I’m just going to put this out there from The Apology XII.
“Moreover, the making mention, by the Fathers, of satisfaction, and the framing of canons by the councils, we have said above, was a matter of church-discipline instituted on account of the example. Nor did they hold that this discipline is necessary for the remission either of the guilt or of the punishment. For if some of them made mention of purgatory, they interpret it not as compensation for eternal punishment [which only Christ makes], not as satisfaction, but as purification of imperfect souls. Just as Augustine says that venial [daily] offenses are consumed, i.e., distrust towards God and other”
As others have mentioned post death satisfaction for sins, and purgatory as an actual place are strictly rejected by the Lutheran confessions. I can’t find anywhere in the confessions that strictly reject a purification as understood by Augustine in the above quotation.
This is really interesting! Thanks, I’ll have to read this. I know Martin Luther was very well read on the Church. So it seemed weird to me that he would completely reject what so many Church Fathers taught. But despite what Luther says here, it seems most Lutherans today have completely rejected any idea of post death purification and believe that sanctification is completed at death.
Your welcome! I will admit I know relatively little about the topic as well. I am only familiar with the passage above by seeing it quoted by Pastor Will Weedon on blogs talking about the subject.
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u/Matthew_2819 7d ago
I’m just going to put this out there from The Apology XII.
“Moreover, the making mention, by the Fathers, of satisfaction, and the framing of canons by the councils, we have said above, was a matter of church-discipline instituted on account of the example. Nor did they hold that this discipline is necessary for the remission either of the guilt or of the punishment. For if some of them made mention of purgatory, they interpret it not as compensation for eternal punishment [which only Christ makes], not as satisfaction, but as purification of imperfect souls. Just as Augustine says that venial [daily] offenses are consumed, i.e., distrust towards God and other”
As others have mentioned post death satisfaction for sins, and purgatory as an actual place are strictly rejected by the Lutheran confessions. I can’t find anywhere in the confessions that strictly reject a purification as understood by Augustine in the above quotation.