What Does the Bible Say About Purgatory?
Purgatory is the Roman Catholic doctrine that believers who die in God’s grace but still have remnants of sin must undergo purification before entering heaven. While this teaching is also found in a modified form in Eastern Orthodoxy and is accepted by some Anglicans as a theologoumenon (a permitted but non-mandatory theological opinion), the Bible never explicitly teaches purgatory.
Those who support purgatory often cite passages from the Apocrypha, particularly 2 Maccabees 12:41–46, along with verses like Luke 16:19–26, 1 Corinthians 3:11–15, and Hebrews 12:29. However, these passages—when read in context—do not present a clear or consistent teaching on purgatory. Most modern Protestant and even some Catholic scholars agree that these verses do not teach the doctrine.
This article will explore the historical development of purgatory, examine the Bible passages sometimes used to defend it, and explain why purgatory is not consistent with the Gospel message of salvation by grace through faith.
Historical Development of Purgatory
The concept of purgatory emerged gradually in certain segments of the early church. While Jewish tradition included prayers for the dead, this does not necessarily imply belief in an intermediate place of purification. Early Christian writers expressed varying views on the afterlife, with some influenced by Greek philosophy.
Clement of Alexandria and Origen (2nd–3rd centuries) taught that the dead experienced a form of cleansing before the resurrection, echoing Platonic concepts.
Tertullian described a refrigerium interim—an interim place of refreshment—distinct from purgatory, where the righteous awaited resurrection.
Augustine sometimes mentioned a postmortem purging, though his position varied.
Gregory the Great (6th century) developed the idea further, linking purgatory to the practice of penance.
By the Middle Ages, theologians like Thomas Aquinas described purgatory as a place of supernatural fire within the earth. The doctrine became official at the First Council of Lyon (1245) and was tied to the Catholic penitential system, distinguishing between eternal and temporal punishment for sin.
Bible Passages Used to Defend Purgatory—and Their Problems
While purgatory is not in the Bible, certain passages are often cited in its defense:
2 Maccabees 12:41–46 – Found in the Apocrypha, this passage describes prayers for the dead. However, the Apocrypha is not considered Scripture in Protestant Bibles, and even here the focus is on intercession, not on a place of purging.
Luke 16:19–26 – The parable of the rich man and Lazarus describes an unbridgeable chasm after death, suggesting no intermediate change in spiritual status.
1 Corinthians 3:11–15 – Paul speaks of works being tested by fire, but the context is ministry evaluation, not purification of the soul after death.
Hebrews 12:29 – “Our God is a consuming fire” is a statement about God’s holiness, not a description of an afterlife process.
When examined in context, none of these passages teach the Catholic doctrine of purgatory.
The Gospel and the Problem with Purgatory
The Bible teaches that justification is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. The doctrine of purgatory undermines this by implying that Christ’s sacrifice is insufficient for complete forgiveness. Hebrews 9:27 states that after death comes judgment, leaving no room for a change in status between death and eternity.
Protestant Reformers rejected purgatory for three main reasons:
It is absent from the Bible and cannot be inferred from biblical teaching.
It contradicts the Gospel by suggesting believers must suffer additional punishment to be made ready for heaven.
It led to corruption, such as indulgences and prayers for the dead as a paid service, which distorted the hope found in Christ.
From a biblical perspective, believers are fully cleansed by the blood of Christ. When we die, we enter God’s presence—not a temporary place of purification.
The Hope of the Believer
In place of purgatory, the Bible presents a greater hope: that through the finished work of Christ, the believer’s sins are forgiven completely, and eternal life begins immediately after death in the presence of the Lord (Philippians 1:23). This hope points to the future reality when Christ will return, judge the living and the dead, and bring His people into the fullness of His kingdom.
For the Christian, there is no fearful waiting room between death and glory. The Gospel assures us that “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).
Bible Verses About Purgatory
Luke 16:19–26, "There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’"
1 Corinthians 3:11–15, "For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire."
Hebrews 9:27, "And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment."
Romans 8:1, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 1:23, "I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better."
2 Corinthians 5:6–8, "So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord."
John 5:24, "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life."
1 Thessalonians 4:13–18, "But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words."
Revelation 21:3–4, "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.’"
2 Maccabees 12:41–46 (Apocrypha), "So they all blessed the ways of the Lord, the righteous Judge, who reveals the things that are hidden; and they turned to prayer, beseeching that the sin that had been committed might be wholly blotted out. And the noble Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves free from sin, for they had seen with their own eyes what had happened because of the sin of those who had fallen. He also took up a collection, man by man, to the amount of two thousand drachmas of silver, and sent it to Jerusalem to provide for a sin offering. In doing this he acted very well and honorably, taking account of the resurrection. For if he were not expecting that those who had fallen would rise again, it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead. But if he was looking to the splendid reward that is laid up for those who fall asleep in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. Therefore he made atonement for the dead, so that they might be delivered from their sin."