Hell

[steve_b]

And this is where we discover, yet again, that some of our core perceptions of the Bible are the result of outdated Greek translations.

The word punishment used here is iskolasis, which can also be translated as “correction”. It speaks to the idea of corrective punishment.

The word eternal used here is aiōnios, and like Gehenna, it has been completely mistranslated throughout the New Testament. As NT Greek teacher Richard Liantonio explains, aiōnios actually refers to to the length of an Age or “from age to age”. In Greek, an Age could refer to a generation, lifetime, or a longer, finite length of time. It’s where we get our word “eon”. It also correlates with the Hebrew word Yom, which denotes anything from a 24-hour period to an epoch season.

What this means is that any time we see the term “eternal life” in the New Testament, it should actually be translated as “life of the Age”.

Think about that for a second. That’s a pretty big deal.

Among other important things, it means that this phrase “eternal punishment” could more accurately be viewed as “correction for the length of the Age“.

This paints a VERY different picture than the one we are used to, but when we dig a bit deeper, we find it to be far more congruent with scripture than our old paradigm.

There is a profound difference between restorative punishment and retributive punishment. In the Western world, we operate based on retributive justice. You committed a felony? You are punished by going to jail. You murdered someone? You are put to death or sent to jail for life. These punishments are not distributed with a positive outcome in mind. They are not intended to rehabilitate or restore. They are society’s retribution upon the wrong-doer, intended solely to punish and perhaps discourage others from wrongdoing for fear of punishment.

Since non-restorative punishment is our idea of justice, it’s no surprise we project it onto God.

But this is NOT the God we see in the Bible. God’s heart is ALWAYS to restore. We see this time and time and time again throughout His dealings with Israel.

Even if we take a traditionalist view of Israel’s calamities as the active hand of God punishing His people, we still see a God longing to bring His people back to Himself. We see Jesus lamenting that Jerusalem so often denied His protection.

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.

The God of Israel always punished to restore, and that’s what we see in an accurate translation of Matthew 25:46 – not “eternal punishment” but “correction for the length of an age”.

Mt 25:46 αἰώνιον ] is from the Greek study bible. The link is operational

And it means eternal.

God is outside of time as are those who die and are judged immediately. In the next life, a billion years from now is still **now.

Remember Peter saying, to God 1000 years is like a day and a day is like 1000 years. ****2 Peter 3:8 ]

That analogy could easily be changed to a trillion instead of 1000.

IOW there is no time outside of time. Outside of time is where hell is, and that is where heaven is.
**

 

[anon96423383]

I would truly like to know if anyone (especially Catholics) believes in Hell in the way it is taught? I mean, let’s think about this. … If you truly believed that, you would spend every second in paralyzing fear. It is especially bad when it is somewhat taught that the way is narrow and also the gate. So that would seem to indicate that few would make it.

Thoughts?

Jesus was asked the question and He not only answered it, but didn’t deny the questioners point.

Lk 13:
23 And some one said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, 24 “Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the householder has risen up and shut the door, you will begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us.’ He will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from; depart from me, all you workers of iniquity!’ 28 There you will weep and gnash your teeth, … "

The problem today is, people don’t fear God, nor fear hell. So many folks dismiss damnation outright for themselves. At funerals, what’s a very popular remark we hear? Oh he/she is in a better place. Maybe that’s true and maybe not, given that only a few make it to heaven. Since all who go through purgatory first, then go to heaven, they are counted in with the few.

 

[eddietoo]

if there is no hell, how can Jesus be your Savior? from what did He save you?

if there is no hell, the implication is that the whole life of Jesus is just one big joke.

 

[steve-b]

It is especially bad when it is somewhat taught that the way is narrow and also the gate. So that would seem to indicate that few would make it.

I would argue that anyone who lives a remotely comfortable life would be out, no many how many “deeds” they do.

Thoughts? Let’s get the discussion going.

Rich or poor, the warning from Scripture and Tradition, If one dies with mortal sin on their soul, they go to hell.