About Us   |   Contact   |   Advertise With Us   |   Support CWCS

How The Hell Can Christians Not Believe In Hell?

September 20, 2021

If you grew up going to church in the U.S., then you know that the idea that hell isn’t a real place of punishment experienced by the unsaved after death is certainly one of the dumber beliefs a person following Jesus could hold.

After all, Jesus talked about hell more than anyone else in scripture right? Not to mention those passages in Matthew 25 and 2 Thessalonians 1 (among many others) that talk about eternal separation and torment. Even if you’re not a biblical scholar who knows how to read the Bible in the original Greek, it really just does not get much clearer: hell is real, eternal, and a place of physical torment that is experienced by the unsaved.

Much more to the point, it’s why we have the Gospel in the first place. If Jesus didn’t die to save us from the fires of hell, then what the hell (pun intended) did He even save us from?

The above sentences were all things I repeatedly said to myself as I started to learn about hell in scripture. They’re very good questions and thoughts. If the above sentences reflect something similar to your worldview, then I am sure that when you’re done reading this article, you’ll have some rebuttals for me, as well as I am sure that I will have more things I wish I had said here too.

But what about the actual question: “How can a Christian think Hell isn’t a real place of everlasting torment?”

The simple answer is that many of us who don’t hold onto the belief of hell as a place of eternal conscious torment (aka ECT/infernalism) take God very seriously when scripture says things like, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” (1 John 4:8) 

Now, at first blush, that sounds a lot like hippie-kumbaya crap. I thought so too. I thought it was new-age stuff that people came up with because the idea of hell offended their sensitive dispositions. It’s actually, arguably, the oldest viewpoint on hell. In the fourth-century, the early church father, Basil of Caesarea noted that a large majority of his fellow Christians believed that hell was not everlasting.

Indeed, one of the main proponents of the Nicene Creed (which is broadly seen as the main standard of what is “orthodox” in Christian faith) was St. Gregory of Nyssa, an early church father whose work is best known for espousing the belief that hell is a redemptive process.

He’s not alone. Clement, Didymus, Cassian, Isaac the Syrian, Maximus the Confessor, Origen, The Cappadocians, and others were all members of the early church who shaped the faith in its infancy away from heresy and toward orthodoxy – and they all believed that hell was not forever.

So then that begs the question of what to do with all those passages of scripture that talk about hell. If these people were orthodox, how could they just toss aside scripture so easily? The answer, of course, is that they didn’t. They just likely read it differently than we do.

I don’t want to pick apart all the scriptures that people use to say that hell is eternal. We don’t have the space for that. But what I can say, is that every single scripture I’ve come across, has a historical way of being read, that actually points to hell not being a place of ECT. I will give two examples for the sake of illustration:

First, in Matthew 25, (specifically, verse 46) the word that’s translated as “eternal” is a Greek word that is transliterated as aionios, and while eternal/everlasting is one of its meanings, it certainly is not the only one. Another common meaning was that of “an age” or “an epoch.” Similarly, the word that we often find translated as “punishment” is kolasin. Here, the word actually has the connotation of discipline or correction. This is especially interesting since the entire previous portion of Matthew 25 is all about people being merciful. Discipline and correction are merciful. Outright punishment is not.

Before going to the second example, I should point out, that this reflects the viewpoint of all the early church thinkers who believed hell was not a place of physical everlasting torment. The idea was that hell is a place of redemptive correction. The fires of hell, are the fires of God’s love. The lake of fire is God’s very presence, which burns away the impurity of our sin. To stand in the presence of God, in an unrepentant state, is something that is miserable. 

Think of how horrible it feels to be shown unequivocal mercy when you’ve done something terrible. You keep beating yourself up until you can accept that you have been accepted. Here, it is the same idea. The fire of God’s love will burn brightly, and hotly, and will most certainly be a kind of torment… and eventually, we will succumb and God will get what God wants – our redemption.

Indeed, the end of Matthew uses the same word, aionios, when Jesus says that He will never leave us or forsake us, even until the end of “the age.” This is why there’s a saying in some parts of the Eastern Orthodox church that as long as even one soul remains in hell, you can be sure that Christ will remain there with them – because God will not leave us or forsake us, even until the end of “the age.”

This then leads to the second example, 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9. This is the passage where we get the oft-heard belief that hell is “separation from God.” Here, the words translated as “vengeance” and “punishment” are again, probably better translated as something more akin to “chastening,” “discipline” or “correction.” Furthermore, the word translated as “separated from” can also mean “coming from” or “emanating from.”

