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Sanctification and Purgatory in Catholic and Protestant Theology

The concepts of sanctification and purgatory represent significant points of theological divergence between Catholic and Protestant traditions. While both traditions acknowledge the need for believers to be set apart for God, their understanding of the process and its post-mortem implications differs considerably.

Sanctification, in a broad sense, refers to the process of being made holy or set apart for God's service [2]. It is understood as the work of the Holy Spirit, bringing the believer's entire nature under the influence of new, gracious principles implanted during regeneration [1]. This process involves a separation to God's service [2], a purification [3], and a growth in holiness [1]. Scriptural passages like 1 Thessalonians 4:3 emphasize that sanctification is God's will for believers [5]. John Chrysostom, an early Church Father, viewed sanctification as a "Laver, the Purification," reminding believers of their uncleanness from which God freed them, thus fostering humility [6]. Similarly, Augustine discussed sanctification in various forms, including being sanctified by one's spouse [9].

Protestant theology generally views sanctification as a lifelong process of growth in holiness, initiated by God's grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit, but completed in this life or at glorification. John Calvin, a key figure in Reformed theology, linked sanctification directly to Christ, stating that Christ is "made, of God, to us" sanctification [8]. Matthew Henry, a Nonconformist commentator, emphasized that sanctification is a continuous process that should lead to the mortification of sin [4]. The Anglican Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion, while not explicitly defining sanctification, reject the "Romish Doctrine concerning Purgatory" as "vainly invented, and grounded upon no warranty of Scripture" [10].

In contrast, Catholic theology distinguishes between initial sanctification (justification) and ongoing sanctification, which may continue after death in a state called purgatory. Purgatory is understood as a state of purification for those who die in God's grace but are not yet perfectly holy [7]. Thomas Aquinas, a prominent scholastic theologian, discussed the location and nature of purgatory, noting that while Scripture does not explicitly detail its situation, it is probable and consistent with revelations to holy men that there is a twofold place of purgatory [7]. The Catechism of the Catholic Church emphasizes that God's salvation, accomplished through Christ, is made present through the Church's sacraments, which contribute to the believer's sanctification [11].

The divergence primarily stems from differing interpretations of the sufficiency of Christ's atonement and the nature of post-mortem purification. While both traditions agree on the necessity of holiness, Protestant traditions generally hold that Christ's sacrifice is fully sufficient to cleanse believers from all sin, making a further purgatorial process unnecessary [8]. Catholic theology, however, maintains that while Christ's sacrifice is the basis for salvation, individuals may still need to undergo a temporal purification to achieve the holiness necessary to enter heaven [7].

