Some denominations, typically roman catholicism, recognize the doctrine of purgatory, while many protestant and eastern orthodox churches would not use the same terminology, the former on the basis of their own sola scriptura doctrine, combined with their exclusion of 2 maccabees from the protestant canon of the bible, the latter because the orthodox churches consider purgatory a nonessential. Purgatory 2 maccabees 12 2 mac is used to support the catholic dogma of purgatory. He led the maccabean revolt against the seleucid empire 167160 bce the jewish holiday of hanukkah dedication commemorates the restoration of jewish worship at the second temple in jerusalem in 164 bce. The first book of maccabees praises judahs valor and military talent, suggesting that those qualities made judah a natural choice for the new commander. The doctrine of purgatory is an outgrowth of the insufficient roman catholic view of.
Jan 02, 2020 the second book of maccabees was written in koine greek, most likely around 100 bc. Nov 08, 2020 im responding to his article, purgatory and 2 maccabees 12. A christian friend says that the bible contains no references to purgatory. In his book what catholics really believe he states, unless it refers to purgatory, 2 maccabees 12. Contrary to roman catholic dogma, the apocrypha should not be considered authentic scripture, so finding the doctrine of purgatory there would not grant it biblical authority. The second book of the maccabees second journey into egypt. The second part of this roman catholic argument is that luther was cornered into rejecting 2 maccabees while debating john eck on purgatory. Third, the catholic teaching regarding purgatory comes from 2 maccabees 12. Turning to supplication, they prayed that the sinful deed might be fully blotted out he then took up a collection among all the soldiers, amounting to two thousand silver drachmas, which he sent to jerusalem to provide for an expiatory sacrifice. Origin of the name the hammer edit in the early days of the rebellion, judah received a surname maccabee. Jerome all thought this was a description of purgatory.
Our faith assures us god provides a grace appropriate for each step of this journey, and purgatory is the fulfillment of jesus promise that he will be present at the last step with the same love that greeted the first. In chapter 12 of second maccabees we read scriptural proof for purgatory and evidence that the jews had sacrifices offered for those of their brothers who had lost their lives in battle. Jan 31, 2017 roman catholics will often claim that purgatory is affirmed even before the time of the new testament in the je wish apocryphal book of 2 maccabees. If you dont want to treat it as scripture, at least treat it as a history book. Aug 08, 2017 like the roman catholic and lutheran church see lutheran confessions, ap, 21, 9, the eastern orthodox churches consider 2 maccabees to be scripture. First, when martin luther translated the bible into german in 1532, he removed seven books of the old testament, including the two books of maccabees, where at least implicitly the purification of the soul is found. Sep 24, 2011 contrary to the opinions of some misinformed scholars, many of them protestants, purgatory is a doctrine that is far older than christianity. Jul 16, 2018 purgatory is described as a sort of prison at matthew 5.
I dont see how anyone ever thought this supports purgatory rather than the obvious, that it supports the ability of jesus sacrifice to go back in time and atone for the sins of people who died. It is this passage most often pointed to in promoting the view that paul was indeed praying for the dead. Purgatory is for real order now in ii maccabees 12. Protestants have difficulty with the doctrine of purgatory for basically two reasons. It has become standard now to mention gary michutas argumentation on this from his book, why catholic bibles are bigger for historical support on. William barclay, the scottish commentator, in reference to 2nd timothy 1. Dec 05, 2017 in jewish history, the maccabees were the group of rebel warriors that took control of judea, and founded the hasmonenan dynasty. And they turned to supplication, praying that the sin that had been committed might be wholly blotted out. The doctrine of purgatory catholic faith and reason. It is of no value to argue that protestant reformers took these books i. The book of maccabees does not confirm that we should pray for those that go into purgatory.
Ii maccabees, 2 maccabees, 2 macc, 2 mac, 2m, ii ma, 2ma, ii mac, 2mac, ii macc, 2macc, ii maccabees, 2maccabees, 2nd maccabees, second maccabees, second book of the maccabees. It was this title which gave the title to the other books. So a macabean general makes a sacrifice for his dead soldiers. For catholic apologists, the text simply means purgatory. And it came to pass that through the whole city of jerusalem for the space of forty days there were seen horsemen running in the air, in gilded raiment, and armed with spears, like bands of soldiers.
For those who dont have maccabees, here is the text. Lets leave the apocrypha debate aside for a moment and look at the verse catholic apologists say unambiguously teaches purgatory, 2. A famous example is found in the second book of maccabees. Even if one refuses to accept the second book of maccabees as inspired scripture, that doesnt mean the book is false. Maccabees and prayers for the dead catholic journal. They reasserted the jewish religion and expanded the boundaries of judea by conquest.
