Re: purgatory:
In 2 Timothy 1:18, St. Paul prays for Onesiphorus, who has died. We don't pray for people in heaven since they need no prayers (having already obtianed eternal happiness).
Praying for the already dead - with the idea that they were in some location other than heaven since no one needs prayers if they are already in heaven - was what all Christians did until Luther came along and decided to ignore both scripture and the traditions that existed even prior to the NT.
As for asking saints for their intercession: if you think that saints on earth who are not in the Lord's immediate presence can no longer offer petitions once they die and ARE in the Lord's actual presence, then you are not a very lucid thinker - nor very biblical.
"Paul prays for Onesiphorus, who has died."
That is very different than praying TO Onesiphorus.
Can you show me scripture where anyone has prayed TO a dead person?
I pray to the Father in Jesus Name. Jesus Himself said that is how we are to pray!
When the Catholics ADD to the Bible things like Purgatory and prayer to saints...how then can I trust that the RCC is the font of Biblical truth?
Sorry, but I've been to a lot of protestant demoninations.
They are far more consistant on what the Word says and doctrine than the RCC. And they don't need to raise money by buying fewer days in purgatory.
Why do you think he had died?
``... It is probable that Onesiphorus was now absent from home, and in company with Paul; Paul therefore prays that his house might be kept during his absence. Though the papists will have it that he was now dead; and, from Paul's praying for him that he might find mercy, they conclude the warrantableness of praying for the dead; but who told them that Onesiphorus was dead? And can it be safe to ground a doctrine and practice of such importance on a mere supposition and very great uncertainty?'' —Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible