Steve Gregg - All You Want to Know About Hell: Three Christian Views of God?s Final Solution to the Problem of Sin

Endorsements

Steve Gregg has once again, as he did in his previous book, Revelation: Four Views, Revised & Updated given us a nutritious spiritual feast that allows the reader to enjoy the fruit of hundreds of hours of his research into this subject. It is both comprehensive and fair to the different views on this at once uncomfortable, controversial and yet thoroughly biblical doctrine.

I came to the manuscript as a committed Traditionalist but came away from the table thoroughly fed with my cage rattled and while my stance has not changed, I found myself significantly, in the words of Elvis Presley, All shook up!

One thing that is guaranteed to the reader is that if he/she is a good Berean and checks Steves treatment of the subject with Wesleys Quadrilateral of Scripture, Reason, Tradition and Experience, they will acknowledge in humility that the issue is not only eternally significant but is also not easily given to sound bites, one-liners and cavalier dismissals, regardless of the view that one might hold.

So my advice, dear reader, is to pray for the nobility of the Berean and get ready to enjoy fulfilling biblical and common sense treatment of a difficult subject.

Danny Lehmann, International Dean, College of Christian Ministries University of the Nations, Youth With A Mission

However disagreeable a topic, hell remains an important, yet debated, subject for the Christian. Written in a clear, informative, and helpful style, Steve Greggs overview of the arguments provides all of us an important service. A great book for all who want to better understand the issues at stake.

Robert K. Johnston, Professor of Theology and Culture, Fuller Theological Seminary

Operating as a researcher rather than an advocate of a particular viewpoint, Steve Gregg decisively demonstrates that the traditional understanding of hell is not a closed subject as so many have assumed. This in itself makes the book invaluable. Perhaps an even stronger case for conditional immortality could be made and maybe a more robust critique of universalism is possible, but without a doubt Steve brings his readers a wealth of information and thought-provoking analysis.

Robert Taylor, Author of Rescue From DeathJohn 3:16 Salvation

The doctrine of hell is not as straightforward as many once believed. Steve Greggs guide to the three main theological positions is both comprehensive and accessible. Evangelicals need to talk about hell, and Gregg has given an admirable model for doing so.

Justin Brierley, Presenter of the Unbelievable? radio show and podcast

Steve Gregg has produced an excellent survey of three different Christian views concerning the ultimate fate of the wicked: the traditional view, according to which the damned will suffer everlasting punishment for their sins; the annihilationist (or the conditionalist) view, according to which the damned will simply be put out of existence forever; and the restorationist view, according to which all human sinners will in the end be reconciled to God. His survey is unique in that he summarizes the various arguments for and against each position, as these arguments appear in the relevant literature, and does so without becoming an advocate for any one of them; he even states that he is unsure which position represents the best interpretation of the Bible as a whole. Because the book is well written, well researched, and reviews the various arguments in a fair and balanced way, it should be an ideal starting point for any Christian who wishes to explore these matters in greater depth.

Thomas Talbott, Author of The Inescapable Love of God

Anyone who believes a departure from the traditional view of hell is a departure from Christian orthodoxy or biblical authority needs to read this book. Steve Gregg has done us all a service by providing a thorough, balanced study of the three major positions on hell that will hopefully provide a new basis for constructive dialogue on this vital issue. I highly recommend this book to those who are just beginning to explore the subject as well as those who have already traveled this well-trodden ground.

Kevin Miller, Director of the documentary Hellbound?

2013 by Steve Gregg

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Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version. 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NASB are from the New American Standard Bible, The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked ESV are from the English Standard Version. 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

Quotes taken from Four Views on Hell by WILLIAM V. CROCKETT; ZACHARY J. HAYES; JOHN F. WALVOORD; CLARK H. PINNOCK. Copyright 1992 by John Walvoord, William Crockett, Zachary Hayes, Clark Pinnock. Used by permission of Zondervan. www.zondervan.com

Quotes taken from Hell Under Fire by CHRISTOPHER W. MORGAN; ROBERT A. PETERSON. Copyright 2004 by Christopher W. Morgan and Robert A. Peterson. Used by permission of Zondervan. www.zondervan.com

Quotes taken from Universal Salvation? The Current Debate by ROBIN A. PERRY, ED.; CHRISTOPHER H. PARTRIDGE, ED. Copyright 2003 by Robin A. Perry and Christopher Partridge. Used by permission of Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

Italics added to Scripture quotations are the authors own emphasis.

ISBN: 9781401678302

Printed in the United States of America

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This book is dedicated to my wife Dayna, at whose urging it came to be written.

Contents

What kind of God do Christians worship?

That is the question most crucial to the church and her message, and is, essentially, the matter explored in this book. The question of hell is necessarily central to this inquiry, since a persons character is revealed as much (if not more) by how he treats his enemies as it is in his conduct toward his friends. Jesus was clear in teaching how His disciples should treat their enemies. He said that we should love them, bless them, and do good to them, so that we could be as merciful as God is (Luke 6:2728, 3536).

Here is a thought experiment: If the Bible said nothing specific about hells nature and purpose, then, based upon your knowledge of Gods character, which of the alternatives available to Himeternal torment, annihilation, or reconciliationwould you expect for Him to choose for His enemies?

Based upon your character, which would you wish for Him to choose?

You may think that the Bible gives a clear and consistent picture of hell. If so, you will have occasion to be surprised in considering the biblical evidence in the following pages. I have no intention of telling you which of the alternative views is correct (since I am still waiting for someone who really knows to tell me which is correct!), but I can tell you with certainty that the correct view, if discovered, would tell you more about the nature and character of God than would most other theological inquiries.