VERSION 2.0
Revised 2022
Revised 2022
PROVE ALL THINGS, HOLD FAST THAT WHICH IS GOOD
1 Thessalonians 5:21
1 Thessalonians 5:21
SECTION I NOTES
Verses In Which 'Hell' Has Been Rendered From the Greek Gehenna
Matthew 5:22, 29, 30
But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.(Matthew 5:22) |
This first occurrence of Gehenna in the New Testament should immediately cast the popular notion of hell in a suspicious light. The verse makes little sense and stands as an enigma if the traditional meaning of Gehenna is true.
What possible logical reason is there, and what type of mental justification can we make for the differences in punishment for saying 'Raca', on the one hand, and 'thou fool' on the other, that one should be punishable by being brought before the Sanhedrin, and the other eternal conscious torment in flames for all eternity ? Again, to ignore the Biblical Old Testament references to the idolatrous practices associated with this 'accursed valley' in favor of the teaching of eternal misery is to miss the entire point of Jesus' teaching. It is widely thought that in the time of Christ the Valley was used as the city trash dump and fires there were kept continually burning to consume the refuse. Some see in this a justification for making this valley a fitting symbol of hell. This notion, though widely held is however of little authority as it was only first proposed by the Rabbi Kimchi around the 11th century. Whatever Jesus meant here, the reader must first grasp the fact that there is nothing in this passage denoting any punishment inflicted other than upon the living. There is not a hint of any punishment beyond this life. |
Jesus may have been threatening punishment by execution and the burning of the body in the accursed valley (a shameful death and fate signifying one's unworthiness for an inheritance in the Kingdom of God ), or he may have been warning that a person is in danger of the type of future judgment threatened by the Old Testament prophets (See Jeremiah 19). In either case, nothing is threatened here of an eternal fate of torture beyond this life.
It is of no small consequence that these first three appearances of Gehenna appear in what is commonly referred to as 'the sermon on the mount'. An understanding of this sermon should never be divorced from the unique purpose for which it was given; namely to prepare the hearts of men (Jews specifically) for the promised Kingdom of God which had drawn nigh unto them.
At this point, this kingdom was being offered only to the Jewish nation, and as such, only a Jew would know what Gehenna was. All speculation aside, Gehenna is NOT 'hell'. Gehenna was, and is a valley which lies to the southeast of Jerusalem. The valley was well known to the Jewish people because of its notorious history and the idolatrous practices which had been committed there. See:
(Josh 15:8; 18:16), (Neh 11:30), (Jer 7:31; 19:4–5; 32:35), (2 Kgs 16:3; 21:6; 2 Chr 28:3; 33:6), (2 Kgs 23:10; cf. vv 13–14), (Jer 7:29–34; 19:1–15).
It is a serious mistake to ignore this Old Testament evidence, and the warnings associated with this valley. This evidence is the KEY to understanding how Jesus used this word when warning of future punishment. To find a doctrine of eternal torment in these verses, Christians must ignore this inspired evidence, and instead attach to the Greek Gehenna a definition which is nowhere to be found in the Bible, but rather one assigned to it by apostate Jewish teaching after they had come under the influence of Greek philosophy.
In these first passages, Gehenna is shown to be a fitting description for the punishment of the wicked; But nothing here hints at the 'hell' of modern theology Modern theology not only must use speculation and tricks of language and logic to turn Gehenna into 'hell', but they also hide these processes from the average Bible student by simply rendering Gehenna as 'hell' without making them aware of the convoluted process by which this was accomplished.
Let the reader well mark this: Gehenna is a valley near Jerusalem, and any attempt to find a place of eternal conscious torment associated with this word must be justified outside of scripture.
See also:
How a Valley in Jerusalem Got Turned into Hell
It is of no small consequence that these first three appearances of Gehenna appear in what is commonly referred to as 'the sermon on the mount'. An understanding of this sermon should never be divorced from the unique purpose for which it was given; namely to prepare the hearts of men (Jews specifically) for the promised Kingdom of God which had drawn nigh unto them.
