Theological Glossary
Six Christian traditions define Purgatory below — each in its own words, paraphrased from its official documents. These are attributed positions, not assertions of fact.
The Catholic Church teaches that those who die in God's grace but are still imperfectly purified undergo a final purification — purgatory — before entering heaven. It holds that this purification is entirely different from the punishment of the damned, and that the living can assist the departed by prayer and the Mass.
Source: CCC 1030–1032 ↗
The Orthodox Church does not define purgatory as a place or process; it teaches that the departed undergo a mysterious growth toward God and that the prayers of the Church aid them. It holds that the state of souls after death is known to God alone, and rejects the Latin doctrine of purgatorial punishment.
Lutherans reject purgatory as lacking any basis in Scripture — the Smalcald Articles condemn the teaching that the Mass frees souls ‘in purgatory’ (II.2). They hold that believers who die in faith rest with Christ, and that no post-mortem purification is needed beyond Christ’s finished work.
Source: Smalcald Articles, II.2 ↗
The Reformed tradition rejects purgatory, teaching that the souls of believers at death are made perfect in holiness and immediately pass into glory with Christ. It holds that Scripture teaches no intermediate state of purification, and that Christ's sacrifice fully satisfies for the sins of his people.
Source: Westminster Confession 32.1 ↗
Baptists reject purgatory, teaching that at death believers pass immediately into the presence of Christ while the unrighteous face judgment. They hold that Christ's atoning death fully paid for sin, leaving no remaining penalty to be purged after death.
Source: Baptist inference (BFM has no article on purgatory); cf. Art. X; 2 Cor 5:8 ↗
Methodists have no doctrine of purgatory; they teach that those who die in faith rest in God's love awaiting the resurrection. They hold that sanctification belongs to this life, and that no intermediate purification after death is taught in Scripture.
Source: Articles of Religion, Art. XIV; UMC What We Believe ↗
See how the traditions compare on related topics: