Does purgatory exist

Answer 1

The concept of purgatory is not found in The Bible. There are verses in the Bible that have been 'stretched' to mean purgatory but the idea is not taught explicitly in the Bible. So we can say no, purgatory does not exist.

The teaching of purgatory implies that the righteousness of Christ does not cleanse from all sin. It is true "that nothing that is not perfect can exist in the presence of God Almighty, and few of us die perfect" but that is why Christ died to satisfy the wrath of God that is due the sinner. Jesus' sacrifice alone is what justifies and removes all guilt from "whosoever believes".

So what is the need for purgatory?

Answer 2

First of all, no one believes that purgatory exists, other than Catholics.

The Roman Catholic Church currently teaches that purgatory exists, and therefore Catholics are required to believe that purgatory does indeed exist. However, this was not the case before the twelfth century and conceivably could cease to be the case at some time in the future. A similar situation exists with limbo, which was once firmly part of Catholic doctrine, but which senior members of the Catholic hierarchy have declared never was formally part of Catholic doctrine, paving the way for the pope to repudiate belief in limbo. For Catholics, at least for the time being, purgatory exists.

Answer 3

Purgatory is a real place. The reality of Purgatory has been defined De Fide (it is of the faith, highest degree of certainty in theology). The reality of purgatory was denied by the Cathari, the Waldenses, the Reformers, and by some schismatic Greeks. The necessity of a purgation before entering heaven is from the fact that nothing that is not perfect can exist in the presence of God Almighty, and few of us die perfect. Purgatory is a great grace and mercy of God.

Catholic truths that are de fide are not usually defined by the Church until someone denies them. The Scriptural proof of Purgatory goes all the way back to 2 Mach. 12:42-46 (in the Old Testament-one of the books that the protestants threw out, for this very reason), when the Jews prayed for those who had died in battle that they would be "loosed from their sins". To this end, an offering was sent to Jerusalem that a sacrifice might be offered for them. (pretty much what a modern Catholic would do when he has a Mass said for the departed). Other Scripture verses quoted in support of this dogma are Mt. 12:32, which St. Gregory the Great uses; 1 Cor 3:12, 15. The Latin Fathers all quote this as support of the purgatorial fire. Mt. 5:26.

For a complete discussion of the dogma of purgatory see Dr. Ott's book, Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma, pp. 482-485, from which this answer was extracted.

Please note that since this is a dogma and de fide, it must be believed, and there is no way that anyone could possibly change this, it has been received from the Lord, and is not subject to a Pope or a Council; unlike Limbo (limbus puerorum as opposed to limbus Patrum - which is the limbo that Christ descended to and is de fide), which is a theological opinion.