An Introduction to Hell

Dr. Will Ryan, Pastor Matt Mouzakis and Jana Diaz begin a series on Hell.

o Our view of hell must be rooted in our view of God’s character.

• Today we will give an overview of each view along with some common texts to show their merit.

• In the upcoming episodes we’ll try to unbiasedly cover each view with its Biblical strengths and weaknesses along with philosophical strengths and weaknesses.

• We’re going to have an interview with Chris Date from Rethinking Hell

• We’ll conclude the series with our thoughts and reflections

Traditionalism (Eternal Torment, Eternal Conscience Torment [ECT])

Primary text: • Matt 25:41​-46: Sheep and Goats, eternal punishment vs eternal life

• Mark 9:43​-48: Cut off your hand, pluck out your eye, eternal worms and fire not quenched

• 2 Thes 1:9: shut out from the presence, everlasting destruction

• Dan 12:2: everlasting contempt

• Rev 14:10​-11: tormented, smoke will rise forever and ever

• Rev 19:20: Those who receive the mark of the beast thrown into the lake of fire

• Rev 20:10​,15: Devil, Beast, False prophet tormented day and night forever, those not found in the book of life thrown into the lake of fire.

Notable advocates: Tertullian, Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, John Calvin, and most of the western Christian tradition after the Reformation.

Conditional Immortality (Annihilation)

Primary texts: • John 3:16: “perish”

• Romans 6:23: Wages of sin is death

• 1 Thes 1:9: everlasting destruction (not destroying)

• 1 John 5:11​-12: he who has the son has life, he who does not have the son does not have life

• 2 Peter 2:6-7: Sodom and Gomorrah’s extinction is equated to the lost. Ungodly are destroyed

• Matt 10:28: Don’t fear the one who can kill your body but fear the one who can destroy your body and soul in hell

• Psalms- Primary image of God’s enemies is death or destruction (end of life)

• Phil 3:18​-19: Their end is destruction • Hebrews 10:39: destruction

Notable advocates: Irenaeus, Ignatius, Athanasius, Arnobius, (Epistle of) Barnabas, John Stott, Edward Fudge, FF Bruce, Ben Witherington, Greg Boyd, Chris Date

Universal Reconciliation (Christian Universalism, Patristic Universalism, Restorationism)

Primary Texts:

• Lam 3:31​-32: God restores after he judges

• Rev 21:25​- Her gates will never be shut (same nations who were the bad guys are healed and welcomed in)

• Rom 5:18: All die in Adam, all are made alive in Christ

• Rom 11:26: All Israel will be saved

• Rom 11:28: All shut up in disobedience, all given mercy

• Col 1:19​-20: Through the cross all things are reconciled to God

Notable Advocates: Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Gregory of Nyssa, Gregory of Nazianzus, George MacDonald, William Barclay, Thomas Talbot, Rob Bell (possibly?)