Eternal Hell Roots in Paganism Not In Christianity: Part I

Eternal Hell Roots in Paganism Not In Christianity: Part I

“Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths”¹

This is the second installment (if you will) as I attempt to explain my understanding of scripture related to the completed work of Jesus Christ. Most Christians believe that if a person dies without accepting Christ as their personal Lord and Savior they will spend and eternity in eternal torment of Hell. This was a belief that I grew up with and have believed (most of my life), taught and argued for many years. It is however incorrect and is not taught in scripture. Wait don’t pick up the stones just yet. As I said in my introduction, I began to see contradictions to this doctrine throughout scripture, the doctrine does not fit the nature of God as he has revealed himself. I ask only that you prayerfully consider what I have to say, and more important examine the scripture seeking the truth as revealed by the Holy Spirit.

Historical Development of the doctrine of eternal Hell:

First few centuries universal salvation was taught by a majority of Christians, early church fathers and theologians, Clement of Alexandria (150-213 AD) and Origin (185-254) both taught universal salvation there were some during this time period who believed in Hell as eternal punishment one such person was Tertullian who wrote how he would delight in looking down and seeing his enemies burning in hell fire (hardly demonstrating the fruits of the spirit). Augustine (converted to Christianity in 386 AD) really ushers in a significant change in the church’s teaching on his matter. Also Augustine represents a shift in power from the Greek Christians to the Roman (Latin) Christians; this has significant impact on the direction the young church will take. Related to political control and over the next many centuries we see the roman church controlling kings and queens, nations and armies and it does so predominately on the threat of excommunication resulting in the eternal punishment of hell! One should not miss the significance of this doctrine as a means of control and power for an increasingly worldly church. At the beginning as Augustine gained power there was only the Latin school at Carthage that was teaching the doctrine of endless punishment, the Greek schools were teaching universal salvation. Augustine was the champion of the former view. Another significant move in the church was away from the Greek texts to the Latin translations. In 390-406 AD Jerome an Italian scholar translated the Latin Bible that we know as the Latin Vulgate, Jerome clearly bolster the support for the Latin concept of eternal punishment in this translation. It was the Roman Emperor Justinian in the 5th Century condemned universal salvation and threatened excommunication to anyone who opposed him, at the 5th General Council. Then on the basis of a vengeful god punishing multitudes for all eternity they acted in kind and plunged the world into the dark ages and the inquisition.

This is a brief introduction to the historical elements we will be discussing.

In this blog I will follow a suggested three dimensional approach (this approach not original to me²) as well as adding my own fourth element

1) Exegesis: A critical analysis of Biblical text
2) Philosophical: A critical analysis of fundamental assumptions or beliefs
3) Theological: Study of the nature of God and religious truths
4) Psychological: A study of the behavior and mental processes of man.

So this is not intended to be simply a commentary on various scriptures, although this is a critical element for which I will devote considerable time as well as providing additional scriptures and reference material for you continued study should you so desire.

Knowing most anyone reading my blog will be from within my (very) small circle of friends and that most of you come from similar backgrounds as I, you may place less importance (possibly discount altogether) any critical analysis other than an exegetical one. I understand that response, let me just point out that truth is truth no matter where you find it. Psalm 19 tells us that we can discover the nature of God by way of astronomy and natural science; I think it is no less likely that we can also find truths by way of reason and other human sciences. My approach is to validate it against the spirit and truth of the Bible.

Let me dispel a misconception, on which I will go into more detail later. There is a time of judgment, and we are clearly accountable for our actions, but Gods judgment is one of a Father correcting his children rather than of vengeance. The vengeance and penalty of sin was paid for by Christ, and “every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord”³

GWG

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1 Psalm 25.4
2 Ken R. Vencent Ed.D.
3 Philippians 2.5-11 also consider that “no man may say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit”
1 Corinthians 12.3