Purgatory in the Bible

The Church teaches that when someone dies in the state of grace he does not immediately enters heaven but instead undergoes a state where he is purified. The Catechism of the Catholic Church thus states:

All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven. (1030)

This doctrine of purification is attacked by other christian denominations as not having any scriptural basis and thus a mere invention of the Catholic Church during only the Middle Ages. These christian denominations argues that since the term 'Purgatory' is nowhere to be found its existence is nothing but doubtful. Yet, the Church is also aware of this matter and on its succeeding definition of 'Purgatory' the Catechism of the Catholic Church holds:

The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned. The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent. The tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire: (1031)

Psalm 66:12 Thou didst let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet thou hast brought us forth to a spacious place.

References to purgatory exists in certain texts of the Bible though the term 'Purgatory' is not explicitly seen.  Psalm 66:12 is considered by Early Church Fathers to be proofs of 'Purgatory.' Waters of Baptism and Fires of Purgatory.

Isaiah 6:5-7 And I said: "Woe is me! for I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts." Then flew one of the seraphim to me, having in his hand a burning coal which he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth, and said: "Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin forgiven."

This verse taken from Isaiah is the most widely used reference to purgation and the Church's belief on 'Purgatory' is very much exposed in this verse. That process [burning coal touching the lips] is 'Purgatory' the state of which results to purity [guilt taken away; sins forgiven].

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Author

AB-Philosophy undergraduate at Notre Dame of Marbel University.