Now, this passage that “clearly” talks about hell as being a punishment where we’re separated from God, we see instead a picture of fiery mercy emanating from the throne of God. God’s very presence is our correction that burns away our sin. All this points to just a few of the ways in which a person can believe that hell isn’t a real place of everlasting physical punishment. Collectively, this doctrine is known by a few names, “Apokatastasis” (meaning the restoration of all things), Patristic Universalism, Hopeful Universalism, or Ultimate Reconciliation.

For now, if you want to read more about this from people smarter than me, I recommend the following books:

“Her Gates Will Never Be Shut” by Bradley Jersak,
“That All Shall Be Saved” by David Bentley Hart,
“The Christian Doctrine of Apokatastasis” by Ilaria Ramelli,
“The Evangelical Universalist” by Robin Parry/Gregory MacDonald,
“Dare We Hope ‘That All Men Be Saved?’ “ by Hans Urs von Balthasar

  1. browser sex games

    December 7th, 2021 at 4:02 PM

    sex games toys https://cybersexgames.net/

  2. online casino free signup bonus no deposit required

    December 12th, 2021 at 7:19 PM

    viva slots vegas™ free slot casino games online https://casinogamesmachines.com/

  3. online casino no deposit bonus 2021

    December 12th, 2021 at 11:32 PM

    super slots online casino https://conline-casinos-hub.com/

  4. online casino nj

    December 13th, 2021 at 11:47 AM

    online casino paysafecard 10€ https://onlinecasinos4me.com/

  5. ruby slots online casino

    December 13th, 2021 at 2:53 PM

    online casino sverige https://online2casino.com/

  6. aladdin online casino

    December 13th, 2021 at 10:22 PM

    biggest online casino welcome bonus

  7. keto cereal

    December 15th, 2021 at 5:17 PM

    keto diet food list https://ketogendiets.com/

  8. writing essays online

    December 15th, 2021 at 9:39 PM

    essay writing online https://anenglishessay.com/

  9. writing personal essay

    December 16th, 2021 at 4:49 AM

    persuasive essay writing https://topessayswriter.com/

  10. writing a comparison and contrast essay

    December 16th, 2021 at 8:41 PM

    paid essay writing https://yoursuperessay.com/

  11. custom essays writing

    December 17th, 2021 at 9:13 AM

    write college essays for money https://howtowriteessaytips.com/

  12. cheap custom essay writing service

    December 17th, 2021 at 12:02 PM

    legitimate essay writing service https://checkyouressay.com/

  13. top uk gay dating sites

    December 17th, 2021 at 2:37 PM

    gay bisexual dating site https://gayprideusa.com/

  14. best gay bear dating site

    December 17th, 2021 at 5:01 PM

    gay big and tall dating https://gayfade.com/

  15. free join gay sites for dating

    December 17th, 2021 at 6:29 PM

    free gay dating south florida https://gaysugardaddydatingsites.com/

  16. how to improve critical thinking

    December 19th, 2021 at 5:34 PM

    critical thinking riddles https://criticalthinkinginstitute.com/

  17. hesi critical thinking

    December 19th, 2021 at 6:24 PM

    business critical thinking https://criticalthinking2020.net/

  18. ati critical thinking exam

    December 19th, 2021 at 8:49 PM

    flaschcards on six rules of critical thinking https://uncriticalthinking.com/

  19. should college be free essay

    December 20th, 2021 at 3:05 AM

    self evaluation sample essay https://tjvpn.net/

  20. cause and effect essay topics

    December 20th, 2021 at 4:54 AM

    ap lang synthesis essay https://thebestvpnpro.com/

  21. apa essay

    December 20th, 2021 at 6:59 AM

    argumentative essay conclusion https://vpn4home.com/

  22. how to write a persuasive essay

    December 20th, 2021 at 11:25 AM

    how to make your essay longer https://vpnsrank.com/

  23. how to start off an argumentative essay

    December 20th, 2021 at 1:20 PM

    essay writer free online https://vpn4torrents.com/

  24. mla essay heading

    December 20th, 2021 at 4:10 PM

    essay writers https://windowsvpns.com/

  25. 3recruitment

    December 30th, 2021 at 10:07 PM

    3registrar

  26. 3speakers

    December 31st, 2021 at 11:12 AM

    3schoolboy

  27. gay dating sites in nc

