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?)