Purgatory: What is It?

Most Christians believe that there is an afterlife after they depart this world, which indicates a Heaven and a Hell. But how many of those people also believe in Purgatory? Purgatory is basically a state between Heaven and Hell where one is purified from all of his or her sins. The Bible does discuss such a concept and there are several Bible verses that are used as claims and to back up the concept and idea of Purgatory.

Bible Verses

In the New Testament in the Bible, there are several verses that indicate another world besides Heaven or Hell. This other world that is mentioned is not referred to or titled "Purgatory" but we can assume and see that there is another temporary world that is being mentioned. In the book of Matthew in chapter 12, the Gospel writer speaks about Jesus' words and teachings. Jesus is speaking about different types of sins and indicates that some types of sins that are committed will be forgiven, but some other types of sins will not be forgiven in this world or in the next. These sins that won't be forgiven are the more serious sins a Christian can commit, like blasphemy, murder, or another mortal sin. As Jesus says, these sins will not be forgiven in this world or the next. But this verse also implies that some sins will be forgiven in the next world.

Since Christians believe that souls that reach Heaven are in a state of pure grace, there would be no sins to forgive. So this Bible verse in the Gospel of Matthew must be speaking about another world that comes before Heaven. The term for this world is Purgatory and Jesus indicates in this Matthew chapter that their sins will be forgiven in Purgatory, or the next world.

St. Paul's Teaching

Another Bible verse in the New Testament discusses the idea of another world, or Purgatory. Saint Paul tells Christians in 1 Corinthians Chapter 3:15 that some men will suffer loss through fire after their death, but their souls will still be saved. This must be talking about a different world other than Heaven or Hell since Heaven's souls will not go through any suffering since they are already perfect; nor can it be speaking of Hell because there is no chance of saving in Hell. Purgatory is what Saint Paul must be speaking of in Corinthians when he discusses this concept.

Many Christians doubt that there is another world separate from Heaven or Hell, but this other world only will bring happiness in the end. If a Christian's sins are not forgiven in this world, then those sins that aren't paid for or forgiven in this world will be paid for in the next world, which is Purgatory. There is only so much to gain from Purgatory rather than rejecting the teaching of it, so all Christians should rejoice that they do have a chance for their souls to be cleansed and purified before they reach Heaven.