The Hell Dabate
LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
THE HELL DEBATE
A RESEARCH PAPER SUBMITTED TO
PROFESSOR MASHALL WICKS
IN COMPLETION OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR
THEOLOGY 350
BY
JOHNNY CARTER
LYNCHBURG, VA
JULY 6,2012
Introduction When trying to have a conversation about hell Hendrikus Berkhof says concerning the dominant ecclesiastical idea of hell as eternal punishment that ”there has always been a reluctance to engage in a deeper probing of this frightening conviction.”[1] In other words no one wants to talk about hell some churches have even avoided this topic for fear of losing members. Nevertheless, hell has been a hot topic debate for centuries, and there are many different views regarding hell and the nature of hell. This paper will address two of the most common views in the hell debate. One view called “The Classic View- says that hell is a place of unending torment for the wicked. The Annihilationist view-says that hell is a place where the wicked shall be no more”[2]. In regards to the hell debate there are some who believe that we are living in hell right now here on earth. However, hell is viewed there is always several questions that is often asked. How could a God who is so loving and caring, treat his people this cruelly by banishing them to hell for eternity? How could a God who says that he loves everyone be this mean? Is this how God shows his love for his children? Why would God create us just to torture us? These are all legitimate questions and finding an answer that will please everyone is not an easy thing to do. However, as a Christian we are bound by our faith to believe that hell does exist, and if it does exist what really happens once a person is sent there? There are those who are bold enough to stand up and tell you that there is no hell it’s just something made up by man to scare people into becoming a Christian. “The fear of hell is the basis for the Christian faith.”[3]
THE HELL DEBATE
A RESEARCH PAPER SUBMITTED TO
PROFESSOR MASHALL WICKS
IN COMPLETION OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR
THEOLOGY 350
BY
JOHNNY CARTER
LYNCHBURG, VA
JULY 6,2012
Introduction When trying to have a conversation about hell Hendrikus Berkhof says concerning the dominant ecclesiastical idea of hell as eternal punishment that ”there has always been a reluctance to engage in a deeper probing of this frightening conviction.”[1] In other words no one wants to talk about hell some churches have even avoided this topic for fear of losing members. Nevertheless, hell has been a hot topic debate for centuries, and there are many different views regarding hell and the nature of hell. This paper will address two of the most common views in the hell debate. One view called “The Classic View- says that hell is a place of unending torment for the wicked. The Annihilationist view-says that hell is a place where the wicked shall be no more”[2]. In regards to the hell debate there are some who believe that we are living in hell right now here on earth. However, hell is viewed there is always several questions that is often asked. How could a God who is so loving and caring, treat his people this cruelly by banishing them to hell for eternity? How could a God who says that he loves everyone be this mean? Is this how God shows his love for his children? Why would God create us just to torture us? These are all legitimate questions and finding an answer that will please everyone is not an easy thing to do. However, as a Christian we are bound by our faith to believe that hell does exist, and if it does exist what really happens once a person is sent there? There are those who are bold enough to stand up and tell you that there is no hell it’s just something made up by man to scare people into becoming a Christian. “The fear of hell is the basis for the Christian faith.”[3]
Bibliography: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unending?show=0&t=1341355848 (accessed July 3, 2012). Bacchiocchi, Samuele. Hell: Eternal torment or annihilation? http://dialogue.adventist.org/articles/10_3_bacchiocchi_e.htm (accessed July 16, 2012). Boice, Montgomery, James. Foundations of the Christian Faith. Downers Grove, Ill: Inter Varsity Press, 1986. Geisler, Norman, L. A Popular Survey of the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2008. Halloran, Kevin. What is the Doctrine of Soul Sleep? Is it in the Bible? April 17, 2012. http://ww.unlockingthebible.org/what-is-the-doctrine-of-soul-sleep-is-it-in-the-bible/ (accessed July 6, 2012). Hindson, Ed,Caner,Ergun. The Popular Encyclopedia of Apologetics. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2008. Holman Illustrated Bible dictionary. Nashville, TN: Holmad Bible Publishers, 2003. "Tentmaker Ministries." Tentmaker. 2012. http://tentmaker.org/Quotes/hellquotes.htm (accessed July 2, 2012). Towns, Elmer. Theology for Today. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Group, 2002. [2] Gregory A.Boyd, and Paul R. Eddy. Across the Spectrum: (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2009) 280 [3] Tentmaker Ministries “Quotes About Hell” http://www.tentmaker.org/Quotes/hellquotes.htm (accessed July 2, 2012) [4] Gregory A.Boyd, and Paul R. Eddy. Across the Spectrum: (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2009) 281. [5] Boice, Montgomery, James, Foundations of the Christian Faith (Downers Grove, Inter Varsity Press, 1986) 173. [6] Towns, Elmer Theology for Today: (Belmont, Wadsworth Group 2002) 809 [7] Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary “Hell” (Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 1482 [10] Ibid 631 [11] Merriam Webster Dictionary “Online Dictionary” http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unending?show=0&t=1341355848 (accessed July 3,2012) [12] La Haye, Tim and Hindson, Ed. The Certainty of Eternal Punishment for Unbelievers, “The Popular Encyclopedia of Bible Prophecy, (Eugene: Harvest House Publishers, 2004), 96. [13] Towns, Elmer Theology for Today: (Belmont, Wadsworth Group 2002) 832 [14] Gregory A.Boyd, and Paul R [15] La Haye, Tim and Hindson, Ed. The Certainty of Eternal Punishment for Unbelievers, “The Popular Encyclopedia of Bible Prophecy, (Eugene: Harvest House Publishers, 2004), 136. [16] Towns, Elmer Theology for Today: (Belmont, Wadsworth Group 2002) 830 [17] Gregory A.Boyd, and Paul R [20] Gregory A.Boyd, and Paul R. Eddy. Across the Spectrum: (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2009), 288. [21] Geisler, Norman, L, A Popular Survey of the New Testament: (Grand Rapids, Baker Books, 2008), 229 [22] Halloran, Kevin [23] Gregory A.Boyd, and Paul R. Eddy. Across the Spectrum: (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2009), 290.