At this point, this kingdom was being offered only to the Jewish nation, and as such, only a Jew would know what Gehenna was. All speculation aside, Gehenna is NOT 'hell'. Gehenna was, and is a valley which lies to the southeast of Jerusalem. The valley was well known to the Jewish people because of its notorious history and the idolatrous practices which had been committed there. See:
(Josh 15:8; 18:16), (Neh 11:30), (Jer 7:31; 19:4–5; 32:35), (2 Kgs 16:3; 21:6; 2 Chr 28:3; 33:6), (2 Kgs 23:10; cf. vv 13–14), (Jer 7:29–34; 19:1–15).
It is a serious mistake to ignore this Old Testament evidence, and the warnings associated with this valley. This evidence is the KEY to understanding how Jesus used this word when warning of future punishment. To find a doctrine of eternal torment in these verses, Christians must ignore this inspired evidence, and instead attach to the Greek Gehenna a definition which is nowhere to be found in the Bible, but rather one assigned to it by apostate Jewish teaching after they had come under the influence of Greek philosophy.
In these first passages, Gehenna is shown to be a fitting description for the punishment of the wicked; But nothing here hints at the 'hell' of modern theology Modern theology not only must use speculation and tricks of language and logic to turn Gehenna into 'hell', but they also hide these processes from the average Bible student by simply rendering Gehenna as 'hell' without making them aware of the convoluted process by which this was accomplished.
Let the reader well mark this: Gehenna is a valley near Jerusalem, and any attempt to find a place of eternal conscious torment associated with this word must be justified outside of scripture.
See also:
How a Valley in Jerusalem Got Turned into Hell
Matthew 18:9
And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. (Matthew 18:9) |
Carries the same thought as the two preceding verses (Matt 5:29, 30) though not appearing in the same context. These verses are however directly connected with the three passage listed from Mark 9 shown below. In those parallel passages it can be conclusively demonstrated that the way in which Jesus used Gehenna is fatal to the belief that he ever intended us to understand it as referring to a place of eternal punishment in the afterlife
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Mark 9:43-44, 45-46, 47-48
And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. (Mark 9:43–44) |
These verses from Mark 9 are famously quoted as proof-texts for the doctrine of eternal torment. Unfortunately they fail miserably in doing that.
Note the ominous quotation that ends each; 'Where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched.' How does this teach eternal conscious torment? What is rarely explained is that this phrase - 'Where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched' - is a quotation of Isa 66:24 shown in section I(a). In that passage the fire and worms feed upon CARCASSES, which are literally DEAD BODIES. By all valid rules of interpretation these verses have nothing to do with the conscious torment of immortal souls in hell, nor can they be made to do so without violating the text. Those who seek to use these in proof of this doctrine need to answer one simple question; How do you eternally torment a dead body? The following facts must accounted for:
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Oddly , some modern theologians, recognizing these problems but not willing to live with the implications, say that because 'Gehenna' in these verses MUST refer to an eternal hell, then the 'Carcasses' and 'Worms' of Isa 66:24 MUST be referring to immortal souls. God will ultimately judge this type of 'scholarship' which would void His word in order to maintain tradition. Let them produce those verses WHICH CLEARLY TEACH THAT GEHENNA MUST REFER TO A PLACE OF ETERNAL CONSCIOUS TORMENT BEYOND THIS LIFE.
Let my readers mark well this fact: These verses, some of the strongest quoted in favor of eternal conscious torment, are speaking of the burning of dead corpses only! Because these verses are directly related to Matthew 18:9 and 5:29-100, all six references are thus irrelevant concerning eternal conscious torment.
