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Intermediate state

In short
  • T09.1 Conscious intermediate state (rest or affliction) (high)
  • T09.2 Open: Augustine allows the dead to learn of earthly affairs only by God’s revelation (low–medium)
  • T09.3 Split by era: Irenaeus and Tertullian keep the righteous in a waiting place until the resurrection; Cyprian and Gregory the Great put them in paradise or heaven at once. All keep the full reward for the resurrection (medium–high)

From the study it came from: Agree on the intermediate state, resurrection and final judgement; diverge on prayers for the dead and purification, which the fathers practise without clear Scripture basis.

Two separate measures, shown side by side; neither is combined with the other (confidence-weighted, out of 4; counts show how many of this doctrine's 3 questions each rests on; ⚠ marks coverage more than 10 points below the median, a less certain rank). This doctrine is third-order (tier weight 1). How scoring works · Scripture and tradition · Glossary · Every score with its citation

Closeness to Scripture

1 Orthodox3/3 cells 97% 3/3 q
2 Oriental Orthodox3/3 cells 97% 3/3 q
3 Lutheran3/3 cells 97% 3/3 q
4 Anglican3/3 cells 97% 3/3 q
5 Presbyterian3/3 cells 97% 3/3 q
6 Reformed Baptist3/3 cells 97% 3/3 q
7 General Baptist3/3 cells 97% 3/3 q
8 Anabaptist⚠ 2/3 cells · low coverage 95% 2/3 q
9 Catholic3/3 cells 88% 3/3 q

