Hell, pt. 2

05/07/20 • 37 min

Handout available here
Review: Does hell torment, destroy, or purify?
Matthew 25:46 - How to translate and understand "eternal punishment"
Give 'em hell! Why we hold on to hell as torment
Objections to 'everyone goes to heaven!'
Purpose of Punishment

Earthly and heavenly parental discipline (Matt 7:9-11)
Padeiai, timoria, and kolasis - which does God not use?
Retributive and restorative justice
Justice = punishment fits the crime
In the end, does God change?

The Mystery and Consistency of God

Misuse of Isaiah 55:8-9 (see v. 7)
Faithful followers question God's justice (Gen 18:25)
Language, consistency, and meaning
God's primary attribute (1 John 4)

The Parable of the King's Offer (Bradley Jersak)

Earthly and heavenly parental discipline (Matt 7:9-11)
Padeiai, timoria, and kolasis - which does God not use?
Retributive and restorative justice
Justice = punishment fits the crime
In the end, does God change?

The Mystery and Consistency of God

Misuse of Isaiah 55:8-9 (see v. 7)
Faithful followers question God's justice (Gen 18:25)
Language, consistency, and meaning
God's primary attribute (1 John 4)

The Parable of the King's Offer (Bradley Jersak)

Previous Episode

Hell, pt. 1

Handout available here
What's hell like? What's it for?
What if there were no hell?
1 John 4:18, do we focus on fear or love?
Greek, Hebrew, and English terms
Sheol/Hades - the place of the dead (NOT hell)
Gehenna/corr

Only 12 occurrences (really 6)
Valley of the Sons of Hinnom, place of child sacrifice (2 Chronicles 28:3)
Place of judgment by Babylon (Jeremiah 7:31-32)
Jesus' use mirrors Jeremiah, with coming Roman destruction
Brad Jersak, Her Gates Will Never Be Shut

Meaning of 'aionios' - eternal?

How long it lasts or qualities of Age to come?
Hebrews 9:12 & 2 Thessalonians 1:9
Happens once and endures

Hell as Destruction

Edward Fudge, The Fire That Consumes
John 3:16 - what it plainly says and how it's interpreted
Matthew 10:28; Romans 2:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3; Galatians 6:8 - destroyed/perish/corruption
Implies destruction that endures, not ongoing torture
Plato vs. Paul
Is destruction not bad enough?

Next Episode

Hell, pt. 3

Handout available here
"All" passages exercise
Which view do we privilege or take at face value?
Does God get what God wants? (1 Tim 2:4 & 2 Pet 3:9)
Love gives freedom
"The doors of hell are locked on the inside." -C.S. Lewis
Definitions of freedom, modern vs. classic
Sin as ignorance
'Freedom' that's actually insanity
The cleansing fire of God - who or what consumed? (Heb 12:29)
Hell as unwanted loving presence of God
Justice and discipline (Rom 12:19-21)
Christian cleansing (Mark 9:49-50)
Next: Test case in Revelation 14 & 21-22 and your questions!