In The Bible Hell by John Wesley Hanson, published in 1888, the author goes through a word study of the four words translated “hell” in various English Bible versions. The author contrasts the manner in which these words in both the Old and New Testaments are used and understood by the authors who used the words in question, in contrast with subsequent interpreters who attached to the words meanings from heathen idolatry, meanings alien to the Bible’s true teachings.
The author’s preface summarizes his purpose and a summation of his conclusions as follows: “The brief excursus on the word ‘Hell’ contained in this volume, aims to treat the subject in a popular style, and at the same time to present all the important facts, so fully and comprehensively that any reader can obtain in a few pages a birds-eye-view of ‘The Bible Hell.’
“The author ventures to hope that any one who will read candidly, not permitting the bias of an erroneous education to warp his judgment, will not fail to agree with the conclusions of this book,—-that the doctrine of unending sin and woe finds no support in the Bible teachings concerning Hell.”
Following the preface in Chapter 1 he further comments: “Does the Bible teach the idea commonly held among Christians concerning Hell? Does the Hell of the Bible denote a place of torment, or a condition of suffering without end, to begin at death? What is the Hell of the Bible? Manifestly the only way to arrive at the correct answer is to trace the words translated Hell from the beginning to the end of the Bible, and by their connections ascertain exactly what the divine Word teaches on this important subject. It seems incredible that a wise and benevolent God should have created or permitted any kind of an endless hell in his universe. Has he done so? Do the Scripture teachings concerning Hell stain the character of God and clothe human destiny with an impenetrable pall of darkness, by revealing a state or place of endless torment? Or do they explain its existence, and relieve God’s character, and dispel all the darkness of misbelief, by teaching that it exists as a means to a good end? It is our belief that the Bible Hell is not the heathen, nor the “orthodox” hell, but is one that is doomed to pass away when its purpose shall have been accomplished, in the reformation of those for whose welfare a good God ordained it.”
While Hanson’s book does not answer all the questions regarding what the Bible says about “hell” or Divine punishment, it serves as a useful reference and basis for further study. John Wesley Hanson D.D. (1823–1901), was a Universalist minister, and we do not share several of the doctrines advocated by Universalist adherents, nor do we endorse all of the statements and conclusions found in the book.
The PDF version of Hanson’s book The Bible Hell was downloaded by us from academia.edu. It may be downloaded also by clicking on this link. The book is in the public domain under copyright law in the United States of America. If you are in another country, it may be advisable to consult its copyright law.
Readers may also want to consult also the following articles relating to the subject of “hell”: “The Truth About Hell,” “Are the ‘Lost’ Predestined to Hell?“, “What Happens to Those Who Die as Infants?” and “What Is Death?”
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