The doctrine of Hell

[JasonV]

I am currently writing a paper on the theology of Hell for one of my seminary classes. Essentially we are to include teachings from the Bible, ECF's, the Magesterium, and modern theologians.

I've come across some very interesting viewpoints and diverse theories on Hell, ranging from Dante's expression to Elaine Pagel's rejection of the Devil entirely.

So that got me wondering, just what are the personal views of your mainstream Christian today on Hell.

Is it real?

Where is it?

What is it like?

Can you get out?

Please respond.

[karen freeinchristman]

To be honest, I don't know. :D

I did hear something recently about hell, but can't remember who said it: Hell is a real place, but it is empty. For who could resist God when confronted with His presence upon death?

We all know the Scriptural picture - but the theologians are not of one mind about Hell.

[JasonV]

I agree Karen. In your seminary classes, has the subject even come up? Perhaps my favorite text in my studies on this subject comes from the Anglican great, Rev. Farrar. His text: "Eternal Hope" is a fantastic read.

It's a google ebook, and I highly recommend for all interested parties.

http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&id=NQYPAAAAIAAJ&dq=Farrar,+%22Eternal+Hope%22&printsec=frontcover&source=web&ots=KCIammVMdW&sig=4aSnaDaRN3sTwTAM-JcSX2SmUJs#PPA55,M1

[TomUK]

I've come across some very interesting viewpoints and diverse theories on Hell, ranging from Dante's expression to Elaine Pagel's rejection of the Devil entirely.



Surely i can't be the only one who read that as Elaine Paige - quite a contrast between Dante and her!

[karen freeinchristman]

I agree Karen. In your seminary classes, has the subject even come up? Perhaps my favorite text in my studies on this subject comes from the Anglican great, Rev. Farrar. His text: "Eternal Hope" is a fantastic read.

It's a google ebook, and I highly recommend for all interested parties.

http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&id=NQYPAAAAIAAJ&dq=Farrar,+%22Eternal+Hope%22&printsec=frontcover&source=web&ots=KCIammVMdW&sig=4aSnaDaRN3sTwTAM-JcSX2SmUJs#PPA55,M1
Thanks for that link, Jason - I look forward to reading that.

So far in my course we haven't covered Hell yet, but I will keep you informed if we do! :)

[AngCath]

Here is the short version of my doctrine professor's take on hell (he is an anglo-catholic who also talks about purgatory, just so you know).

Hell is real. Christ descended there and threw open the doors. People in hell are not being kept there by anything except their own refusal to come out and step into the light of grace.

[karen freeinchristman]

Hell is real. Christ descended there and threw open the doors. People in hell are not being kept there by anything except their own refusal to come out and step into the light of grace.That's an interesting one - thanks!

[JasonV]

Here is the short version of my doctrine professor's take on hell (he is an anglo-catholic who also talks about purgatory, just so you know).

Hell is real. Christ descended there and threw open the doors. People in hell are not being kept there by anything except their own refusal to come out and step into the light of grace.

Sounds like Farrar to me. He stopped short of endorsing Universalism, and wasn't opposed to Purgatory per se, just the Roman version of it.

It's really easy reading, I think you'd like it.

[Korah]

Sounds like Farrar to me. He stopped short of endorsing Universalism, and wasn't opposed to Purgatory per se, just the Roman version of it.

It's really easy reading, I think you'd like it.
Universalism keeps coming up from the most profound theologians. Karl Barth's very anti-Liberal Neo-Orthodoxy yet came close to it at the end. In the Roman Catholic Church the very similar Urs von Balthasar reached a similar position. He was so liked by Cardinal Ratzinger that he got Pope John Paul II to name him a cardinal, an honor only prevented by his death before the official event. As you know, Cardinal Ratzinger is now Pope Benedict XVI.
Korah

[AngCath]

I spent all semester reading von Balthasar for doctrine class, a very interesting theologian indeed.

[Colabomb]

I LEAN, but i have not made up my mind, toward the A word.

[karen freeinchristman]

I LEAN, but i have not made up my mind, toward the A word.
Clueless person here... :scratch:

[LyleSmith]

I LEAN, but i have not made up my mind, toward the A word.
The "A" word. Would that be annihilationism?

[Iosias]

Please respond.

I would suggest Hell Under Fire (http://www.amazon.com/Hell-Under-Fire-Scholarship-Punishment/dp/0310240417) by G.K Beale, Daniel I. Block, Sinclair Ferguson, R. Albert Mohler Jr., Douglas J Moo, Christopher W Morgan, J.I. Packer, Robert A. Peterson & Robert W. Yarbrough

Description: This book provides a biblical, systematic, and practical theology of hell. The contributors to this volume unite in affirming the historic Christian doctrine regarding the final destiny of the unsaved: They will suffer everlasting conscious punishment away from the joyous presence of God.



Of all the teachings of Christianity, the doctrine of hell is easily the most troubling, so much so that in recent years the church has been quietly tucking it away. Rarely mentioned anymore in the pulpit, it has faded through disuse among evangelicals and been attacked by liberal theologians. Hell is no longer only the target of those outside the church. Today, a disturbing number of professing Christians question it as well. Perhaps more than at any other time in history, hell is under fire.

