Tag Archives: Hell

Hipps on Hell

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In September, Rob Bell announced that he was stepping down from his role at Mars Hill to pursue work on a TV show with one of the producer/writers of Lost. Teaching Pastor Shane Hipps, a Fuller Theological Seminary grad, will take on the lead teaching role. With the swirl surrounding Rob Bell and Love Wins, many might be asking what Hipps thinks about heaven and hell.

Recently Shane Hipps wrote a blog entry discussing that very topic. Hipps post was cross posted on the ChurchLeaders.com site. I came across the entry when I saw Scot McKnight’s tweet which opened up a discussion on the article at his blog the Jesus Creed.

For those with short attention spans Hipps conclusion is that theological positions on heaven and hell are all speculation.

There is a lot of talk these days about heaven and hell. …

It’s strange that so much passion and ink has been spilled over something that is all speculation.

I can only comment on this one piece, I don’t know Shane Hipps and have not read other things he has written. Continue reading →

History of Hell (Christian History)

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Saw this tweet from Mark Driscoll and thought I would share since I have blogged and taught on Love Wins a bit.

The link refered to is from Christian History Magazine which has put out a resource (pdf) on various views of hell.

A quick summary of some of the early writers based on the article (italics are my additions):

  • Justin Martyr – potential father of inclusivism – writings inspired later thinkers to speculate on fate of unbelievers who did not have access to gospel.
  • Irenaeus – eternal punishment awaited those who rejected Jesus
  • Tertullian – eternal punishment awaited unbelievers
  • Origen – father of universalism / postmortem evangelism – writings speculate on fires of hell as purifying
  • Athanasius – potential father of annilationism
  • Augustine – eternal punishment awaited unbelievers

and a summary on some of the reformers:

  • Huldrych Zwingli – reformed inclusivism –  those elect by God are saved (even if they don’t hear the gospel)
  • Martin Luther – eternal separation awaited unbelievers
  • John Calvin – eternal separation awaited unbelievers (unelect)

The article contains many more as well as a list of books that have added to the discussion on the after-life.