    January 2nd, 2022 at 12:23 PM

    gay teen dating https://gaypridee.com

  28. best website for senior gay dating

    January 2nd, 2022 at 1:24 PM

    bear gay dating site https://gay-buddies.com

  29. gay dating 70

    January 2nd, 2022 at 2:21 PM

    best gay dating sites https://gayprideusa.com

  30. gay punk dating

    January 2nd, 2022 at 3:23 PM

    senior gay dating https://speedgaydate.com

  31. gay dating macho

    January 2nd, 2022 at 4:23 PM

    bi/gay dating apps https://gayfade.com

  32. gay senior dating free no e mail needed

    January 2nd, 2022 at 5:40 PM

    gay conservative dating ap https://gaysugardaddydatingsites.com

  33. gay teen boy chat

    January 14th, 2022 at 11:32 AM

    702 gay chat number https://bjsgaychatroom.info/

  34. gay ky chat rooms

    January 14th, 2022 at 5:19 PM

    gay videeo chat https://gaytgpost.com/

  35. in the money slots

    January 28th, 2022 at 6:58 PM

    reel deal slots https://2-free-slots.com/

  36. jackpotjoy slots

    January 28th, 2022 at 9:23 PM

    eso quick slots youtube https://freeonlneslotmachine.com/

  37. online slots

    January 29th, 2022 at 1:49 AM

    slots era https://candylandslotmachine.com/

  38. slots machines

    January 29th, 2022 at 4:45 AM

    monopoly slots https://pennyslotmachines.org/

  39. mail slots

    January 29th, 2022 at 8:22 AM

    free online slots https://slotmachinesworld.com/

  40. free slots casino

    February 3rd, 2022 at 6:42 PM

    free casino slots https://slotmachinesforum.net/

  41. online slots real money

    February 3rd, 2022 at 10:23 PM

    horseshoe baltimore slots https://slot-machine-sale.com/

  42. slots lv

    February 3rd, 2022 at 11:39 PM

    free penny slots vegas https://beat-slot-machines.com/

  43. hot shot slots

    February 4th, 2022 at 2:59 AM

    konami slots for computer https://download-slot-machines.com/

  44. monopoly slots

    February 4th, 2022 at 6:17 AM

    lucky slots 777 free play https://411slotmachine.com/

  45. scatter slots by murka

    February 4th, 2022 at 11:28 AM

    multiclass spell slots 5e https://www-slotmachines.com/

  46. free penny slots vegas

    February 4th, 2022 at 4:07 PM

    free siberian storm slots https://slotmachinegameinfo.com/

  47. what is a dissertation paper

    February 10th, 2022 at 7:46 PM

    writing results for dissertation https://buydissertationhelp.com/

  48. do my dissertation

    February 11th, 2022 at 4:48 PM

    help me write my dissertation https://dissertationwriting-service.com/

  49. a dissertation

    February 11th, 2022 at 5:52 PM

    dissertation writing services usa https://help-with-dissertations.com/

  50. online dissertation writer

    February 11th, 2022 at 11:38 PM

    affordable dissertation writing https://mydissertationwritinghelp.com/

  51. writing msc dissertation

    February 12th, 2022 at 6:12 AM

    dissertation database https://helpon-doctoral-dissertations.net/

  52. 1rummage

    June 21st, 2022 at 12:02 AM

    1condemning

  53. dissertation consulting

    July 5th, 2022 at 5:40 PM

    writing your dissertation https://helpwithdissertationwritinglondon.com/

  54. top servis

    July 5th, 2022 at 8:28 PM

    uk dissertation writing https://dissertationwritingcenter.com/

  55. get help with dissertation

    July 5th, 2022 at 11:35 PM

    custom dissertation writing https://dissertationhelpexpert.com/

  56. cheap dissertation writing

    July 6th, 2022 at 2:59 AM

    dissertation help glasgow https://examplesofdissertation.com/

  57. defending dissertation

    July 6th, 2022 at 7:08 AM

    dissertation literature review help https://writing-a-dissertation.net/

  58. writing service

    July 6th, 2022 at 9:52 AM

    dissertation acknowledgements https://bestdissertationwritingservice.net/

  59. dissertation template

    July 6th, 2022 at 10:52 AM

    buy dissertation online https://businessdissertationhelp.com/

  60. writing dissertations

    July 6th, 2022 at 8:14 PM

    top servis https://dissertationhelpspecialist.com/

  61. dissertation structure

    July 7th, 2022 at 12:13 AM

    find a dissertation https://dissertationhelperhub.com/

  62. cheap dissertation help in los angeles

