MARTIN LUTHER BELIEVED IN PURGATORY Hell, purgatory, and heaven seem to differ as do despair, almost-despair, and the assurance of safety. (The 95 Theses, #16; 31 October 1517; translated by C. M. Jacobs, 1915) With souls in purgatory it seems necessary that horror would grow less and love increase. (Ibid., #17) [T]his faith, I say, is truly able to do all things in heaven, earth, hell and purgatory, . . . (A Treatise on the Holy Mass, Aug. 1520; translated by J. J. Schindel in 1915) I have never yet denied that there is a purgatory, and I still hold that there is, as I have many times written and confessed, though I have no way of proving it incontrovertibly, either by Scripture or reason. I find in the Scriptures, indeed, that Christ, Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Job, David, Hezekiah and some others tasted hell in this life. This I think to be purgatory, and it is not incredible that some of the dead suffer in like manner. Tauler has much to say about it, and, in a word, I have decided for myself that there is a purgatory, but cannot force any others to the same decision. . . . It is enough for us to know that they [sols in purgatory] are in great and intolerable pain, and crave our help. (An Argument in Defense of All the Articles of Dr. Martin Luther Wrongly Condemned in the Roman Bull, 1521; tr. C. M. Jacobs) I am of the opinion that purgatory is not so general as they say, but that only a few souls will enter it. (Sermon for the Epiphany; Matthew 2:1-12, 1522) Not that I, at this late day . . ., deny the existence of purgatory; but it is dangerous to preach it, whatever of truth there may be in the doctrine, because the Word of God, the Scriptures, make no mention of a purgatory. (Sermon for Christmas Eve; Titus 2:11-15, 1522)
Posted on: Mon, 17 Nov 2014 19:44:07 +0000
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