2 Maccabees 12:44-45

Common English Bible

⁴⁴ If he hadn’t been looking forward to the resurrection of the dead, then it would have been unnecessary and frivolous to pray for them. ⁴⁵ He was looking, however, to that best reward laid up for those who die in godliness, and so this was a pious and holy thought. Thus he made an offering of reconciliation so that the dead would be forgiven of their sin.