Matthew 10:28, Luke 12:5
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:28) |
The two verses shown here are also classic proof-texts for those who wish to retain a belief in eternal torment. But unless one already has been indoctrinated with that teaching, one has to ask how these verses can teach that at all? Far from saying that immortal souls burn forever in Gehenna, it is Gehenna which will destroy both the body AND the soul.
The first thing to keep in mind here is that the standard interpretation of these verves assumes that man possesses an 'immoral soul'. To assume such a belief without proof from scripture, and then use such an assumption to read 'eternal torment' into these passages is simply begging the question. Unless man possesses an immortal soul, these verses do not, and indeed cannot have anything to do with torment or punishment beyond this life - either now, or life in the time of the resurrection. |
Pay careful attention to what these verses do, and do not say, as well as to whom they were addressed. These words were addressed to Jesus' disciples. In Matthew 10:16-27 he warns them of the persecutions which will surely befall them as he sends them out to preach the kingdom of God. He is encouraging his disciples that there is nothing man can do to them; God ultimately holds their lives (souls, Gk. psyche). Even though evil men may kill their bodies there is nothing more they can do. Their lives (souls, Gk. psyche) are safe in God's loving care.
But evildoers should fear God. God has the power to destroy both body and life (soul, Gk. psyche) in Gehenna. What these verses do not say is that God punishes anyone in Gehenna while they are in the state of being dead! The punishment of Gehenna is inflicted upon the living, not on the dead. The "Judgment of Gehenna" can be seen first in the cataclysmic destruction which came upon the Jewish nation in 70 A.D. (See following note on Matthew 23:33), or in the context of the resurrection of the unjust (See John 5:29, Dan 12:2, Acts 24:15). Let my readers clearly understand this - These passages do not say that anyone is cast into Gehenna while they are dead.
The sheer inconsistency of the traditional interpretation of this passage must be taken into consideration. Luke 16:19-31 (The Rich Man and Lazarus) is also taken as a proof-text by most believers in the immortality of the soul and eternal torment (See notes on that passage here.). In that passage they have contrived a complex theology of the so-called “intermediate state” where the wicked will be literally tormented in a compartment of Hades until the resurrection. But Hades is not Gehenna. The problem becomes obvious. If man has an immortal soul, then where do the wicked go when they die? Believers in eternal torment may use either Luke 16:19-31 or Luke 12:5 but they cannot use both. Assuming, as they do, that Gehenna is to be equated with the “Lake of Fire” (see Rev 20:14, 21:8) then no one will be cast into Gehenna immediately upon death. That would await a resurrection and judgment after which both the evildoer and Hades will be cast into the Lake of Fire (Gehenna). Confused? All of this just shows the horrible mess created by the doctrines of man’s inherent immortality and eternal torment. There are no issues once one realizes that Luke 16:19-31 is a parable, and the judgment of Gehenna warned of in Matthew 10:28 and Luke 12:5 is a judgment upon the living after the resurrection of the unjust.
We are not to fear the death of the body because God has purposed to give life (soul, Gk. psyche) back to every man in the resurrection. Man does not ultimately hold the power of life (soul) and death. We are to fear God who can destroy not only our body, but ultimately our prospects of any future life in the age to come by casting us into Gehenna, a fate which was reserved for those unworthy of any inheritance in God's kingdom. Evangelical theology postulates that 'destroy' in Matthew 10:28 does not mean 'destroy' but 'torment eternally'. The only thing 'tormented' in an explanation such as this is the language of scripture which wears on its face an illegitimate attempt to squeeze in a doctrine where it doesn't belong.
Also see our work: Man Became a Living Soul - Chapter One - What is Man? A video about these passages is also available.
But evildoers should fear God. God has the power to destroy both body and life (soul, Gk. psyche) in Gehenna. What these verses do not say is that God punishes anyone in Gehenna while they are in the state of being dead! The punishment of Gehenna is inflicted upon the living, not on the dead. The "Judgment of Gehenna" can be seen first in the cataclysmic destruction which came upon the Jewish nation in 70 A.D. (See following note on Matthew 23:33), or in the context of the resurrection of the unjust (See John 5:29, Dan 12:2, Acts 24:15). Let my readers clearly understand this - These passages do not say that anyone is cast into Gehenna while they are dead.
