Divine Lexicon

Term

limbus patrum

Also known as Limbo

In Roman Catholic doctrine, a place on the border of hell where Old Testament believers were excluded from God's presence without conscious suffering.

Filed underHistorical TheologyEschatology

Definition

Limbus means "border" in Latin, and patrum means "of the fathers." According to Roman Catholic doctrine, limbus patrum refers to places on the border of hell where Old Testament believers were excluded from the presence of God but also did not experience conscious suffering. (Sometimes this is merely called limbo.)

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Sources

  1. 1.Wayne A. Grudem Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. 2nd ed.. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic, 2020). 41C.1.cOriginal citation: Grudem, Wayne A. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic, 2020, 41C.1.c.

Last revised August 14, 2026