The Evangelical Universalist Forum

Matthew 25:46

Church Father, Origen, re everlasting (aionios) punishment (Mt.25:46) being temporary:

“That threats of aionios punishment are helpful for those immature who abstain from evil out of fear and not for love is repeated, e.g. in CC 6,26: “it is not helpful to go up to what will come beyond that punishment, for the sake of those who restrain themselves only with much difficulty, out of fear of the aionios punishment”; Hom. in Jer. 20 (19), 4: for a married woman it is better to believe that a faithless woman will undergo aionios punishment and keep faithful, rather than knowing the truth and becoming disloyal;” (p.178-9).

Ilaria Ramelli, The Christian Doctrine of Apokatastasis: A Critical Assessment from the New Testament to Eriugena (Brill, 2013. 890 pp.)

CHURCH FATHERS: Contra Celsus, Book VI (Origen)
newadvent.org/fathers/04166.htm

Furthermore, Origen seems to see “eternal fire” (Mt.25:41) as remedial, corrective & temporary:

“Chapter 10. On the Resurrection, and the Judgment, the Fire of Hell, and Punishments.”

“1. But since the discourse has reminded us of the subjects of a future judgment and of retribution, and of the punishments of sinners, according to the threatenings of holy Scripture and the contents of the Church’s teaching— viz., that when the time of judgment comes, everlasting fire, and outer darkness, and a prison, and a furnace, and other punishments of like nature, have been prepared for sinners— let us see what our opinions on these points ought to be.”

“…nevertheless in such a way, that even the body which rises again of those who are to be destined to everlasting fire or to severe punishments, is by the very change of the resurrection so incorruptible, that it cannot be corrupted and dissolved even by severe punishments. If, then, such be the qualities of that body which will arise from the dead, let us now see what is the meaning of the threatening of eternal fire.”

“…And when this dissolution and rending asunder of soul shall have been tested by the application of fire, a solidification undoubtedly into a firmer structure will take place, and a restoration be effected.”

[De Principis Book 2]

newadvent.org/fathers/04122.htm

Links to the Works of Origen in English, Greek, and Latin
john-uebersax.com/plato/origen2.htm

Origen (185-255)

[size=130]The Reconciliation of All things to God (Including the Devil!)[/size]

The restoration to unity must not be imagined as a sudden happening. Rather it is to be thought of as gradually effected by stages during the passing of countless ages. Little by little and individually the correction and purification will be accomplished. Some will lead the way and climb to the heights with swifter progress, others following hard upon them; yet others will be far behind. Thus multitudes of individuals and countless orders will advance and reconcile themselves to God, who once were enemies; and so at length the last enemy will be reached. …
De Principiis, III.vi.6

[size=130]Through His Repentance, the Devil Shall Be Destroyed[/size]

When it is said that ‘the last enemy shall be destroyed’, it is not to be understood as meaning that his substance, which is God’s creation, perishes, but that his purpose and hostile will perishes; for this does not come from God but from himself. Therefore his destruction means not his ceasing to exist but ceasing to be an enemy and ceasing to be death. Nothing is impossible to omnipotence; there is nothing that cannot be healed by its Maker. De Principiis, 1.vi.1-4

[size=130]The Remedial Judgments of God[/size]

[Isa. I. II … ‘the fire which you have kindled’.] This seems to indicate that the individual sinner kindles the flame of his persona! fire and that he is not plunged into some fire kindled by another, … God acts in dealing with sinners as a physician … the fury of his anger is profitable for the purging of souls. Even that penalty which is said to be imposed by way of fire is understood as applied to assist a sinner to health …[cf. Isa. xlvii. 14,15, x. 17, Ixvi. 16; Mal. iii. 3] De Principiis, II.x.4,6

So this is a opinion… Am I wrong? You obviously think it is an opinion from a reliable source… TO YOU. That is what we are talking about and debating here :laughing: Opinions… :confused:

Reconciliation can be debated both ways from the scriptures, but reconciliation as to the OT is pretty straight forward It is about Israel, about Christ, about those in that time choosing… And Yes Christ did the deed. It was finished :laughing: IN MY OPINION :laughing:

You are right. “Universalism” is an opinion. “Eternal Torment” is an opinion. “Dispensationalism” is an opinion. “Preterism” is an opinion. The historic Christian view about eschatology is an opinion. Every position in theology is an opinion—every one of them claiming to go EXACTLY by the Bible or the teachings of Christ, or those of the apostles.