Closeness to the fathers

1 Anabaptist⚠ 2/3 cells · low coverage 94% 2/3 q
2 Orthodox3/3 cells 87% 3/3 q
3 Oriental Orthodox3/3 cells 87% 3/3 q
4 Lutheran3/3 cells 87% 3/3 q
5 Anglican3/3 cells 87% 3/3 q
6 Presbyterian3/3 cells 87% 3/3 q
7 Reformed Baptist3/3 cells 87% 3/3 q
8 General Baptist3/3 cells 87% 3/3 q
9 Catholic3/3 cells 79% 3/3 q
Charts: closeness to the fathers by question, and timeline
Closeness to the fathers, by question (0–4). Hatched = not assessed in the category file. Click a question for its verdict.
01234Catholic · T09.1: 4/4 — Listed under 'closest to the fathers on': T09.14Orthodox · T09.1: 4/4 — Listed under 'closest to the fathers on': T09.14Oriental Orthodox · T09.1: 4/4 — Shenouda III, *Comparative Theology*: icons connect believers 'with the angels in heaven and the righteous who abide in Paradise'; prayers for the departed ask 'rest in Paradise' (verified)4Lutheran · T09.1: 4/4 — Listed under 'closest to the fathers on': T09.14Anglican · T09.1: 4/4 — Affirmed4Presbyterian · T09.1: 4/4 — Listed under 'closest to the fathers on': T09.14Reformed Baptist · T09.1: 4/4 — Affirmed4General Baptist · T09.1: 4/4 — Affirmed4Anabaptist · T09.1: 4/4 — Affirmed4T09.1conf. highCatholic · T09.2: 3/4 — not assessed: the doctrine page does not state this tradition's position on this question3Orthodox · T09.2: 3/4 — not assessed: the doctrine page does not state this tradition's position on this question3Oriental Orthodox · T09.2: 3/4 — not assessed: the doctrine page does not state this tradition's position on this question3Lutheran · T09.2: 3/4 — not assessed: the doctrine page does not state this tradition's position on this question3Anglican · T09.2: 3/4 — not assessed: the doctrine page does not state this tradition's position on this question3Presbyterian · T09.2: 3/4 — not assessed: the doctrine page does not state this tradition's position on this question3Reformed Baptist · T09.2: 3/4 — not assessed: the doctrine page does not state this tradition's position on this question3General Baptist · T09.2: 3/4 — not assessed: the doctrine page does not state this tradition's position on this question3Anabaptist · T09.2: 3/4 — not assessed: the doctrine page does not state this tradition's position on this question3T09.2conf. low–mediumCatholic · T09.3: 2/4 — Benedictus Deus (1336): the purified souls 'have been, are and will be with Christ in heaven' and 'see the divine essence with an intuitive vision and even face to face'; Florence: they are 'straightaway received into heaven and clearly behold the triune God'. Follows Gregory but goes beyond any father before 750 in defining the vision; departs from Era II. Scripture keeps the full vision for Christ's appearing (1 John 3:2)2Orthodox · T09.3: 3/4 — Dositheus, Decree 18: souls 'depart immediately either to joy, or to sorrow', 'though confessedly neither their enjoyment nor condemnation are complete'. Combines the later 'at once' with the earlier 'not yet'3Oriental Orthodox · T09.3: 3/4 — Shenouda III, *Comparative Theology*: the saints 'completed their striving and departed to Paradise, living with Christ'. Follows Cyprian3Lutheran · T09.3: 3/4 — Apology XXI.9: the saints 'in heaven … pray for the Church in general'. Follows the later strand; says little more3Anglican · T09.3: 3/4 — Book of Common Prayer, Burial: the faithful departed 'are in joy and felicity' with God, while the Church prays that they 'may have our perfect consummation and bliss, both in body and soul'. Follows the later strand and keeps the 'not yet'3Presbyterian · T09.3: 3/4 — WCF XXXII.1: the souls of the righteous 'are received into the highest heavens, where they behold the face of God, in light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their bodies'. Follows the later strand and keeps the 'not yet'3Reformed Baptist · T09.3: 3/4 — 1689 31.1: they 'are received into paradise, where they are with Christ, and behold the face of God in light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their bodies'. Same3General Baptist · T09.3: 3/4 — Orthodox Creed XLIX: the souls of the righteous 'are received into Paradise, where they are with Christ, and behold the Face of God in Light and Glory, waiting for the full Redemption of their Bodies'. Same3Anabaptist · T09.3: not assessedT09.3conf. medium–high
CatholicOrthodoxOriental OrthodoxLutheranAnglicanPresbyterianReformed BaptistGeneral BaptistAnabaptistnot assessed
When the cited witnesses spoke (approximate dates) and where later traditions fixed their positions. Filled dot = consensus question; hollow orange = a question on which the fathers varied. Each item links to its source note or post-750 note.
1002003004005006007001000125015001700post-750 (compressed)Justin Martyr (c. 155) · T09.3Justin Martyrc. 155 · T09.3Irenaeus (c. 180) · T09.3Irenaeusc. 180 · T09.3Tertullian (c. 205) · T09.1Tertullianc. 205 · T09.1Tertullian (c. 205) · T09.3Tertullianc. 205 · T09.3Cyprian (c. 252) · T09.3Cyprianc. 252 · T09.3Augustine (c. 415) · T09.1Augustinec. 415 · T09.1Augustine (c. 415) · T09.2Augustinec. 415 · T09.2Augustine (c. 415) · T09.3Augustinec. 415 · T09.3Gregory the Great (c. 595) · T09.3Gregory the Greatc. 595 · T09.3Council of Florence (1439) · OrthodoxCouncil of Florence1439 · OrthodoxApology of the AC (1531) · LutheranApology of the AC1531 · LutheranSmalcald Articles (1537) · LutheranSmalcald Articles1537 · LutheranTrent XXV (1563) · CatholicTrent XXV1563 · CatholicWestminster Confession (1646) · PresbyterianWestminster Confession1646 · PresbyterianConfession of Dositheus (1672) · OrthodoxConfession of Dositheus1672 · Orthodox
  1. c. 155 Justin Martyr T09.3 · fathers varied
  2. c. 180 Irenaeus T09.3 · fathers varied
  3. c. 205 Tertullian T09.1
  4. c. 205 Tertullian T09.3 · fathers varied
  5. c. 252 Cyprian T09.3 · fathers varied
  6. c. 415 Augustine T09.1
  7. c. 415 Augustine T09.2
  8. c. 415 Augustine T09.3 · fathers varied
  9. c. 595 Gregory the Great T09.3 · fathers varied
  10. 1439 Council of Florence Orthodox
  11. 1531 Apology of the AC Lutheran
  12. 1537 Smalcald Articles Lutheran
  13. 1563 Trent XXV Catholic
  14. 1646 Westminster Confession Presbyterian
  15. 1672 Confession of Dositheus Orthodox

T9 · Intermediate state

The soul’s state between death and resurrection.

Tier: Third-order (scoring weight 1). How the tiers were set: theological triage. Site structure: structure.

Questions

  • T09.1 The intermediate state (was afterlife/L1)
  • T09.2 Do the departed know what happens on earth?
  • T09.3 Do the righteous go straight to heaven at death, or wait elsewhere until the resurrection?

