Annihilationism

Question 1

Question: What is Annihilationism?

Answer 1

Answer: Annihilationism is the belief that although Hell exists as a punishment for the unrighteous, those who go there are eventually annihilated into non-existence rather than enduring eternal conscious torment.

Question 2

Question: How does Annihilationism address the moral concerns raised by Hume and Hick regarding Hell?

Answer 2

Answer: Annihilationism resolves the ethical dilemma of eternal punishment by asserting that those in Hell do not suffer endlessly, thus aligning with concerns about justice and God’s benevolence.

Question 3

Question: What theological problem does Annihilationism potentially solve?

Answer 3

Answer: Annihilationism addresses the perceived injustice of eternal suffering for finite sins, which challenges traditional views of Hell’s eternal conscious torment.

Question 4

Question: How does Annihilationism reconcile the concept of Hell with biblical teachings?

Answer 4

Answer: Annihilationism finds biblical support in passages like Matthew 10:28, where Jesus speaks of souls and bodies being destroyed in Gehenna rather than enduring eternal torment.

Question 5

Question: What is Gehenna in biblical terms?

Answer 5

Answer: Gehenna is the term Jesus used to describe a place of fiery punishment, often associated with Hell in Christian theology.

Question 6

Question: According to Matthew 10:28, what does Jesus say about Gehenna?

Answer 6

Question: According to Matthew 10:28, what does Jesus say about Gehenna?

Question 7

Question: How does Annihilationism interpret the phrase “eternal fire” in the Bible?

Answer 7

Answer: Annihilationism suggests that while the fire of Gehenna may be eternal, it does not mean that souls suffer eternally; instead, they are ultimately destroyed.

Question 8

Question: What does the sheep and the goats parable indicate about eternal fire?

Answer 8

Answer: In the sheep and the goats parable (Matthew 25:31-46), Jesus speaks of the wicked departing into eternal fire, which Annihilationism interprets as a final destruction rather than ongoing torment.

Question 9

Question: What biblical support exists for the idea that the wicked are annihilated rather than eternally tormented?

Answer 9

Answer: Annihilationism finds biblical backing in passages that suggest the end of the wicked involves destruction rather than endless suffering, aligning with the concept of souls being destroyed in Gehenna.

Question 10

Question: How does Annihilationism impact traditional views of Hell and salvation?

Answer 10

Answer: Annihilationism challenges the traditional view of Hell as eternal conscious torment, offering an alternative understanding that maintains biblical integrity while addressing theological and moral concerns about God’s justice and love.

Question 11

Biblical evidence against Annihilationism:

Answer 11

Biblical evidence against Annihilationism: In the parable of the sheep and the goats the phrase ‘eternal punishment’ is specified for the unrighteous. Some argue non-existence cannot be eternal punishment.

Question 12

Biblical evidence against Annihilationism: That argument relies on

Answer 12

That argument relies on the definition of punishment being that of suffering rather than a deprivation of some good, however. Maybe eternal punishment just means depriving people of existence and the opportunity to go to heaven.

Question 13

Biblical evidence against Annihilationism: Counter-defence

Answer 13

Counter-defence: If you are annihilated and no longer exist then arguably you cannot be said to be being deprived and so you aren’t really being punished.

Question 14

Translation criticism of Annihilationism:

Answer 14

The word ‘destroy’ cannot be properly translated as ‘annihilated’, however, since no such word exists in ancient Hebrew or Greek. Instead what is meant is that the form and function of the body and soul, as made in the image and likeness of God, is destroyed.