Containing the books of 1, 2, 3, and 4 maccabees kindle edition by lumpkin, joseph. Purgatory is the place where they say souls are sent. So, if 2 maccabees did teach the idea of making atonement for the dead, they should also believe in purgatory. What is the basis for the churchs teaching about this. Much has been said over the centuries of a third place that people go to after death. A letter to the jews in egypt from the jews in jerusalem. Further to this, in the book of hebrews were told that after death is judgement hebrews 9. Aug 01, 2017 when the battle over purgatory was waged, catholic apologists zeroed in on the second book of maccabees, wherein we meet soldiers who make an offering for sacrifices to be offered on behalf of. Roman catholics often claim the ancient jewish historical book of 2 maccabees which they wrongly consider to be scripture teaches. Our sunday visitor, 2003, patrick madrid states, the doctrine of purgatory is expressed clearly in the old testament book of 2 maccabees 12 p. Does god allow souls in purgatory to visit the living. Jan 17, 2014 purgatory is for real order now in ii maccabees 12. Catholic theologians typically refer to a book in the apocrypha to support their belief in purgatory.
Roman catholics will often claim that purgatory is affirmed even before the time of the new testament in the je wish apocryphal book of 2 maccabees. The idea of purgatory has roots that date back into antiquity. For hayes, elements of purgatory are found in 2 maccabees 12, but as to purgatory proper, it was the result of development begun at the level of popular piety. The books of 1 and 2 maccabees are not recognized as divinely inspired scripture by either the jewish community or the protestant christians. Ii maccabees focuses on the jews revolt against antiochus and concludes with the defeat of the syrian general nicanor in 161 bce by judas maccabeus, the hero of the work. Nov 10, 2016 2nd macabees supports the idea that a sacrifice can be retroactive for the dead as jesus sacrifice can save adam and eve. Indeed, it can rightly be said that the concept of purgatory is more than 2,000 years old and finds it roots in judaism, especially as described in the two books of the maccabees. Keep in mind that martin luther, by his own authority, removed seven books of the old testament in contradiction of revelation 22.
The second book of maccabees was written later in greek by an unidentified greek author. Aug 04, 2009 in this post, we examine the 2nd timothy 1. In doing this he acted very well and honorably, taking account of the resurrection. Nov 02, 2016 the first reading for the 32nd sunday in ordinary time is from the second book of maccabees. Chapter 2 1in the records it will be found that jeremiah the prophet ordered the deportees to take some of the fire with them as indicated, 2and that the prophet, in giving them the law, directed the deportees not to forget the commandments of the lord or be led astray in their thoughts, when seeing the gold and silver idols and their adornments. The roman catholic church and the eastern orthodox churches however, include these books in their biblical canons, and draw important theological doctrine from the books. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the books of maccabees. Written in koine greek, 2 maccabees is an apocryphal book, meaning that it was never part of the canon of jewish scriptures that we call the old testament. Purgatory is a belief that contradicts the clear teaching of scripture with respect to the person and work of christ. It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins. The book of 2 maccabees includes a famous story about the martydom of seven brothers who refused to eat swines flesh. Purgatory much has been said over the centuries of a third place that people go to after death. A sort of proto purgatory called the celestial hades appears in the writings of plato and heraclides. First and second maccabees are sections of the hebrew scriptures or old testament that we dont meet up with much.
Traditionally the name has come to be extended to the brothers of judas, his supporters. The books of the maccabees, four books, none of which is in the hebrew bible but all of which appear in some manuscripts of the septuagint. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The name maccabee, probably meaning hammer, is actually applied in the books of maccabees to only one man, judas, third son of the priest mattathias and first leader of the revolt against the seleucid kings who persecuted the jews 1 mc 2. This work coheres with 1 maccabees, but it is written as a theological interpretation of the maccabean revolt. In the apocrypha, the book of 2 maccabees states, making a. In general, its chronology coheres with that of i maccabees. The author of 2nd maccabees created a condensed version of a five volume account written by jason of cyrene, whose works have also been otherwise lost to history. Lessons from the holy maccabees catholic world report.
I thought id like to present them to you today and to make references to a main teaching found in these books. Heres a great video of jimmy akin catholic answers showing where you can find purgatory in the bible. The devotion to the memory of the dead is one of the most beautiful expressions of the catholic spirit. In addition, judas maccabeus seems to have retained a halfshekel methodology employed for jewish men of military age soldiers whilst emphasising the. In doing this he acted in a very excellent and noble way, inasmuch as he had the resurrection. And it shows that the pious jews of israel believed in praying for the dead. General judas maccabeus did understand the theology of praying for the dead, which both jesus john 11. Purgatory is, according to the belief of some christians mostly catholics, an intermediate state after physical death for expiatory purification. An unknown editor, the epitomist, used the factual notes of a historian. The two books of the maccabees deal substantially with the same theme. Jun 30, 2019 but purgatory is in the bible, in 2 maccabees 2. Purgatory and praying for the dead franciscan media.
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