That they might come upon the camp of the jews, and strike them suddenly. In his book, a biblical defense of catholicism ms word version, 2001 dave armstrong has a section entitled scriptural evidence for purgatory. The belief is that people first enter purgatory upon death at least in some cases and that the actions of believers on earth can help a person move to. Nor is purgatory a late invention of the church, as many protestants claim. The name 3 maccabees, though occurring in the oldest manuscripts and vss, is quite unsuitable, because the book refers to events which antedate the maccabean age by about half a century, and also to events in which the maccabees took no part.
However, it is only the catholics that developed the concept of purgatory. The book of 1 maccabees was written in hebrew and later translated into greek. The author opposed the hellenization of the jews and clearly supported and admired the jewish revolutionaries led by judas maccabeus and his brothers. The english anglican scholar john henry newman argued, in a book that he wrote. Luther doesnt deny that the teaching of purgatory is plain in 2 maccabees. Lessons from the holy maccabees catholic world report. In maccabees we find the practice of prayer for the dead with a view to their after life purification a practice accepted by some christians. Apr 09, 2014 books of the maccabees paperback april 9, 2014 by king james bible author, douay rheims author 4. The idea of purgatory has roots that date back into antiquity. Maccabees, second book of ii maccabees, known in greek as.
The book 2 maccabees taken out after protestant reformation but still in catholic bible speaks of purgatory therefore, be aware. Jan 17, 2014 but it is a nonsequitur to conclude from this teaching that ii maccabees could not be referring to a type of purgatory. Catholics often claim that the ancient jewish historical book of 2 maccabees which they wrongly consider to be scripture teaches purgatory. Recently i was having a discussion with a roman catholic about purgatory and he brought up an interesting verse from the scriptures which he claims is evidence of purgatory 2 maccabees 3946. Catholic bible 101 purgatory catholicbible101 is the website that explains catholic teachings in plain, easy to understand english. The first book of the maccabees and a thousand of the best horsemen. 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. Jerome all thought this was a description of purgatory. 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. There is some justification for the title since illustrations are largely drawn from 2 maccabees 6 and 7. Some people do not accept maccabees as book of the bible.
It was this title which gave the title to the other books of the apocrypha bearing the same name. But this book tells of sufferings and triumphs on the part of loyal jews comparable to those of the. This concept stems partly from ancient grecoroman mythology whereby there is the long held view that heaven, hell and purgatory are places within the physical realm. Books of the maccabees paperback april 9, 2014 by king james bible author, douay rheims author 4. Books of maccabees encyclopedia of the bible bible gateway. The old testament people of god would not have called it purgatory, but they did. The roman catholic and eastern orthodox both hold the books of maccabees as sacred, inspired scripture.
Jews refer to the maccabees, but the family is more commonly known as the hasmoneans. Evidence for belief is purgatory goes back to judaism herself with the maccabees. Feb 21, 2019 the book of maccabees teaches purgatory sure foundation baptist church. Scholars believe that the author was a palestinian jew who was intimately familiar with the events described. Unlike 1 maccabees, 2 maccabees was written in koine greek, probably in alexandria, egypt, c. The books of the maccabees biblical literature britannica. In doing this he acted in a very excellent and noble way, inasmuch as he had the resurrection of the dead in view. I maccabees presents a historical account of political, military, and diplomatic events from the time of judaeas relationship with antiochus iv epiphanes of syria reigned 175164163 bc to the death 54 bc of simon maccabeus, high priest in jerusalem. While the idea of a middle ground may find historical support in other places or seem sensible to many, the fact is that it is not supported by the biblethe very book that. During the discussion of the subject of purgatory, a quotation was made from the books of the maccabees 2 macc 12. It is a religious summary or epitome by an unknown author of a 5 volume work by an unknown jason of cyrene, covering the history of the jews from the time of the rise of alexander the great during the high priesthood of jaddua about 333 b. The general protestant view is that the bible, from which protestants exclude deuterocanonical books such as 2 maccabees, contains. However, the book of daniel, although included within the canon, is to a large extent written in aramaic. 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.
