Most textual variants simply do not make a difference to doctrine, however, there is one which I believe does have something significant about it.
Continue reading “Revelation 21.24 – Textual Variant That Makes a Difference”
Mar 12 2010
Brian McLaren on Hell
Brian has some questions on hell, and perhaps you could answer them:
Mar 12 2010
On Development of Hell in the East and the West
Once upon a time, all of Christianity was united and believed everything the exact same way. Not really.
Continue reading “On Development of Hell in the East and the West”
Mar 12 2010
Hellish Podcasts – Glenn Peoples
He actually did a three part podcast series on hell in the early days of his blog.
He also had an article published in Response to Robert Peterson’s case against annihilationism (see here).
Mar 11 2010
Difficult Verses: 1st Timothy 4:10
This is why we work hard and continue to struggle, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly of all believers. (1Ti 4:10 NLT)
I want to follow the same method which I used with John 12.32.
Mar 11 2010
N.T. Wright on the Resurrection, Heaven and Hell
Thought this might be interesting to a few -
Continue reading “N.T. Wright on the Resurrection, Heaven and Hell”
Mar 11 2010
Cliff Notes on Universalism
Not saying I agree or disagree, but Church History does help to speak to the issue – at least in the allowance of the two views to dwell together. From here.
Mar 11 2010
Tertullian – The Universalist?
It is therefore quite in keeping with this order of things, that that part of our nature should be the first to have the recompense and reward to which they are due on account of its priority. In short, inasmuch as we understand “the prison” pointed out in the Gospel to be Hades, and as we also interpret “the uttermost farthing” to mean the very smallest offence which has to be recompensed there before the resurrection,10 no one will hesitate to believe that the soul undergoes in Hades some compensatory discipline, without prejudice to the full process of the resurrection, when the recompense will be administered through the flesh besides.- Treatise of the Soul LVIII
Mar 10 2010
“Universalism: a historical survey” – Richard Bauckham
The history of the doctrine of universal salvation (or apokastastasis) is a remarkable one. Until the nineteenth century almost all Christian theologians taught the reality of eternal torment in hell. Here and there, outside the theological mainstream, were some who believed that the wicked would be finally annihilated (in its commonest form. this is the doctrine of ‘conditional immortality’).1 Even fewer were the advocates of universal salvation, though these few included same major theologians of the early church. Eternal punishment was firmly asserted in official creeds and confessions of the churches.2 It must have seemed as indispensable a part of universal Christian belief as the doctrines of the Trinity and the incarnation. Since 1800 this situation has entirely changed, and no traditional Christian doctrine has been so widely abandoned as that of eternal punishment.3 Its advocates among theologians today must be fewer than ever before. The alternative interpretation of hell as annihilation seems to have prevailed even among many of the more conservative theologians.4 Among the less conservative, universal salvation, either as hope or as dogma, is now so widely accepted that many theologians assume it virtually without argument.
You can read the rest here:
“Universalism: a historical survey” by Richard Bauckham.
It is not the best that I have read from Bauckham, honestly. I haven’t written a history of it, but here are some early Christians – before Origen, who were leaning universalists.
Mar 10 2010
Neuhaus on Admonitory Punishments and Universal Restoration
Regarding the title,
Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah appointed for you, that is, Jesus, who must remain in heaven until the time of universal restoration that God announced long ago through his holy prophets. (Act 3:19-21 NRSV)
I like to consider all sides of the debate. This is another one:
Continue reading “Neuhaus on Admonitory Punishments and Universal Restoration”
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