If the Bible had been dictated by God to its writers, then it is the only book in existence that is infallible and without error. But that position is also an opinion. Yet even if that position were correct, it wouldn’t help, since all we have is the multifarious interpretations of the various parts of the Bible (and they are opinions). Indeed, that’s what this forum is all about, isn’t it?—the sharing of opinions and attempting to back them up from the Bible—joyfully commending everyone with whom we agree, and castigating everyone with whom we disagree. (I realize this attitude does not apply to everyone who posts here. Many are genuine ladies and gentlemen who respect one another whether or not they agree).

David Burnfield makes an interesting point re Matthew 25:46:

“None of the sins listed in [the context of] Matt.25:46 can be considered blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.”

He quotes Mt.12:31:

“Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.” (NASB)

And emphasizes the words “any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people”.

He then says “If we can believe what Christ tells us, then the ‘only’ sin that is ‘not’ forgiven is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit which obviously does not include the sins listed in Matt.25:34-44.”

Then he quotes from Jan Bonda’s book “The One Purpose of God…”:

“Verse…46, in particular, has always been cited as undeniable proof that Jesus taught eternal punishment. Yet it is clear that the sins Jesus listed in this passage do not constitute the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Assuming Jesus did not utter this word with the intention of contradicting what he said moments before [Matt 12:31], we must accept that the sins mentioned in this passage [Matt 25:46] will eventually be forgiven. This means, however strange it may sound to us, that this statement of Jesus about eternal punishment is not the final word for those who are condemned.”

(pg 220-221, Patristic Universalism: An Alternative To The Traditional View of Divine Judgement, 2nd ed, 2016, by David Burnfield)

So, how do we get past that :question: :smiley:

As for me, I accept the four “gospels” and the letters of the apostles and the letter to the Hebrews as historical, and therefore basically correct. For the words of the Son of God are always true, though the accounts of what He said could be erroneous in some cases. The apostles were inspired to write; that doesn’t imply that they made no mistakes. Also the account of what THEY said could also be incorrect. Sometimes later persons added to their words.

We just have to live by these facts, and accept that all of the gospels and apostolic letters as well as Hebrews are BASICALLY true. The fact that some of them contain flaws should not lead us into rejecting them altogether.

Paidion said:

So are these inerrant scriptures that we here in modern time are suppose to follow to the letter?

This proves to be an awfully convenient MO whereby whatever does or does not meet your arbitrary measure does in fact so easily get dismissed and rejected… as you so regularly demonstrate. Consider… are the apostles Paul and John “BASICALLY true” in their reported and recorded accounts given here?

Paidion… do you believe these words of Paul are accurate, or as you would say… “BASICALLY true”? I.e., that God did “send a strong delusion” to bring “condemnation”?

Paidion… was John in good company with the likes of Paul, Peter, Mark and Moses, or any of the other OT prophets you have claimed to be in error, and “mistaken” in attributing said “wrath” to God?

Paidion… do you believe these words recorded by John and attributed to Jesus are also accurate, or as you would say… “BASICALLY true”? I.e., that Jesus did orchestrate sickness and death upon those in this text?

Given your firm conviction that key biblical writers reportedly recorded certain events/words of God/Jesus “in error”… how and on what basis are you having confidence that any reportedly recorded biblical words are accurate and to be trusted? The evidence so far suggests the only criteria used to distinguish these arbitrary judgements are your own suppositious dogmas brought to each particular text.

Davo, you KNOW that that is an unrealistic statement. There’s nothing arbitrary about it. I have said over and over that the words of Jesus are my authority. You have brought up a single instance in which the recorded words of Jesus are false because the gospel writer was in error, never having been present to personally hear ANY of Jesus words. Then you seem to have tried to use that fact to indicate that I pick and choose according to my personal beliefs. GROSSLY UNFAIR!

