Hell Under Fire: Modern Scholarship Reinvents Eternal Punishment

Of all the teachings of Christianity, the doctrine of hell is easily the most troubling, so much so that in recent years the church has been quietly tucking it away. Rarely mentioned anymore in the pulpit, it has faded through disuse among evangelicals and been attacked by liberal theologians. Hell is no longer only the target of those outside the church. Today, a disturbing number of professing Christians question it as well. Perhaps more than at any other time in history, hell is under fire. The implications of the historic view of hell make the popular alternatives, annihilationism and universalism, seem extremely appealing. But the bottom line is still God’s Word. What does the Old Testament reveal about hell What does Paul the apostle have to say, or the book of Revelation Most important, what does Jesus, the ultimate expression of God’s love, teach us about God’s wrathUpholding the authority of Scripture, the different authors in Hell Under Fire explore a complex topic from various angles. R. Albert Mohler Jr. provides a historical, theological, and cultural overview of “The Disappearance of Hell.” Christopher Morgan draws on the New Testament to offer three pictures of hell as punishment, destruction, and banishment. J. I. Packer compares universalism with the traditional understanding of hell, Morgan does the same with annihilationism, and Sinclair Ferguson considers how the reality of hell ought to influence preaching. These examples offer some idea of this volume’s scope and thoroughness.Hell may be under fire, but its own flames cannot be quenched by popular opinion. This book helps us gain a biblical perspective on what hell is and why we cannot afford to ignore it. And it offers us a better understanding of the One who longs for all people to escape judgment and obtain eternal life through Jesus Christ.

Commended for Gold Medallion Book Awards (Theology/Doctrine) 2005

Gregory K. Beale (PhD, University of Cambridge) is chair of biblical studies and professor of New Testament at Wheaton College Graduate School. Daniel I. Block (DPhil, University of Liverpool) is professor of Old Testament at Wheaton College. Sinclair B. Ferguson (PhD, University of Aberdeen) is a professor of systematic theology at Westminster Theological Seminary. R. Albert Mohler, Jr. (Ph.D., Southern Baptist Theological Seminary), president and professor of Christian theology, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Douglas J. Moo (PhD, University of St. Andrews) is professor of New Testament at Wheaton College Graduate School. He is the author of 2 Peter and Jude in the NIV Application Commentary series. Chris Morgan is associate professor of theology and associate dean of the School of Christian Ministries at California Baptist University in Riverside, California. He is also the senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Barstow, California. He is the author of Jonathan Edwards and Hell (Christian Focus Publications, 2004) and is currently writing a commentary on the book of James. Chris and his wife, Shelley, have been married for thirteen years and live in Hesperia, California. J. I. Packer (DPhil, Oxford University) is a member of the board of governors and professor of theology at Regent College. Robert A. Peterson is professor of systematic theology at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. He is author of a number of books, including Getting to Know John's Gospel: A Fresh Look at Its Main Ideas (P&R Publishing, 1989); Hell on Trial: The Case for Eternal Punishment (P&R, 1995); Calvin and the Atonement, 2d ed. (Christian Focus Publications, 1999); Two Views of Hell: A Biblical & Theological Dialogue, with Edward Fudge (InterVarsity, 2000); Adopted by God: From Wayward Sinners to Cherished Children (P&R, 2001); and Why I Am Not an Armenian, with Michael Williams (InterVarsity, 2004). He and his wife, Mary Pat, have been married for thirty-one years and live in Ballwin, Missouri. Robert W. Yarbrough (PhD, University of Aberdeen) is chair and professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

Of all the teachings of Christianity, the doctrine of hell is easily the most troubling, so much so that in recent years the church has been quietly tucking it away. Rarely mentioned anymore in the pulpit, it has faded through disuse among evangelicals and been attacked by liberal theologians. Hell is no longer only the target of those outside the church. Today, a disturbing number of professing Christians question it as well. Perhaps more than at any other time in history, hell is under fire. The implications of the historic view of hell make the popular alternatives, annihilationism and universalism, seem extremely appealing. But the bottom line is still God's Word. What does the Old Testament reveal about hell? What does Paul the apostle have to say, or the book of Revelation? Most important, what does Jesus, the ultimate expression of God's love, teach us about God's wrath?Upholding the authority of Scripture, the different authors in Hell Under Fire explore a complex topic from various angles. R. Albert Mohler Jr. provides a historical, theological, and cultural overview of "The Disappearance of Hell." Christopher Morgan draws on the New Testament to offer three pictures of hell as punishment, destruction, and banishment. J. I. Packer compares universalism with the traditional understanding of hell, Morgan does the same with annihilationism, and Sinclair Ferguson considers how the reality of hell ought to influence preaching. These examples offer some idea of this volume's scope and thoroughness.Hell may be under fire, but its own flames cannot be quenched by popular opinion. This book helps us gain a biblical perspective on what hell is and why we cannot afford to ignore it. And it offers us a better understanding of the One who longs for all people to escape judgment and obtain eternal life through Jesus Christ.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.