The Heresy of Hell (Part 1 of 4)

The Bible does not clearly teach eternal conscience torment (ECT)—it is a theological interpretation largely shaped by Augustine and medieval tradition.

Is Hell a Heresy?

The concept of Hell in Christian theology has evolved significantly, with early biblical terms such as Sheol (grave), Hades (realm of the dead), and Gehenna (place of destruction) differing from the later doctrine of eternal conscious torment (ECT). The Old Testament and early Jewish beliefs did not teach Hell as a place of endless suffering, but rather as a temporary or metaphorical judgment. Augustine (4th-5th century AD) played a major role in shaping the Western view of Hell, influenced more by Greek philosophy (Plato) and Latin mistranslations than by Hebrew scripture. 

Modern theological perspectives vary, with some supporting ECT, while others advocate for annihilationism (destruction of the wicked) or universal reconciliation (eventual restoration of all people). Given the biblical evidence and historical context, many scholars today challenge the traditional Hell doctrine, arguing that it is more of a medieval construct than a direct biblical teaching.

Let’s explore this further. 

1. Scriptures in the New Testament with “Hell” and Their Greek Words & Meanings

The New Testament uses several Greek words that have been translated as “Hell” in English Bibles. These words include Gehenna (γέεννα), Hades (ᾅδης), and Tartarus (Ταρταρόω). Below is a list of key scriptures, the Greek word used, and their intended meaning.

A. Gehenna (γέεννα) – Literal Meaning: Valley of Hinnom

• Meaning: Refers to a literal valley (the Valley of Hinnom) outside Jerusalem where trash, corpses, and refuse were burned. Over time, it became a metaphor for divine judgment and destruction.

• Intended Meaning: A place of destruction, not eternal conscious torment in the traditional sense.

Matthew 5:22 – “But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell (Gehenna).”

Matthew 5:29-30 – “If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell (Gehenna).”

Matthew 10:28 – “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell (Gehenna).”

(Here, “destroy” (ἀπόλλυμι - apollymi) does not mean eternal torment but complete ruin or destruction.)

Matthew 23:33 – “You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell (Gehenna)?”

Mark 9:43-48 – “It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell (Gehenna), where the fire never goes out.”

(The fire never goes out, but nowhere does it say the people burn forever.)

B. Hades (ᾅδης) – Literal Meaning: The Grave/Underworld

• Meaning: Equivalent to the Hebrew Sheol (שְׁאוֹל), meaning the realm of the dead or the grave rather than a place of torment.

• Intended Meaning: The unseen place of the dead, often neutral, though sometimes associated with judgment.

Matthew 11:23 / Luke 10:15 – “And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.”

Luke 16:23 – “In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.”

(The parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus does not explicitly define Hades as a place of eternal torment, but rather a place of temporary conscious suffering.)

Revelation 20:13-14 – “Death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire.”

(Here, Hades is destroyed—not eternal torment.)

C. Tartarus (Ταρταρόω) – Meaning: Abyss/Prison for Angels

• Meaning: A term borrowed from Greek mythology to describe a deep abyss where fallen angels are held.

• Intended Meaning: Not a place for human punishment but a temporary holding place for fallen angels.

2 Peter 2:4 – “For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell (Tartarus), putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment…”

2. The Jewish Understanding of “Hell”

The Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) does not contain the concept of Hell as an eternal place of conscious torment. Instead, it speaks of Sheol (שְׁאוֹל) as the realm of the dead, where both the righteous and the wicked go.

Sheol in the Old Testament

Psalm 16:10 – “For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.”

Ecclesiastes 9:10 – “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead (Sheol) where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.”

Daniel 12:2 – “Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.”

Second Temple Judaism & Intertestamental Period

During the time of Jesus, Jewish thought had developed more ideas about the afterlife, influenced by Greek philosophy and apocalyptic writings like Enoch and the Dead Sea Scrolls. Some Jewish sects, like the Pharisees, believed in resurrection and judgment, while the Sadducees did not believe in an afterlife at all.

3. Does “Hell” Mean Eternal Conscious Torment?

The concept of Eternal Conscious Torment (ECT) is not explicitly taught in Scripture. Many passages suggest destruction rather than eternal suffering:

Matthew 10:28 – “Fear the One who can destroy both body and soul in Gehenna.” (Not torment, but destruction.)

Romans 6:23 – “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.” (Not eternal suffering, but death or life.)

2 Thessalonians 1:9 – “They will be punished with eternal destruction, shut out from the presence of the Lord.”

The phrase “eternal punishment” (Matt. 25:46) in Greek is κόλασιν αἰώνιον (kolasin aionion), which can mean “eternal corrective punishment” or “age-lasting punishment,” rather than eternal conscious torment.

4. Augustine’s Influence on “Hell” and the Fallacy of His View

Augustine (354–430 AD) heavily influenced the Western Christian view of Hell by misinterpreting Hebrew thought through a Greco-Roman lens.

Key Problems with Augustine’s View:

1. He did not know Hebrew – Augustine relied on the Latin Vulgate translation, missing the nuances of Sheol, Gehenna, and Hades.

2. He was influenced by Plato – His concept of “eternal torment” resembles Plato’s immortality of the soul, not Jewish theology.

3. He redefined “eternal punishment” – The Jewish view focused on destruction, but Augustine interpreted it as never-ending torment based on Greco-Roman ideas.

Where Did He Get It?

• From Greek Philosophy (Platonism) rather than Biblical Judaism.

• From misreading Matthew 25:46 and Revelation 14:10-11 without context.

Conclusion

• “Hell” in the Bible is Gehenna, Hades, or Tartarus—none of which mean eternal torment.

• Jewish thought saw Sheol as temporary, not a place of suffering.

• Eternal Conscious Torment is more of a Greek philosophical idea than a Biblical one.

• Augustine shaped the Western doctrine of Hell, but his interpretation is flawed when examined through a Hebrew context.