I don’t know what purgatory means because scripture doesn’t define it; the Roman Catholic Church does.
Re-read my post regarding being absent in the body. Also, as another poster pointed out, Jesus didn’t tell the thief that he was going to purgatory for a bit to get toasty and then he would see him later—
Hoss.
As far as I have learned the Catholic Church does not define purgatory either, other than to claim it is purification of those who die with unrepented sins. That could happen to anyone. Some Catholic theologians have speculated that the purification is as by fire, but others have remained silent.
I Cor. 3:11-15 says: "For other foundation no man can lay, but that which is laid; which is Christ Jesus. Now if any man build upon this foundation, gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay stubble: Every man's work shall be manifest; for the day of the Lord shall declare it, because it shall be revealed in 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 burn, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire."