[hopefulpilgrim]

Hi, REG. Thanks for your reply. As for the Matt. 12:32 reference to purgatory:

Thus, Jesus Christ declares (Matthew 12:32): "And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but he that shall speak against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in the world to come."

This is in no way supportive of purgatory....Not even remotely. On this one, Augustine's used faulty logic...like a lot of logic concerning extra-biblical religious concepts.

As for:

A further argument is supplied by St. Paul in I Cor., iii, 11-1,5 "...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." While this passage presents considerable difficulty, it is regarded by many of the Fathers and theologians as evidence for the existence of an intermediate state in which the dross of lighter transgressions will be burnt away, and the soul thus purified will be saved.

This passage has nothing to do with real (literal) fire, just as it has nothing to do with real (literal) wood, hay, stubble, and gold, silver, precious stones. (In fact, if you read the passage in the context of the whole chapter ((1 Cor. 3)), you can see that this is a judgment of God's ministers in the church who are building ((we are the building; they are the builders)) upon the foundation of Christ.) At any rate, this has nothing to do with a so-called purification in "purgatory."

I know that you are aware of all this, Reg. Thank you for going back to look at the article again and for providing the link. God bless. Hopefulpilgrim

[OLD REGGIE]

I know that you are aware of all this, Reg. Thank you for going back to look at the article again and for providing the link. God bless. Hopefulpilgrim

You are welcome. I am constantly amazed at the various proofs offered by the apologists. You read the Scriptural references. I read the Scriptural references. Now see the argument for the proofs.

" According to St. Isidore of Seville (Deord. creatur., c. xiv, n. 6) these words prove that in the next life "some sins wil be forgiven and purged away by a certain purifying fire." St. Augustine also argues "that some sinners are not forgiven either in this world or in the next would not be truly said unless there were other [sinners] who, though not forgiven in this world, are forgiven in the world to come" (De Civ. Dei, XXI, xxiv). The same interpretation is given by Gregory the Great (Dial., IV, xxxix); St. Bede (commentary on this text); St. Bernard (Sermo lxvi in Cantic., n. 11) and other eminent theological writers.

Try reading this for meaning or "proof".
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While this passage presents considerable difficulty, it is regarded by many of the Fathers and theologians as evidence for the existence of an intermediate state in which the dross of lighter transgressions will be burnt away, and the soul thus purified will be saved. This, according to Bellarmine (De Purg., I, 5), is the interpretation commonly given by the Fathers and theologians; and he cites to this eftect:

This, according to REGGIE is pure, unadulterated baloney.