EVERLASTING PUNISHMENT
- The Duration of the Punishment
Aionios - trans. "Eternal" and "Everlasting" aiwnioV aionios ahee-o'-nee-os
Applied to punishment of unsaved. "Everlasting" Matt. 18:8 "Eternal fire"
"Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire."
2 Thess. 1:9 Everlasting destruction
"Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power."
Matt. 25:41 "Fire prepared for the Devil"
"Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels."
Matt. 25:46 "Into eternal punishment"
"And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal."
- The Objection: term means only "age-lasting"
Not even etymologically does the word mean this - always being.
- Must be settled per Biblical usage: Usage must settle meanin
Rom. 16:26 God
"But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith."
Heb. 5:9 Our Salvation
"And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him."
Heb. 9:12 Redemption
"Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us."
1 Pet. 5:10 Our glory is eternal
"But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you."
John 3:16 Eternal life.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
2 Cor. 4:18 Things not seen (Note contrast in passage)
"While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."
Matt. 25:46 Punishment
"And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal."
cf. 1 John 5:11, 20 Christ is the eternal God and eternal life.
"And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son."
"And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life."
Argument: If the word aiwnioV aionios ahee-o'-nee-osis used of things that we count eternal or never ending, then when applied to punishment it means the same thing.
eiV aiwn - trans. "forever" generally.
Used of punishment of wicked - Jude 13
"Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever."
Objection - means only "unto or into the age"
- Biblical usage of the term:
John 6:51 "Shall live forever"
"I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."
John 10:28 "Perish not forever"
"And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."
John 12:34 Christ abideth forever
"The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?"
John 14:16 Holy Spirit abideth forever
"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever."
Heb. 1:8 Thy throne . . . is forever and ever
"But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom."
Heb. 5:6 A priest forever
"As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec."
1 Pet. 1:23 Word . . . abideth forever
"Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever."
1 Jn. 2:17 He that doeth the Will of God.
"And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."
Argument: If the Believer, and Christ, and God's throne abide forever, so does the punishment of the wicked, for the same term is used.
for eiV ever aiwn and ever aiwn - trans. "forever and ever."
- Used of final punishment
Rev. 14:11 smoke of their torment
"And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name."
Rev. 19:3 whores smoke
"And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever."
Rev. 20:10 devils torment
"And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever."
- Objection: Means only "to the ages of the ages."
But see Bible usage of the words:
Rev. 1:18 I am alive forever more
"I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."
Rev. 4:10 Him that liveth forever and ever.
"The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying....."
Rev. 22:5 They shall reign forever and forever.
"And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever."
Argument: If Christ lives forever and ever, then the believer will also. And if the saints live forever, the sinner will suffer forever.
Testimony of opponents:
John W. Chadwick, Theodore Parker -- " -- "I believe that Jesus Christ meant to teach eternal punishment, but I do not accept it, even on his authority." - This is at least honest.
Testimony of orthodox scholars:
Robertson - "It (aionios) comes as near to the idea of eternal as the Greek can put it in one word."
Anderson -- Suppose we translate A.V. back into Greek - there may be some variation but for the most part on life and death, the A.V. is correct.
Koine Mss. -- popular usage. Support the orthodox doctrine of Eternal Punishment.
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