early Christian roots

• how is the belief in purgatory back to ancient Jewish practices?

  2 Maccabees 12:43- indicates how prayers benefit the dead
• what does 2 Maccabees 12:43-46 describe, and how does it support the catholic doctrine of purgatory?


  Maccabeus pray for the dead soldiers in battle- suggest belief in afterlife where prayers benefit the dead
• what were early Christians practicing by the 2nd and 3rd centuries regarding the dead?


  they prayed for the dead- indicates how the deceased could benefit from the intercession of the living.