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Ed Christian
Department of English
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Kutztown, PA 19530
610-683-4350 (office phone & fax)
610-562-0163 (home phone & message)

christia@kutztown.edu

What [the] Hell?

Is Annihilation within the Boundaries?

ÒWhen I use a word,Ó Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, Òit means just what I choose it

to meanÑneither more nor less.Ó

ÒThe question is,Ó said Alice, Òwhether you can make words mean so many different things.Ó
ÒThe question is,Ó said Humpty Dumpty, Òwhich is to be masterÑthatÕs all.Ó
ÐLewis Carroll, Through the Looking Glass

Evangelicals have long prided themselves on basing their beliefs on Scripture alone. In fact,

however, we cling to sola scriptura when arguing against the unbiblical beliefs of other denominations,
but when it comes to our own dearly held views (sometimes with our jobs at stake), we are not above
ignoring biblical evidence that contradicts us. Should Evangelicals ever argue from tradition rather than
Scripture? I say no. Should Evangelicals base their teachings on ambiguous texts viewed by the light of
traditional understandings, while ignoring clear texts that say the opposite? I say no.

It seems to me that like Humpty Dumpty, we have often assigned arbitrary and contradictory

meanings to words whose meanings are already perfectly clear in English, Hebrew, and GreekÑwords
like Òdestroy,Ó Òconsume,Ó Òdead,Ó and Òdevoured. Ò It is true that these words as used in Scripture may
refer to several areas of experience, and it is also true that they are often used metaphorically. However,
when metaphors are used, they always allude to the established meanings of words, not to their
opposites.

We have come to this meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society to discuss the boundaries that

do, should, or might keep us together and keep out all the others. I have come to believe that the biblical
evidence for the annihilation of the wicked at the Last Judgment is so strong that not only should it be
within the boundaries, but perhaps belief in the eternal torment of the wicked should be outside the
boundaries, as it seems to be essentially based on eisegesis rather than exegesis.

However, I may be wrong. Indeed, IÕve come here primarily so you can show me where IÕm wrong.

Accordingly, what I plan to do is present to you a number of texts that seem clear to me, along with a
few notes about the implications. When I have finished, I hope to learn from your response.

I would ask that you respond not by dragging out the ambiguous proof texts we know so well, but by

dealing with the texts I present, whether you agree with me or disagree with me.

What Does ÒEternalÓ Mean?

Eternal Judgment
kr^ímatos aiooen^íou
Heb 6:2 Òof the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal
judgment.Ó
The period of judging or judgment is limited in duration, but the verdict will never be reversed, so the
judgment is eternal.

Eternal Redemption
aiooen^ían luítrooesin