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The word "purgatory" comes from Latin. Not surprising that it's not in a book written in Hebrew and Greek, anymore than is "Incarnation," another theological term-of-art derived from Latin.

But the concept is certainly there when Paul speaks of those "saved, but as through fire" and when 2 Maccabees attests to the Jewish practice -- which continues today -- of prayer for the dead.

And you're wrong -- nobody in purgatory is "earning their way into heaven," because they already possess it.

But the concept is certainly there when Paul speaks of those "saved, but as through fire" and when 2 Maccabees attests to the Jewish practice -- which continues today -- of prayer for the dead.

First, 2 Maccabees is part of the Apocrapha which wasn't viewed as Scripture by Most Jews and certainly not by Jesus and the first Christians. This is seen by none of it being quoted by Jesus or the first Christians even though it existed at that time.

Second, 1 Corinthians chapter 3 is a parable talking about the judgement of our works. It certainly isn't about a physical torture. Here is the actual Scripture:

1Cor 3:10-15 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

First the foundation of every saved person is Christ, but what we do, our works, will be judged and those with value will recieve rewards and those without will be eliminated. These verses say nothing about a punishment for transgressions.

In fact the Bible says this about our transgressions:

Isa 53:5 But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Hbr 9:15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions [that were] under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

There is no place in the Bible which says that we need to finish up or complete the payment for our transgressions. That's why Jesus said "it is finished" on the cross. Jesus did it all and there is no amount of suffering we can or need to do which would or could pay for our transgressions.

That is why Catholicism is wrong when it teaches:"Purgatory (Lat., "purgare", to make clean, to purify) in accordance with Catholic teaching is a place or condition of temporal punishment for those who, departing this life in God's grace, are, not entirely free from venial faults, or have not fully paid the satisfaction due to their transgressions."

(The above is from http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12575a.htm )