The concept of purification after death dates back to the jews of prechristian times. Nov 11, 2015 luther doesnt deny that the teaching of purgatory is plain in 2 maccabees. First maccabees written circa 4104 bce and describing the period of 1665 bce is devoted to presenting the maccabean dynasty, from mattathias through his son judah, to jonathan and simon who became high priests and gained political independence. Even more problematic is the fact that scholars believe that the first book of maccabees was indeed written originally in hebrew, therefore meeting the language criterion for inclusionand yet it is absent from the biblical canon. Evidence of this can be seen in the second book of maccabees. Jan 02, 2020 the book of 1 maccabees was written in hebrew and later translated into greek. 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. But it is a nonsequitur to conclude from this teaching that ii maccabees could not be referring to a type of purgatory. The two books of maccabees are probably not in your friends bible because they were originally written in greek. Why the maccabees arent in the bible my jewish learning.
Roman catholics will often claim that purgatory is affirmed even before the time of the new testament in the jewish apocryphal book of 2 maccabees. It describes the refusal of mattathias to perform pagan religious rites, the ensuing jewish revolt. The second book of the maccabees 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. Unfortunately, protestants have typically rejected the two books of maccabees as apocryphal, because they were not part of the hebrew bible.
Mar 03, 2009 in his book, a biblical defense of catholicism ms word version, 2001 dave armstrong has a section entitled scriptural evidence for purgatory. The book of maccabees teaches purgatory sure foundation baptist church. Nov 06, 20 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. Purgatory and praying for the dead franciscan media. Contrary to the opinions of some misinformed scholars, many of them protestants, purgatory is a doctrine that is far older than christianity. The title of 1 and 2 maccabees is taken from the surname of judas 1 mace.
First of all, a careful reading of the text reveals the sin of these men to be carrying small amulets or sacred tokens of the idols of jamnia under their tunics as they were going in to battle. The family of mattathias became known as the maccabees, from the hebrew word for hammer, because they were said to strike hammer blows against their enemies. The first mention of purgatory in the bible is in 2 maccabees 12. The original hebrew is lost and the most important surviving version is. As such, it lacks biblical authority and is to be rejected. The catholic doctrine of purgatory and the catholic practice of prayers for the dead stretch back to the earliest christian period, but the emphasis on salvation by faith has typically caused. Ginsburg kittos cycyclopedia of biblical literature. The same title is used for a syriac version of 6th book of josephus jewish war. The original hebrew is lost and the most important surviving version is the greek translation contained in the septuagint. Purging purgatory from 2 maccabees it is a common roman catholic argument that 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. Purgatory is, according to the belief of some christians mostly catholics, an intermediate state. Catholics will quickly cite this as scriptural evidence for the reality of purgatory, but we must remember that protestants do not accept 2 maccabees as scriptural.
Le goff said this book occupies an essential place in the history of purgatory, in whose. The designation 5 maccabees was first given to the book now commonly so called by cotton the five books of maccabees english, 1832, and it has been perpetuated by dr. It is further argued that, because evangelicals dont accept this book as canonical, it doesnt impede what is stated in these passages. Samuel davidson introduction to the old testament, iii, 465. Third, the catholic teaching regarding purgatory comes from 2 maccabees 12. Thus he made atonement for the dead that they might be freed from sin.
First book of maccabees, pt 1 of 3, new american bible youtube. Of all the misunderstood catholic teachings and there are a. Maccabees, books of, 12 international standard bible. Like other rulers before him, antiochus underestimated the will and strength of his jewish. The teaching of a purgatory found in 2 maccabees has no relevance at all for believers.
Purgatory is an extrabiblical teaching developed beyond what jesus and the apostles presented in the bible. First of all, a careful reading of the text reveals the sin of these men to be carrying small amulets or sacred tokens of the idols of jamnia under their. This is unfortunate since it is that their bibles have been edited and are missing books. This verse was considered a proof of purgatory by origen and st.
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