Why Hell?: Three Christian Views Critically Examined

Written by Steve Gregg

Narrated by Tom Parks

Most people believe that hell is the final state of the condemned following the final judgment. At the same time, many people cannot comprehend why God created hell for the unsaved. Respected church fathers held a variety of views dating back to the early centuries of the church. This book explains views on why hell exists: unending suffering, the annihilation of the unrepentant, and the rehabilitation of the lost. Most Christians are unaware of the scriptural basis for each of these positions. Why Hell? is meant to educate the interested reader without advocating for any one point of view. The following are some of the book's features:

• Biblical vocabulary of hell and positions held throughout early Christian history
• Positive cases presented on three perspectives: traditionalist, conditionalist, and restorationist
• Critiques of each view

 

Steve Gregg provides food for thought for both trained theologians and serious Christian readers who want all the data and then consider for themselves the consequences of three Christian perspectives on hell.

The appendix and bibliography can be found in the audiobook companion PDF download.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Release date: Jun 4, 2024
• ISBN: 9780310158318

Reviews for Why Hell?

[hjvanderklis_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Some pastors preach every Sunday about pending punishment in hell, Meatloaf loved to sing about it, even came Back from Hell in 1993. Bobby Conway, in his reaction to Rob Bell‘s Love Wins, Hell, Rob Bell, and What Happens When People Die (2011) accused preachers of being closet universalists, stating everyone will go to heaven, believer or not. Many books were written on a single view of hell (without ever having been there). Steve Gregg dared to write a book that dives into the three most popular views on hell, while remaining undecided (yet) about which one is right. Though All You Want to Know About Hell has a pretentious title, it’s up to reader to delve in each position, do the cross-examinations and re-read the numerous Bible quotes in context. Unfortunately, that requires balancing, since many quotes are ambiguous, in favor to at least two paradigms. Surprisingly all three had their followers during the first centuries of Christianity, until the so-called traditional view became the one endorsed by the Roman Catholic Church. Until modern times however, all three have their defenders. In the Bible you will not find a specific chapter on the topic, Jesus Christ spent no sermon on it, neither did Paul. And so, it takes a lot of grabbing verses, (Greek) philosophy, pick and choose from possible translations of Hebrew and Greek words and interpretations, while one may loose sight of the consequences or the practical applications. Is the view man-centered or God-centered? How to explain ‘hell’ to your neighbor? Who will benefit from eternal punishment or a total destruction?traditional view: hell is a place of eternal torment, without repentance. You either choose Christ before you die, otherwise will be tormented eternally.annihilationist (or the conditionalist) view: the damned will simply be put out of existence forever, eventually after a period in hell.restorationist view: all human sinners will in the end be reconciled to God.I admired Gregg’s position in this: delivering in-depth research and challenging his readers. Too many presented their views as written in stone without any room to think, reflect and discuss. Let this book spark good conversations among believers and with non-believers.

[dubiousdisciple · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this one. I asked for a review copy because I had previously devoured Steve Gregg’s Revelation: Four Views. This guy is an engrossing writer who gets right to the heart of the matter. While Gregg doesn’t entirely mask his own opinion, he does manage to fairly represent several alternative views with these books, and this time around he gives voice to the following opinions about hell: Traditionalists, who stick with the common view of everlasting conscious torment. Conditionalists, who argue for annihilation of the sinful. “The wages of sin is death.” Restorationalists, who insist that hell is a place of rehabilitation. Everyone will eventually find their way to heaven.Universalists, at least those who reason that for God to be victorious no one could find themselves in hell, are not strongly represented in the book. Hell is too real in scripture to dismiss.It’s important to emphasize that all three views are solidly founded in scripture. Lots and lots of scriptural references are provided for each view, and all views have thoughtful, scholarly supporters.We’d all like to know the ultimate truth about hell, but I just don’t think the scriptures are in total harmony in this matter. That’s where this study led me, though I doubt that’s where Gregg meant to lead. The more I study topics like this, the harder it is to believe in Biblical Inerrancy. I remain baffled as to why otherwise thoughtful Bible scholars rage against the obvious … that doctrinal differences in the Bible are a natural result of differing opinions among the Bible’s writers.Nevertheless, this is a book to make you think, and to make you appreciate the richness of the Bible even as it examines the most frightening topic known to man.