    July 7th, 2022 at 3:50 AM

    phd thesis vs dissertation https://customthesiswritingservices.com/

  63. bovegas online casino

    July 25th, 2022 at 4:36 PM

    free online casino bonus codes https://download-casino-slots.com/

  64. best online casino no deposit

    July 25th, 2022 at 7:12 PM

    tropicana online casino promo code https://firstonlinecasino.org/

  65. reddit online casino

    July 25th, 2022 at 8:57 PM

    best online casino bonus usa https://onlinecasinofortunes.com/

  66. cabaret club online casino

    July 25th, 2022 at 10:40 PM

    best online casino deposit bonus https://newlasvegascasinos.com/

  67. online casino real money paypal

    July 26th, 2022 at 7:54 AM

    river monster online casino https://9lineslotscasino.com/

  68. admiral online casino

    July 26th, 2022 at 9:44 AM

    vegas casino online eu https://free-online-casinos.net/

  69. online casino guide

    July 26th, 2022 at 1:20 PM

    mgm online casino michigan https://internet-casinos-online.net/

  70. best online casino sites

    July 26th, 2022 at 6:16 PM

    casino online portugal https://1freeslotscasino.com/

  71. craps online casino

    July 26th, 2022 at 7:05 PM

    online casino spain https://vrgamescasino.com/

  72. win real money online casino for free

    July 27th, 2022 at 12:28 AM

    gokken in online casino https://casino-online-jackpot.com/

  73. resort casino online

    July 27th, 2022 at 6:10 AM

    online casino stocks https://ownonlinecasino.com/

  74. grand online casino

    July 27th, 2022 at 9:24 AM

    resorts world casino online https://all-online-casino-games.com/

  75. free vpn ip address

    August 7th, 2022 at 12:34 PM

    business vpn router https://freevpnconnection.com/

  76. free vpn for macbook

    August 7th, 2022 at 2:35 PM

    japan vpn free https://shiva-vpn.com/

  77. download free vpn for pc

    August 7th, 2022 at 6:06 PM

    vpn unlimited review https://freehostingvpn.com/

  78. cyberghost vpn

    August 7th, 2022 at 6:38 PM

    free vpn client https://ippowervpn.net/

  79. free fast vpn

    August 7th, 2022 at 11:08 PM

    the best vpn for windows https://superfreevpn.net/

  80. windows 10 vpn

    August 8th, 2022 at 3:13 AM

    vpn to buy crypto https://free-vpn-proxy.com/

  81. gay dating sites

    August 23rd, 2022 at 12:55 PM

    gay white men dating black men https://gayedating.com/

  82. dating dating site

    August 24th, 2022 at 9:33 AM

    best online dating websites https://freephotodating.com/

  83. site of dating

    August 24th, 2022 at 11:18 AM

    dating site sign up https://onlinedatingbabes.com/

  84. meet people online

    August 24th, 2022 at 2:46 PM

    dating site for https://adult-singles-online-dating.com/

  85. free dating online chat

    August 24th, 2022 at 4:41 PM

    free dating site for men https://adult-classifieds-online-dating.com/

  86. ourtime dating site log in

    August 24th, 2022 at 7:19 PM

    best dating web https://online-internet-dating.net/

  87. internet dating site

    August 24th, 2022 at 11:53 PM

    dating sites for singles https://datingpersonalsonline.com/

  88. dating free online

    August 25th, 2022 at 1:27 AM

    serious free dating sites https://wowdatingsites.com/

  89. free meeting online

    August 25th, 2022 at 5:12 AM

    online dating personals https://lavaonlinedating.com/

  90. positive singles

    August 25th, 2022 at 7:24 AM

    personals women https://freeadultdatingpasses.com/

  91. dating services contact germany

    August 25th, 2022 at 9:14 AM

    free app for online meeting https://virtual-online-dating-service.com/

  92. dating free online sites

    August 25th, 2022 at 10:42 AM

    tinder dating https://zonlinedating.com/

  93. online dating game

    August 25th, 2022 at 12:38 PM

    free site https://onlinedatingservicesecrets.com/

  94. online casino no deposit bonus 2021

    August 30th, 2022 at 6:00 AM

    chumba casino online mobile https://onlinecasinos4me.com/

  95. mgm casino online nj

    August 30th, 2022 at 11:51 AM

    jumba bet online casino https://online2casino.com/

  96. casino online streaming

    August 30th, 2022 at 2:34 PM

