, Jesus tells the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, where both men die and are immediately sent to their respective places—Lazarus to Abraham’s bosom (a place of comfort) and the rich man to a place of torment. In the parable, there is no mention of a temporary purification process between death and final judgment. The rich man’s fate is sealed, and there is no indication that he can be released from his torment or undergo any form of purification.
“And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.” (Luke 16:26, NKJV)
This great gulf between the two realms suggests a permanent separation after death, with no opportunity for change or purification. If purgatory were a real doctrine, one would expect to see some reference to the possibility of a soul moving between states or undergoing cleansing after death. The absence of such a reference in this parable further supports the notion that there is no such thing as purgatory in the biblical understanding.
The Doctrine of Justification: No Condemnation for the Believer that Perseveres
The Bible teaches that believers are justified by faith in Christ and that there is no condemnation for those who remain in Christ. The idea of purgatory, which suggests that there is a further process of purification for believers, contradicts the doctrine of justification by faith.
Romans 8:1: No Condemnation
Romans 8:1 states:
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1, NKJV)
This verse emphasizes that believers in Christ are not condemned, and there is no further punishment or cleansing required after death. If believers were required to undergo a period of purification in purgatory, it would imply that they are still under some form of condemnation or that their justification is incomplete. The absence of any mention of purgatory in this context strongly suggests that the doctrine does not align with the biblical teaching of justification.
Titus 3:5: Salvation by Mercy
Titus 3:5 reinforces the idea that salvation is not based on our works, but on God’s mercy:
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.” (Titus 3:5, NKJV)
Purgatory, which suggests that additional purification is required after death, would undermine this merciful salvation. If salvation were based on God’s mercy, there would be no need for further purification after death. The Bible teaches that the believer is fully cleansed from sin through the washing of regeneration (the new birth through the Holy Spirit), and there is no need for a further cleansing process.
The Absence of Purgatory in Scripture
One of the most compelling arguments against the doctrine of purgatory is the simple fact that it is not explicitly mentioned in the Bible. Despite being a central tenet in Catholic theology, there is no clear reference to purgatory in the Old or New Testaments.
Lack of Direct Biblical Support
While certain passages are often cited in support of purgatory, such as 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 (where Paul speaks of a believer’s works being tested by fire) or 2 Maccabees 12:38-46 (which speaks of prayers for the dead), these verses do not explicitly describe a post-death purification process. In fact, most of these passages can be understood in a different context. For instance, the “fire” in 1 Corinthians 3 is not necessarily referring to a post-death purification, but rather to the testing of works during one’s lifetime.
Moreover, the book of 2 Maccabees is not part of the Protestant canon, and its teachings are not considered authoritative by many Christian denominations. The absence of any clear, direct mention of purgatory in the Bible suggests that it is a tradition that developed later in Church history, rather than a doctrine rooted in Scripture.
The Glory of Heaven: Perfect and Complete Fellowship with God
Finally, the Bible teaches that heaven is a place of perfect fellowship with God, where there is no sin, sorrow, or imperfection. Revelation 21:27 states:
“But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” (Revelation 21:27, NKJV)
If heaven is a place where nothing unclean can enter, then it stands to reason that all believers must be fully purified before entering. The idea of purgatory suggests that souls are not fully purified at the time of death, but the Bible assures believers that Christ’s work is sufficient to make them holy and fit for heaven. The absence of any mention of purgatory in relation to entering heaven further reinforces the biblical understanding that believers are made perfect in Christ and are immediately prepared to enter God’s presence upon death.
Conclusion: Purgatory Is Not Biblical
The concept of purgatory is not supported by Scripture. The Bible teaches that salvation is complete through the work of Christ, that judgment comes after death, and that believers are justified by faith alone. There is no reference to an intermediary purification state after death in the biblical text. The sufficiency of Christ’s atoning work, the finality of judgment, and the perfection of believers that remain in Christ all point to the conclusion that purgatory is not a biblical doctrine.
While the idea of purgatory may be a comforting thought for some, it is ultimately a man-made tradition that contradicts the clear teachings of Scripture. The Bible calls believers to place their full trust in Christ’s finished work, knowing that they are fully forgiven and justified before God.