Sources

  1. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Sanctification — Involves more than a mere moral reformation of character, brought about by the power of the truth: it is the work of the Holy Spirit bringing the whole nature more and more under the influences of the new gracious principles implanted in the soul in regeneration. In other words, sanctification is the carrying on to perfection the work begun in regeneration, and it extends to the whole man (Rom. 6:13; 2 Cor. 4:6; Col. 3:10; 1 John 4:7; 1 Cor. 6:19). It is the special office of the Holy Spirit in the plan of redemption to carry on this work (1 Cor. 6:1”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Sanctification — Is separation to the service of God -- Ps 4:3; 2Co 6:17. Effected by God. -- Eze 37:28; 1Th 5:23; Jude 1:1. Christ. -- Heb 2:11; 13:12. The Holy Spirit. -- Ro 15:16; 1Co 6:11. In Christ -- 1Co 1:2. Through the atonement of Christ -- Heb 10:10; 13:12. Through the word of God -- Joh 17:17,19; Eph 5:26. Christ made, of God, to us -- 1Co 1:30. Saints elected to salvation through -- 2Th 2:13; 1Pe 1:2. All saints are in a state of -- Ac 20:32; 26:18; 1Co 6:11. The Church made glorious by -- Eph 5:26,27. Should lead to Mortification of sin. -- 1Th 4:3,4. Ho”
  3. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Purification — The process by which a person unclean, according to the Levitical law, and thereby cut off from the sanctuary and the festivals, was restored to the enjoyment of all these privileges. The great annual purification of the people was on the Day of Atonement (q.v.). But in the details of daily life there were special causes of cermonial uncleanness which were severally provided for by ceremonial laws enacted for each separate case. For example, the case of the leper (Lev. 13, 14), and of the house defiled by leprosy (14:49-53; see also Matt. 8:2-4). Uncle”
  4. Romans (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Romans 6:1: The apostle's transition, which joins this discourse with the former, is observable: "What shall we say then? Rom 6:1. What use shall we make of this sweet and comfortable doctrine? Shall we do evil that good may come, as some say we do? Rom 3:8. Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Shall we hence take encouragement to sin with so much the more boldness, because the more sin we commit the more will the grace of God be magnified in our pardon? Is this a use to be made of it?" No, it is an abuse, and the apostle startles at the thought of it (Rom 6:2): "Go”
  5. 1 Thessalonians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Thessalonians 4:3: For this is the will of God, even your sanctification,.... Which is another reason to enforce the above exhortation. "Sanctification" is internal or external. Internal sanctification is the work of the Spirit of God, and is a principle of spiritual life in the soul, a divine and spiritual light in the understanding, a flexion of the will to the will of God, and a settlement of the affections on divine things, and is an implantation of every grace in the heart. External sanctification arises from this, and lies in holiness of life and conversation; and is what ”
  6. CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on 1 & 2 Corinthians: names of men he findeth no place for. But what is Sanctification? The Laver, the Purification. For he reminds them of their own uncleanness, from which he had freed them; and so persuades them to lowliness of mind; for not by their own good deeds, but by the loving-kindness of God, had they been sanctified. “Called to be Saints.” For even this, to be saved by faith, is not saith he, of yourselves; for ye did not first draw near, but were called; so that not even this small matter is yours altogether. However, though you had drawn near, accountabl”
  7. theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, X2, Two Articles on Purgatory, Art. 2: Article: Whether it is the same place where souls are cleansed, and the damned punished? I answer that, Nothing is clearly stated in Scripture about the situation of Purgatory, nor is it possible to offer convincing arguments on this question. It is probable, however, and more in keeping with the statements of holy men and the revelations made to many, that there is a twofold place of Purgatory. one, according to the common law; and thus the place of Purgatory is situated below and in proximity to hell, so that it is the same fi”
  8. CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 60: offers intolerable insult to the divine mercy; that it undermines and overthrows our faith. For what is this purgatory but the satisfaction for sin paid after death by the souls of the dead? Hence when this idea of satisfaction is refuted, purgatory itself is forthwith completely overturned. 376 376 French. “Tellement que si on ote la fantasie de satisfaire, leur purgatorie s’en va bas;”—so that if the fancy of satisfying is taken away, down goes their purgatory. But if it is perfectly clear, from what was lately said, that the blo”
  9. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 5: Augustine — Anti-Pelagian — CHAP. 42.--SANCTIFICATION MANIFOLD; SACRA- (part 2): his sins, with the certain prospect of entering the kingdom of heaven, because he is described as being sanctified by his wife. 62”
  10. Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican) “Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican, 1571), Section 254: The Romish Doctrine concerning Purgatory, Pardons, Worshipping, and Adoration, as well of Images as of Reliques, and also invocation of Saints, is a fond thing vainly invented, and grounded upon no warranty of Scripture, but rather repugnant to the Word of God.”
  11. Catechism of the Catholic Church (Catholic) “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Part Two:: Part Two: the Sacraments of Faith 15 The second part of the Catechism explains how God's salvation, accomplished once for all through Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit, is made present in the sacred actions of the Church's liturgy (Section One), especially in the seven sacraments (Section Two).”
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