Have I ever said or implied that God does not get angry or judge people? What I have affirmed all along is that God has a loving purpose in his wrath and judgment. That purpose is CORRECTION of the evil doer. He may try to correct them by sending them His representatives, but if all else fails, He must resort to a more severe correction.

Don’t quote Revelation to me. It was a disputed book in the early church. I do not dispute that the writer’s name was “John.” But there is no unequivocal evidence that he was the apostle John.

Also, to be absolutely clear, I have not claimed that Paul and Peter were in error, and not Mark either IN GENERAL. You pointed out Mark’s record of words of Jesus that were untrue. What do YOU have to say about that? Or do you claim that Mark recorded Jesus’ words correctly and that Jesus Himself was in error? I hope not. I rest on the one and only sure foundation, Jesus the Anointed One, who NEVER made a mistake!

I am not certain just what you are asking. Would you please reword this question?
Are you asking whether modern Bibles are inerrant, and if so, should we exactly carry out all commands that we find therein?

Don you said:

But are they TRUE or a persons opinion of what is true? In other words, the inerrancy seems to be dependent on the proclaimers version so to speak.
Our view of the bible (scripture) is predicated on our view as we have been taught, but I tend to think that ALL scripture is Historical, but God’s expanding revelation for humanity is outward evolving. And that is what we can dig our teeth into so to speak. :smiley:

I hold the same view except that I see the change in revelation mostly in the area of God’s character. His character has never changed,but man’s understanding of it has developed.

However, I believe that basic moral principles have not changed, but yet again there are wide differences in the way people throughout the ages have understood the application of these principles.

:laughing: yes and we all know why… BECAUSE to put it bluntly, John’s words in ‘Revelation’ make a total mockery of your doubtful dogma! :unamused:

You besmirch and dismiss John’s ‘Revelation’ account of Jesus’ words and yet are more than happy to claim John’s words in his epistles claiming “the words of Jesus are my authority” — the flexibility involved in your doctrinal positions is unbelievable and wholly inconsistent to say the least! It is ONLY because you CANNOT answer John’s account below that you are forced to run and hide from this…

Paidion… when will you deal with this text?

You HAVE made the claim repeatedly that these authors were “mistaken” and “in error” on given points for no other reason than these points fully contradict your shifting positions — everybody familiar with your posts can attest to this.

So please, feel free to answer Paul who LIKE JOHN was indeed instructed by the risen Lord

Paidion… do you believe these words of Paul are accurate and true, i.e., that God was to indeed… “send a strong delusion” whereby bringing “condemnation”? Is this a truthful statement by the inspired Paul, or do you claim Paul, like John, bore false witness to Jesus’ words being likewise… “mistaken and in error”?

Don said:

I would agree with this but you seem to be disengaged with how man’s understanding is developed. Will you explain?

Yes. It occurred mainly because of the revelation of Jesus the Anointed. He revealed the Father as He had never been known before, for example, He said that the Father is kind to unthankful and evil people. Moses and the prophets described Yahweh as killing or bringing judgment through war on evil people.

So, to clarify, you believe Jesus but not Moses and the prophets?

Yes, Jesus was the ONLY-begotten Son of God, begotten before all ages and was just as divine as the Father. He was called “God” in John 1:1, not in the sense of being “the only true God” (as Jesus addressed the Father (John17:3) but “God” in the sense of being of the same essence as the Father prior to His birth. Though He was born fully human, He divested Himself of His divine attributes when He became human. (Philippians 2:7 NASB). Jesus never made a mistake and was never wrong.

Moses and the prophets were mere human beings, and they lived long before Jesus revealed God as He truly is—the personification of LOVE. So they had only a partial knowledge of the character of God.

That seems to be a very suspect understanding seeing that Jesus continually quoted the prophets and the law. :exclamation: And his position was to ‘fulfill’ the law. He seemed to be pretty in tune with what ‘Dad’ was doing with his people. You seem to be very liberally dismissive of much all of the OT that God himself deemed so very important :open_mouth:

We had a pretty good discussion here once. Chad you might want to read it. Maybe you’ll disagree, but there were some good points made.