Greetings in the LORD my brothers and sisters. Some thoughts on issues raised in this thread…
There was a local synod held in Constantinople in A.D. 543 where certain anathemas of the Emperor Justinian were agreed to. These were also sent to Pope Vigilius who confirmed them. Here’s the info:
“In these circumstances a report against Origenism was addressed to Justinian, by whom and on what occasion it is not known, for the two accounts that have come down to us are at variance (Cyrillus of Scythopolis, ‘Vita Sabae’; and Liberatus, ‘Breviarium’, xxiii). At all events, the emperor then wrote his ‘Liber adversus Origenem’, containing in addition to an exposé of the reasons for condemning it twenty-four censurable texts taken from the ‘De principiis’, and lastly ten propositions to be anathematized. Justinian ordered the patriarch Mennas to call together all the bishops present in Constantinople and make them subscribe to these anathemas. This was the local synod (synodos endemousa) of 543. A copy of the imperial edict had been addressed to the other patriarchs, including Pope Vigilius, and all gave their adhesion to it. In the case of Vigilius especially we have the testimony of Liberatus (Breviar., xxiii) and Cassiodorus (Institutiones, 1)” (“
Origen and Origenism”).And here’s one of those anathemas:
“Can. 9. If anyone says or holds that the punishment of the demons and of impious men is temporary, and that it will have an end at some time, that is to say, there will be a complete restoration of the demons or of impious men, let him be anathema” (
*Enchiridion Symbolorum *211).For more information on the preceding see “
Apocatastasis”: “the doctrine which teaches that a time will come when all free creatures will share in the grace of salvation; in a special way, the devils and lost souls …] was thenceforth looked on as heterodox by the Church.”
Pope Paul II also condemned the proposition that “all Christians are to be saved” in his letter
Cum Sicut in A.D. 1459 (
*Enchiridion Symbolorum *717b).
As for particular individuals, we have statements like these to consider from the Ecumenical Councils:
“Are they unaware, or rather pretending to be unaware, that to be judged anathematized is just the same as to be separated from God? The heretic, even though he has not been condemned formally by any individual, in reality brings anathema on himself, having cut himself off from the way of truth by his heresy. What reply can such people make to the Apostle when he writes: ‘As for someone who is factious, after admonishing him once or twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is perverted and sinful; he is self-condemned’ (Titus 3:10-11)” (
[A.D. 553]).
“This holy synod …] declares, defines and decrees that the said John Wyclif was a notorious and obstinate heretic who died in heresy, and it anathematises him and condemns his memory” (
[A.D. 1414-1418]).I think that the most straightforward interpretation of the words of King Jesus lead us to believe that most people will enter into destruction. For even when He compares the many with the few on their separate paths (cf. Matthew 7:13-14), the many
enter the gate to destruction while the few merely
find the gate to life. This leads us to think that even among the few who
find the gate to life, there will be even fewer who will “persevere to the end” and thereupon enter (cf. Matthew 24:13). “For many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14).
Paul also tells us plainly that “
not all obeyed the Gospel” (Romans 10:15), and further reveals to us that “those who do not know God and …]
those who do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus …] will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His might, when He comes on that day to be glorified in His saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed” (2 Thessalonians 1:8-10). Therefore, we know that there are people in hell.
And when our Lord sent out His own laborers (cf. Luke 10:13-15), did He have any words of praise for repentant cities? No, but He pronounced woes upon every city that gained mention. “Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Luke 10:2) so that by preaching Jesus Christ as Lord (cf. Romans 10:5-15), and by making “supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings …] for all people,” (1 Timothy 2:1), we might by all means save some (cf. 1 Corinthians 9:22). For “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” (1 Peter 4:18)
All Glory to God,
Pete
Trinity teaches the unity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as three persons in one Godhead. The doctrine states that God is the** Triune God**, existing as three persons, or in the Greek hypostases, but one being.
God is called out as the comforting and blessed . . . **“bosom of Abraham” **. . . whereas the rich man was in another section of great torment . . . and this rich man was very aware that his sins had justly planted him where he was . . . (continued next post)