Eternal damnation ranks near the top of things most Christians don’t want to talk about - among themselves or with non-Christians. It is an uncomfortable topic that many don’t understand or agree with. It can cause fear and division. Not everyone knows that Christians have had different opinions on it for centuries. This article will take a look at a couple of these views.
What Does Eternal Damnation Mean?
According to Easton’s Bible Dictionary, ‘damnation’ is described in Romans 13:2 as a ‘condemnation’ arising from resisting God’s authority. Romans 14:23 also uses ‘damned’ to refer to a ‘condemnation’ to one’s own conscience, as well as by the Word of God. In Corinthians 11:29, it is characterized as a ‘judgment’ from God.
In Latin, ‘damnation’ is the notion of God’s punishment and torment in the afterlife. In Latin, ‘damn’ means “damage, cost, expense; penalty, fine.”
In most forms of Christian belief, damnation to hell is understood as what people receive for their sins from an unrepentant heart toward God.
However, Christians debate the severity and longevity of hell, depending on their interpretation of Scripture.
What Does the Bible Say Causes People to Suffer Eternal Damnation?
The eternal destiny of humanity is mentioned throughout the Bible, especially in the New Testament. Jesus talks about it, as do His apostles, with vivid imagery. Here are a few examples:
“But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur.” (Revelation 21:8)
“In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.” (Jude 1:7)
“He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.” (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9)
“He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.” (Romans 2:6-8)
These verses distinctly communicate God’s eternal punishment and severe wrath for those who disobey Him, don’t know Him, or don’t believe in the Good News of Jesus Christ. These verses are a clear warning sign, not intended to be taken lightly by the reader.
What Is the Historical Christian Viewpoint on Eternal Damnation?
Christian belief around eternal damnation is based on the Bible’s teachings and illustrations and also, in part, how the early church fathers interpreted those scriptures. The writings of ancient church leaders aren’t definitive, but they can help Christians discern what the apostles may have believed about hell and eternal damnation.
The early church fathers, except for a few, believed that hell is a destination for eternal damnation—a conscious, unrelenting torment. They asserted that it is a place:
- Of complete separation from God for those who have rejected him during their lifetime.
- Of great anguish and pain (however, the specifics of this are not known, nor how souls are kept alive amid such suffering)
Here are a few examples of the writings and beliefs of the early church fathers:
1. From “The Epistle of Barnabas” (70-130 AD): Barnabus was an associate of the Apostle Paul and is mentioned throughout the Book of Acts.
The way of darkness is crooked, and it is full of cursing. It is the way of eternal death with punishment. (“Epistle of Barnabas”)
2. From Ignatius of Antioch (110 AD): A student of the Apostle John, Ignatius was one of the leaders in the early church and wrote numerous letters to churches.
Corrupters of families will not inherit the kingdom of God… A man become so foul will depart into unquenchable fire: and so will anyone who listens to him. (Letter to the Ephesians 16:1-2)
3. From Clement of Rome (150 AD): Clement was the bishop of Rome fifty years after the death and resurrection of Christ. In a recorded sermon entitled “Seconde Clement,” he explains the nature of hell:
If we do the will of Christ, we shall obtain rest; but if not, if we neglect his commandments, nothing will rescue us from eternal punishment (“Second Clement” 5:5)
But when they see how those who have sinned and who have denied Jesus by their words or by their deeds are punished with terrible torture in unquenchable fire. (“Second Clement” 17:7)
4. From “The Martyrdom of Polycarp” (155 AD): This unknown author describes the death of Polycarp, a disciple of John, and early church teaching.
Fixing their minds on the grace of Christ, [the martyrs] despised worldly tortures and purchased eternal life with but a single hour. To them, the fire of their cruel torturers was cold. They kept before their eyes their escape from the eternal and unquenchable fire (“Martyrdom of Polycarp” 2:3)
5. From Tatian (160 AD): Tatian, originally from Assyria, moved to Rome as a pagan. He read the Jewish Scriptures and concluded that pagan ideas were incorrect. He became a Christian and a student of Justin Martyr. His writing focused on how paganism was false and Christianity true.
We who are now easily susceptible to death, will afterwards receive immortality with either enjoyment or with pain. (Ante-Nicene Fathers 1.71)
In addition, a few church fathers held to a view of universalism—that all people will eventually have the chance to reunite with Christ in heaven. They argued that God’s love and grace, like here on earth, would continue to give people opportunities to enter heaven—even in the afterlife. This viewpoint, however sympathetic as it may sound, isn’t consistent with what the Scriptures describe as God’s judgment being eternal.
Do Christians Have to Believe in Eternal Damnation?
In Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, hell is defined as the place of God’s final retributive punishment. Baker points out the Scriptures throughout the Old and New Testaments that support the early church’s two main views on eternal damnation.
The first view is eternal conscious torment. As the term indicates, this view holds that souls who end up in hell continue to exist and suffer for eternity. Verses usually cited for this position include:
- In the parable of Lazarus, Jesus says the gap between Lazarus, in heaven, and the rich man, in hell, cannot be bridged between them or for anyone (Luke 16:26).
- The souls’ continual misery is compared to an “undying worm” (Mark 9:48).
- The wicked’s destiny is irretrievably isolated from the righteous (Ps. 9:17).
- The dead will rise either to everlasting life or to everlasting shame and contempt (Daniel 12:2).
The second view is annihilationism. This view holds that all people who end up in hell have their souls disintegrated over time. Verses usually cited for this position include:
- Sheol, or hell, is a land of oblivion, meaning souls are forgotten there (Job 10:21).
- The wicked will endure a second death in hell (Rev. 21:8).
- Jesus characterizes hell with fire, burning sulfur, and a fiery furnace, similar to the Old Testament judgment and destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Luke 17:29-30). Annihilationists argue this imagery implies an ending of life.
- Jesus depicts eternal damnation as a “darkness” and a “weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matt 13:50). Similarly, annihilationists would argue this imagery is not literal but metaphoric. If taken literally, how could fire exist with utter darkness?
- (Some annihilations have contended that the Greek adjective for eternal, aionios, refers to eternal results, not an eternal process. However, that same Greek adjective is used to describe Christ’s eternal salvation for those saved from their sins.)
- Additionally, Jesus, as well as the writers of the Bible, often used hyperbole—an intentional exaggeration, not to be taken literally and often used to communicate a point. For example, in Matthew 5:29-30, Jesus uses hyperbole when he tells people to pluck out their eyes or cut off their hands if those body parts cause them to stumble because they should prefer losing a body part over having their entire bodies in hell.
Some interpretations could argue Jesus and the Biblical authors used hyperbole in describing hell to communicate its difficulty for the non-believing person.
Whatever their view on hell, Christians should remember that the crucial is recognizing that Christ reconciles them with God. Because of humanity’s rebellion and turning their backs on God, each person must know and believe in the death and resurrection of Christ—to realize the depth of their sin and the depth of God’s love and forgiveness. Having right relationship with God saves the Christian from final judgment and eternal damnation.
Photo Credit: Getty Images/marekuliasz
Nate Van Noord is from Detroit, MI, a graduate of Calvin University, and has taught high school history for many years. He loves to bike, run, and play pickleball, has been to about 30 countries, and is a three time winner of NPR's Moth Detroit StorySlam competitions.
This article is part of our Christian Terms catalog, exploring words and phrases of Christian theology and history. Here are some of our most popular articles covering Christian terms to help your journey of knowledge and faith:
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