In the 16th century, Martin Luther and John Calvin rejected Purgatory as an "unbiblical invention" used to exploit the poor through the sale of indulgences.
Between 1170 and 1180, the Latin adjective purgatorium (cleansing) became a noun, signifying a specific location. The Birth of Purgatory
Early thinkers like St. Augustine (5th century) distinguished between eternal fire and a "purifying fire" for those with minor sins. Pope Gregory the Great (6th century) further linked this fire to the forgiveness of "lesser faults" after death. In the 16th century, Martin Luther and John
The historian Jacques Le Goff famously argued that Purgatory was "born" in the second half of the 12th century. This shift moved the concept from a process to a place . This shift moved the concept from a process to a place
While the word "Purgatory" appeared later, the underlying logic was present in antiquity.
Today, the Catholic Church emphasizes Purgatory as a condition of existence rather than a "concentration camp" of fire, focusing on the soul's "willing purification" through God's love. If you'd like to explore this further, let me know: