A Fundamentalist View of Hell

[exOBCstudent]

(04-09-2012 02:53 PM)Bob M Wrote:  the word is αιωνιον

It is an adjective made from the word for ages. And it is in that form that it means eternal in other contexts. And the point is not what does the word mean, but that the same exact term describes life as destruction. So, if life is forever (i.e. to the ages), then destruction is as well.

So then literally "ages" does seem to be a bit different than "eternity". Interesting.

The Bible seems to refer to a few "ages" throughout it's pages. The "age" of the angels (before creation), the "age" of mankind (now), and the "age" of Christs reign on earth (millenium). Seeing that these also could qualify as "ages" it makes me wonder if "eternity" is the intended translation there. I'm not trying to fit a doctrine out of a theory here, just digging for more than my current knowlege of this doctrine of Hell that was used to scare the "hell" out of us as kids in the IFB.

If hell wasn't eternal then I guess it would make as much sense as our current prison system does. At least it could be understandable by our terms. I still don't get the concept that God would create something that He intended to continually torture and destroy for all eternity, especially since He put so much into us to thus far.

[Bob M]

(04-09-2012 03:11 PM)exOBCstudent Wrote:  

(04-09-2012 02:53 PM)Bob M Wrote:  the word is αιωνιον

It is an adjective made from the word for ages. And it is in that form that it means eternal in other contexts. And the point is not what does the word mean, but that the same exact term describes life as destruction. So, if life is forever (i.e. to the ages), then destruction is as well.

So then literally "ages" does seem to be a bit different than "eternity". Interesting.

The Bible seems to refer to a few "ages" throughout it's pages. The "age" of the angels (before creation), the "age" of mankind (now), and the "age" of Christs reign on earth (millenium). Seeing that these also could qualify as "ages" it makes me wonder if "eternity" is the intended translation there. I'm not trying to fit a doctrine out of a theory here, just digging for more than my current knowlege of this doctrine of Hell that was used to scare the "hell" out of us as kids in the IFB.

If hell wasn't eternal then I guess it would make as much sense as our current prison system does. At least it could be understandable by our terms. I still don't get the concept that God would create something that He intended to continually torture and destroy for all eternity, especially since He put so much into us to thus far.

I don't get it either. And I dont like it. And when I left Fundyville, I studied it for several years, reading all I could get my hands on. The term eternal is the same word used when it says the angels worshipped around the throne for ever and ever. ie.e εις τους αιωνας των αιωνων
The more you study it, if you are honest, I think (but it is just my opinion, not trying to come off as smarter or holier than thou) you will see it is forever.

[Elijah Craig]

(04-09-2012 03:16 PM)Bob M Wrote:  The term eternal is the same word used when it says the angels worshipped around the throne for ever and ever. ie.e εις τους αιωνας των αιωνων
The more you study it, if you are honest, I think (but it is just my opinion, not trying to come off as smarter or holier than thou) you will see it is forever.

It's not a word, it's a phrase. Woodenly, would be something like "into the age of the ages," which is figurative language used to describe eternity.

It's a matter of syntax. I don't remember the details.

[Bob M]

(04-09-2012 04:49 PM)Elijah Craig Wrote:  

(04-09-2012 03:16 PM)Bob M Wrote:  The term eternal is the same word used when it says the angels worshipped around the throne for ever and ever. ie.e εις τους αιωνας των αιωνων
The more you study it, if you are honest, I think (but it is just my opinion, not trying to come off as smarter or holier than thou) you will see it is forever.

It's not a word, it's a phrase. Woodenly, would be something like "into the age of the ages," which is figurative language used to describe eternity.

It's a matter of syntax. I don't remember the details.

Yes, I know. And it is fairly translated as eternity.

[Scorpio]

A fundamentalist view of hell?

Dinner with Al Gore......

[oneflewoutofthecuckcoosnest]

A few thoughts...

1. The concept of hell did not develop until the inter-testamental period.

2. There are two main greek words used: one refers to a garbage dump outside of Jerusalem and the other comes from greek mythology.

3. The lake of fire occurs in Revelation, which is apocalyptic, which should not be interpreted literally.

4. While there are verses that threaten punishment in hell, there are others that at least offer hope for universal redemption as well (Ro.5:18; Col.1:20; Rev.5:13 etc.).

Just food for thought

[That'sWhatItSays]

I would just chime in that Jesus says the judgment will be more tolerable for some than others. Matthew 10 and 11. The reference is to Sodom, even. You can take passages that clearly teach certain things and find little nuggets of wisdom in them. The passage is teaching about self-righteousness, and how poorly the nation was responding to the presence of God Himself in the flesh. It also teaches that there will be degrees of punishment.

[Tooktheredpill]

ExOBCstudent, you might find the Evangelical Universalist Forum helpful (many questions are answered):

http://www.evangelicaluniversalist.com/forum/index.php

[lucrezaborgia]

Where did hell really come from in Christianity if it wasn't a concept in ancient Judaism?

[Tooktheredpill]

Here's another good site discussing Christian Universalism:

http://www.godslovewins.com/thequestions.htm

This vid is definitely worth a watch: http://www.godslovewins.com/articles-hop...manity.htm