Is Purgatory Mentioned in the Bible?

Purgatory is not mentioned anywhere in the Bible, and in fact, the word did not come into common parlance until the 12th century. However, the concept of a process whereby souls are purified before they enter heaven was evident in very early Christianity. Going back even further, there is a Jewish tradition that praying for the dead furthers the purification of a soul(s). Although sometimes Purgatory is imagined as a physical place, the Catholic teaching is that Purgatory is the “final purification of the elect.” The Catechism of the Church describes it this way;

“All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assure of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so a to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.” (CCC 1030)