The Global Dictionary of Theology: A Resource for the Worldwide Church lists fourteen general characteristics of those universalists who affirm the reliability of Scripture.
As we begin to look at the biblical and historical theology of hell, we move now to one of two alternate theories. One theory is annihilationism and the second, and the one we will begin studying today, is universalism. Universalism is the belief...
A look at hell during the middle ages and in the reformation and post-reformation eras, including Dante's inferno, Richard Baxter, John Bunyan, and Jonathan Edwards.
One of the reasons I appreciate James Leo Garrett’s Systematic Theology: Biblical Historical and Evangelical (Vol 2) so much is that he takes us through a journey of not only biblical theology, but historical theology as well. Regarding the...
Stanley Grenz offers great insight into the New Testament's view of hell by giving us three metaphors that encompass the totality of the the experience. He, in the end, shows us that love wins!
In addition to gehenna, James Leo Garrett (James Leo Garrett, Systematic Theology: Biblical Historical and Evangelical (Vol 2), 788-789) notes four other words that express hell, or its meaning therein. Let's take a look at these words and...
There are five words that are used in the New Testament to describe the final judgement of the unrighteous. The most frequent word in the New Testament that is rendered hell is gehenna. In this post, we will explore its use prior to the New...
Billy Graham said on David Frost’s PBS show in the 1990’s that he believed only 25% of the “decisions for Christ” happening at his crusades actually resulted in people being born again. Does that shock you? On large...
In a previous post, I asked the question, “What defines Biblical Christianity?” It was meant to prompt the answer to a question about what are the fundamentals of orthodox Christianity. Today, I want to pose a similar question...
In looking at the Christian understanding of hell, a short exploration of the Old Testament concept of Sheol is necessary, though the Old Testament concept is limited in meaning and clarity. The Hebrews viewed death as ambiguous. Some Old Testament...