The implications of the historic view of hell make the popular alternatives, annihilationism and universalism, seem extremely appealing. But the bottom line is still God’s Word. What does the Old Testament reveal about hell? What does Paul the apostle have to say, or the book of Revelation? Most important, what does Jesus, the ultimate expression of God’s love, teach us about God’s wrath?

Upholding the authority of Scripture, the different authors in Hell Under Fire explore a complex topic from various angles. R. Albert Mohler Jr. provides a historical, theological, and cultural overview of “The Disappearance of Hell.” Christopher Morgan draws on the New Testament to offer three pictures of hell as punishment, destruction, and banishment. J. I. Packer compares universalism with the traditional understanding of hell, Morgan does the same with annihilationism, and Sinclair Ferguson considers how the reality of hell ought to influence preaching. These examples offer some idea of this volume’s scope and thoroughness.

Hell may be under fire, but its own flames cannot be quenched by popular opinion. This book helps us gain a biblical perspective on what hell is and why we cannot afford to ignore it. And it offers us a better understanding of the One who longs for all people to escape judgment and obtain eternal life through Jesus Christ.


Read Sample (http://www.zondervan.com/media/samples/pdf/0310240417_samptxt.pdf) (.pdf)

[TomUK]

The "A" word. Would that be annihilationism?

If so then i leave that way too.

[karen freeinchristman]

If so then i leave that way too.
Tom, don't leave that way!!! :o







(;))

[TomUK]

Tom, don't leave that way!!! :o







(;))

Yep, that was one mammoth typo! Not sure how that happened - i meant to say lean!

[Iosias]

Annihilationism (http://www.lgmarshall.org/Warfield/warfield_annihilationism.html) by Benjamin Breckinridge Warfield

Evangelical Annihilationism in Review (http://thirdmill.org/newfiles/ji_packer/Packer.Annihilationisminreview.html) by J I Packer

[norbie]

I am currently writing a paper on the theology of Hell for one of my seminary classes. Essentially we are to include teachings from the Bible, ECF's, the Magesterium, and modern theologians.

I've come across some very interesting viewpoints and diverse theories on Hell, ranging from Dante's expression to Elaine Pagel's rejection of the Devil entirely.

So that got me wondering, just what are the personal views of your mainstream Christian today on Hell.

Is it real?

Where is it?

What is it like?

Can you get out?

Please respond.

Well, you got a lot of book-ads so fare, let me tell what I think of your questions.
Is it real?
yes, I believe it is real, and can be right here on earth. I believe it is hell when Jesus gives up on us, when he don't want to know us anymore. When we as his children don't accept him as our Father anymore: this is hell. Think about noahs ark!
Where is it?
Everywhere when God is not accepted. I don't believe in the pictural speech of fire and satan torture people. Hell is here on earth when people are self centered, greedy, yellious, whorsip money and deney God. God punish them with a useless, emty life - they can never be happy, this is hell on earth.
What is it like?
An useless, worthless life. I think when a person can't enjoy God's beautyful creation anymore, when a laughter from a baby lives a person cold, when you can't see anything good anymore in an other person - this must be what is it like to live in hell.
But your last question I think is a beautyful one: can you get out?
Yes we can, and this is it what's all about. Jesus offers us a hand out, offers us his Grace. We accept his grace, he forgives us everything, he gives us hope, he gives us back 'the flame in our hearts'. We can enjoy little things like the smile of a baby and the song of the birds in the woods. Then we got out of hell, we are under his umbrella for a joyful, happy life.
Yes - we can get out.
And I also believe in the revelations, 'there will be a new earth....'
Just my thinking, hope is not to long.

[Colabomb]

Sorry everyone for the late reply.

A word= Annihilationism

That God will destroy the wicked, Literally, rather than burn them forever.

To me at least, the strongest support for eternal torment appears in the book of Revelation, a highly metaphorical work.

Throughout most of the bible, The writers speak about God destroying the wicked.

Even Jesus talks about fearing not those who can destroy the body, but rather He who can destory both body and soul in hell.

[SirTimothy]

If there is no punishment for sin then God is a liar. Just the same as if we are predestined to sin with no chance and opportunity to repent. Repentance is unnecessary if there is universal salvation. It's also unnecessary if there is absolute predestination and we are nothing more than robots.

Tim

[TomUK]

If there is no punishment for sin then God is a liar. Just the same as if we are predestined to sin with no chance and opportunity to repent. Repentance is unnecessary if there is universal salvation. It's also unnecessary if there is absolute predestination and we are nothing more than robots.

Tim

Indeed there is a punishment, but Jesus has taken it.

[JasonV]

If there is no punishment for sin then God is a liar. Just the same as if we are predestined to sin with no chance and opportunity to repent. Repentance is unnecessary if there is universal salvation. It's also unnecessary if there is absolute predestination and we are nothing more than robots.

Tim

Im not aware of any Universalist who believes that we can "sin" all we want without regard to any form of punishment.

The Universalists I've come across seem more to accept the idea of a purgatory where we learn from our mistakes before moving on to either another incarnation, or on to heaven.