PURGATORY and SCRIPTURAL REALITY

[Source: THE BIBLE PROVES THE TEACHINGS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH by Brother Peter Dimond]

There is proof for Purgatory in the Bible.  It’s found in 1 Corinthians chapter 3, verse 15.  Let’s examine this Biblical proof for Purgatory.  I will use the 1611 King James Version of the Bible, a famous Protestant translation.

1 CORINTHIANS 3:15 IS IRREFUTABLE PROOF FOR PURGATORY

1 Corinthians 3:11-15- “For other foundation can no man lay that that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by 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 shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”

WHAT DOES “SUFFER LOSS” MEAN IN THIS PASSAGE?

The Greek word which is translated as “suffer loss” is zemiothesetai. It comes from the Greek word zemioo – which is translated as “suffer loss” in 1 Cor. 3:15 – are found in other passages in the Bible.  The word is used to mean punishment. In Exodus 21:22, Proverbs 19:19 and elsewhere, this very Greek word zemioo is used to mean punishment.

So, the man who suffers loss and is saved by fire can mean a man who is punished and saved by fire.  Doesn’t that sound just like purgatory? Yes, it sounds exactly like Purgatory because that’s what it’s referring to.  But there is more from the context to demonstrate the point.  Who is this man, and why is he suffering loss or punishment and being saved by fire?

THE CONTEXT OF 1 COR. 3 CONCERNS CHRISTIANS AND CERTAIN SINS OR BAD WORKS

The context of 1 Corinthians 3 deals with members of the Church of Christ; it deals with the Corinthian Christian believers.  1 Corinthians 3:3 tells us that some of these Corinthian Christians were falling into sinful imperfections and offenses against God.  Some of these bad works or sins are identified in 1 Corinthians 3:3 as strife, divisions and envying.

     1 Corinthians 3:3- “…for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?”

So the context of 1 Corinthians 3 deals with the different kinds of works of believers; some of them are not so good.  These different kinds of works (good and bad) are described in 1 Corinthians 3:12.

     1 Corinthians 3:12-13- “Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.”

There are good works, which are called: gold, silver and precious stones.  These signify a better or more perfect adherence to the Gospel of Christ.  Then there are other works, which are not so good.  These bad works or sins included unnecessary quarrelling, strife, jealousy and divisions (as mentioned above).  These are described as: wood, hay and stubble.  These are the works that are burned in 1 Cor. 3:15, for which the man suffers loss or punishment; but he is saved, yet so by fire.

This context fits perfectly with the Catholic teaching on Purgatory.  The Catholic Council of Lyons II defined Purgatory this way:

     Pope Gregory X, Council of Lyons II, 1274: “Because if they die truly repentant in charity before they have made satisfaction by worthy fruits of penance for sins committed and omitted, their souls are cleansed after death for purgatorial or purifying

punishments….” (Denzinger 464).