The sheer inconsistency of the traditional interpretation of this passage must be taken into consideration. Luke 16:19-31 (The Rich Man and Lazarus) is also taken as a proof-text by most believers in the immortality of the soul and eternal torment (See notes on that passage here.). In that passage they have contrived a complex theology of the so-called “intermediate state” where the wicked will be literally tormented in a compartment of Hades until the resurrection. But Hades is not Gehenna. The problem becomes obvious. If man has an immortal soul, then where do the wicked go when they die? Believers in eternal torment may use either Luke 16:19-31 or Luke 12:5 but they cannot use both. Assuming, as they do, that Gehenna is to be equated with the “Lake of Fire” (see Rev 20:14, 21:8) then no one will be cast into Gehenna immediately upon death. That would await a resurrection and judgment after which both the evildoer and Hades will be cast into the Lake of Fire (Gehenna). Confused? All of this just shows the horrible mess created by the doctrines of man’s inherent immortality and eternal torment. There are no issues once one realizes that Luke 16:19-31 is a parable, and the judgment of Gehenna warned of in Matthew 10:28 and Luke 12:5 is a judgment upon the living after the resurrection of the unjust.
We are not to fear the death of the body because God has purposed to give life (soul, Gk. psyche) back to every man in the resurrection. Man does not ultimately hold the power of life (soul) and death. We are to fear God who can destroy not only our body, but ultimately our prospects of any future life in the age to come by casting us into Gehenna, a fate which was reserved for those unworthy of any inheritance in God's kingdom. Evangelical theology postulates that 'destroy' in Matthew 10:28 does not mean 'destroy' but 'torment eternally'. The only thing 'tormented' in an explanation such as this is the language of scripture which wears on its face an illegitimate attempt to squeeze in a doctrine where it doesn't belong.
Also see our work: Man Became a Living Soul - Chapter One - What is Man? A video about these passages is also available.
Matthew 23:33
Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? |
An incredibly salient verse for understanding Jesus' teaching on Gehenna, as it crucial to an understanding of what a 'Gehenna judgment' is, and how long it lasts.
This comment toward the Pharisees stands as a scathing rebuke of Jesus toward the religious and political leaders of his day, but has nothing to do with the doctrine of eternal conscious torment in hell. |
The "Damnation of Hell" is literally "The Judgment of Gehenna". This concept was not foreign to the Jews but well known from their own scriptures, and is in fact the national coming judgment warned of by the prophet Jeremiah (See Jeremiah 19 and the preliminary notes for Section I)
Let the reader mark this well: The Jews would undergo a severe punishment which would entail the destruction of their nation and exclusion from the blessings of the Gospel. But note:
Let the reader mark this well: The Jews would undergo a severe punishment which would entail the destruction of their nation and exclusion from the blessings of the Gospel. But note:
- This judgment has absolutely nothing to do with "hell".
- This judgment could not possibly last 'forever' as the Jews are promised a future resurrection and restoration. See Section VIII for more details.
Matthew 23:15
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. (Matthew 23:15) |
A "Child of hell" is literally a "Son of Gehenna". See above notes. The Pharisees were intent on making proselytes who were no less worthy of the judgment they themselves deserved. Once again, the verse speaks nothing of eternal conscious torment.
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James 3:6
And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue amongst our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. (James 3:6) |
Who but a Jew would understand how a tongue might be set on fire of Gehenna? The implication is that the tongue has more power to destroy than any of our members. It is 'set on fire of Gehenna' because to the Jews Gehenna represented the ultimate symbol of death and destruction - a destruction they would soon experience at the hands of the Romans.
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