    biggest online casino bonus https://casinosonlinex.com/

  97. gay chat ro

    September 2nd, 2022 at 10:06 PM

    gay chat rndom https://newgaychat.com/

  98. good chat to meet gay bimarried

    September 3rd, 2022 at 1:56 AM

    free gay chat lines in nc https://gaychatcams.net/

  99. gay men webcam chat broadcast self

    September 3rd, 2022 at 9:28 AM

    gay priest chat https://gaychatspots.com/

  100. gay online chat sites

    September 3rd, 2022 at 11:11 AM

    gay discord chat https://gay-live-chat.net/

  101. gay rulette chat

    September 3rd, 2022 at 6:27 PM

    gay chat mature https://chatcongays.com/

  102. cam chat gay

    September 3rd, 2022 at 11:43 PM

    free gay chat no sign up https://gayphillychat.com/

  103. gay video cam chat

    September 4th, 2022 at 2:59 AM

    rastaboy gay chat https://gaychatnorules.com/

  104. gay sex slave chat room

    September 4th, 2022 at 10:52 AM

    gay incet chat https://gaymusclechatrooms.com/

  105. gay chat rout

    September 4th, 2022 at 1:07 PM

    free sacramento gay chat https://free-gay-sex-chat.com/

  106. aol chat room gay

    September 4th, 2022 at 7:34 PM

    gay chat avenue new version https://gayinteracialchat.com/

  107. buy school papers online

    October 20th, 2022 at 3:07 PM

    pay to write paper https://term-paper-help.org/

  108. pay to write my paper

    October 20th, 2022 at 5:01 PM

    i need someone to write my paper https://sociologypapershelp.com/

  109. cheapest paper writing service

    October 20th, 2022 at 6:01 PM

    write my paper for me cheap https://uktermpaperwriters.com/

  110. paper help

    October 20th, 2022 at 7:52 PM

    best custom paper writing service https://paperwritinghq.com/

  111. help me with my paper

    October 20th, 2022 at 9:20 PM

    need help writing my paper https://writepapersformoney.com/

  112. write my paper in 3 hours

    October 20th, 2022 at 10:37 PM

    write my paper one day https://write-my-paper-for-me.org/

  113. website that writes papers for you

    October 21st, 2022 at 12:53 AM

    write my paper cheap https://top100custompapernapkins.com/

  114. buy custom paper

    October 21st, 2022 at 7:30 AM

    paper writer https://mypaperwritinghelp.com/

  115. order custom papers

    October 21st, 2022 at 8:53 AM

    paper helper https://writemypaperquick.com/

  116. websites to type papers

    October 21st, 2022 at 10:34 AM

    buy dissertation paper https://essaybuypaper.com/

  117. buying college papers

    October 21st, 2022 at 12:49 PM

    someone to write my paper for me https://premiumpapershelp.com/

  118. scientific paper writing services

    October 21st, 2022 at 3:41 PM

    paying someone to write a paper https://studentpaperhelp.com/

  119. 1closely

    January 26th, 2023 at 11:40 AM

    3pawnbroker

  120. differential equations coursework

    February 5th, 2023 at 1:14 PM

    coursework in english https://courseworkninja.com/

  121. coursework paper

    February 5th, 2023 at 2:55 PM

    do my coursework online https://writingacoursework.com/

  122. coursework online

    February 5th, 2023 at 3:39 PM

    database coursework https://mycourseworkhelp.net/

  123. coursework history

    February 6th, 2023 at 12:07 AM

    coursework writing service uk https://courseworkdomau.com/

  124. online dating 50

    February 8th, 2023 at 10:52 AM

    meet= dating dating https://jewish-dating-online.net/

  125. videodating

    February 8th, 2023 at 1:19 PM

    online date https://free-dating-sites-free-personals.com/

  126. free online sating

    February 8th, 2023 at 2:30 PM

    adoult dating https://sexanddatingonline.com/

  127. dating chat site

    February 8th, 2023 at 4:46 PM

    absolutely free online dating sites https://onlinedatingsuccessguide.com/

  128. plenty fish free dating

    February 8th, 2023 at 9:35 PM

    best datings sites https://allaboutdatingsites.com/

  129. dating site asian

    February 8th, 2023 at 10:35 PM

    faroedating chat https://freedatinglive.com/

CWCS Hoodie

most popular

team favorite

Newest

CWCS T-Shirt

CWCS Trucker Cap

$45.00

$25.00

$25.00

Merch

Shop the CWCS

Shop All →

All Contents Copyright 2021 Christians Who Curse Sometimes