Synopses & Reviews
Most contemporary Christians acknowledge the doctrine of hell, but they'd rather not think about how God punishes the wicked. The authors of Four Views on Hell meet this subject head-on with different views on what the Scriptures say.Is hell to be understood literally as a place of eternal smoke and flames? Or are such images simply metaphors for a real but different form of punishment? Is there such a thing as conditional immortality, in which God annihilates the souls of the wicked rather than punishing them endlessly? Is there a Purgatory, and if so, how does it fit into the picture?The interactive Counterpoints forum allows the reader to see the four views on hell--literal, metaphorical, conditional, and purgatorial--in interaction with each other. Each view in turn is presented, critiqued, and defended. This evenhanded approach is ideal for comparing and contrasting views in order to form a personal conclusion about one of Christianity's key doctrines.The Counterpoints series provides a forum for comparison and critique of different views on issues important to Christians. Counterpoints books address two categories: Church Life and Exploring Theology. Complete your library with other books in the Counterpoints series.
Synopsis
The "Counterpoints series provides a forum for comparison and critique of different views on important theological issues. These spirited discussions by authors who have agreed to disagree as they advocate their points of view will broaden your understanding, regardless of your own position. You'll find these stimulating books invaluable for sermon preparation, personal and group study, and keeping current on key theological issues.
Synopsis
The doctrine of hell is one of the most difficult and unsavory theological topics. In Four Views on Hell, leading biblical scholars meet this subject head-on, discussing the four primary views on what the Scriptures say about divine punishment.
Is hell to be understood literally as a place of eternal smoke and flames? Or are such images simply metaphors for a real but different form of punishment? Is there such a thing as conditional immortality, in which God annihilates the souls of the wicked rather than punishing them endlessly? Is there a Purgatory, and if so, how does it fit into the scope of biblical interpretation?
Here, scholars who affirm an inspired Bible, relevant and authoritative for every era, present models they consider most faithful to Scripture:
- Literal - defended by John F. Walvoord
- Metaphorical - defended by William Crockett
- Conditional - defended by Clark Pinnock
- Purgatorial - defended by Zachary Hayes
Each view in turn is presented, respectfully critiqued by the others, and defended. This evenhanded approach is ideal for comparing views in order to form a personal conclusion about one of Christianity's toughest doctrines.
The Counterpoints series presents a comparison and critique of scholarly views on topics important to Christians that are both fair-minded and respectful of the biblical text. Each volume is a one-stop reference that allows readers to evaluate the different positions on a specific issue and form their own, educated opinion.
Synopsis
Four views on what the Scriptures contain regarding the nature of hell are presented in this guide to widely debated biblical interpretation.
Synopsis
Four Views On Hell meet this subject head on and propose different views of what the Scriptures say about hell. Many Christians still hold to a literal understanding of hell, that it is a place of eternal smoke and flames. John F. Walvoord is a strong advocate of this view. William V. Crockett defends a metaphorical view, seeing hell as a place of eternal conscious punishment but not necessarily as being a literal fire.