Verdicts and trace

T09.1 · The intermediate state

QuestionVerdictConfidenceReasoningKey sourcesScripture (benchmark)
T09.1Conscious intermediate state (rest or affliction)HighT09.1.1 · T09.1.3 weighingtertullian-aft-s1 · augustine-aft-s1T09.1.4: high

T09.2 · Do the departed know what happens on earth?

QuestionVerdictConfidenceReasoningKey sourcesScripture (benchmark)
T09.2Open: Augustine allows the dead to learn of earthly affairs only by God’s revelationLow-mediumT09.2.1 · T09.2.3 weighingaugustine-t09x-s1T09.2.4: low

T09.3 · Do the righteous go straight to heaven at death, or wait elsewhere until the resurrection?

QuestionVerdictConfidenceReasoningKey sourcesScripture (benchmark)
T09.3Split by era: Irenaeus and Tertullian keep the righteous in a waiting place until the resurrection; Cyprian and Gregory the Great put them in paradise or heaven at once. All keep the full reward for the resurrectionMedium-highT09.3.1 · T09.3.3 weighingjustin-martyr-t09x-s1 · irenaeus-t09x-s1 · tertullian-t09x-s1 · cyprian-t09x-s1 · augustine-t09x-s2 · gregory-the-great-t09x-s1T09.3.4: medium-high

Post-750 development

Which of this doctrine’s questions each tradition stays closest to, or departs from. Each row links to the tradition’s notes.

TraditionClosest to the fathers onDeparts or sharpens on
CatholicT09.1—
OrthodoxT09.1—
Oriental OrthodoxT09.1—
LutheranT09.1—
AnglicanT09.1—
PresbyterianT09.1—
Reformed BaptistT09.1—
General BaptistT09.1—
AnabaptistT09.1—

Origin

Plan, overall verdict and verification status of the former afterlife category (shared with the other doctrines that came from it)

Afterlife: intermediate state, purification, prayers for the dead, resurrection, final state

Method and conventions: docs/conventions.md. Reasoning: afterlife reasoning.

1. Plan

Questions: L1 intermediate state; L2 prayers for the dead; L3 purification; L4 resurrection; L5 eternal torment vs. annihilation vs. restoration (one question, per the project scope). Sources: Tertullian, Soul 7, Corona 3, Res. 1; Passion of Perpetua; Cyril of Jerusalem, Myst. 5; Augustine, Enchiridion, City of God XXI; Ignatius; Irenaeus; Origen, De Princ.; Gregory of Nyssa; Arnobius; Constantinople 553. Planned but not yet read: Epitaph of Abercius; Gregory the Great, Dialogues IV.41; Augustine, Confessions IX.13 (Monica); Basil; Justin, 1 Apol. 8.

2. Verdicts and trace

Weighed under the source-proximity principle: Scripture first, then the father tiers T1–T4. Verdict changes are listed in docs/proximity-changes.md.

3. Post-750 development

4. Overall verdict

Orthodox closest (L1–L4 match without over-definition; L5 majority A, with tolerance of a minority hope). Catholic is very close but defines purgatory further. Lutheran and Presbyterian match on L1, L4 and L5, and depart on prayers for the dead and purification. Confidence: medium–high.

5. Verification status

  • Verified: all entries above; Trent XXV; Dositheus 18; WCF XXI.4, XXXII.1, XXXIII.2.
  • To verify: Abercius; Gregory the Great, Dialogues; Augustine, Confessions IX.13 and Enchiridion 69; the XXI.17 “very many” wording; the formal status of the 553 anathemas; Rufinus’s editing of Origen; Smalcald Articles; Apology XXIV; Florence; the αἰώνιος lexical debate; LSB English.
  • T09.3 (2026-10-17): verified in English: Justin, Dial. 80; Irenaeus, AH V.31.2; Tertullian, On the Soul 55; Cyprian, On Mortality 26; Augustine, Enchiridion 109; Gregory the Great, Dialogues IV.25 (1608 English, tertullian.org); Benedictus Deus (papalencyclicals.net); Florence, Laetentur caeli (papalencyclicals.net); Dositheus 18; Apology XXI.9; BCP Burial; WCF XXXII.1; 1689 31.1; Orthodox Creed XLIX; Shenouda III, Comparative Theology. To verify: the Latin of Gregory, Dialogues IV.25.