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Hell, A Final Word: The Surprising Things I Found in the Bible
Today, hell is a front-burner topic, thanks to media attention stirred by megapastors Rob Bell, Francis Chan, and others. But, between the extremes of universal salvation and everlasting torment, there shines a third view, known as annihilationism or conditional immortality, claiming the most biblical support of all. Now the man whose 500-page book, The Fire That Consumes , helped ignite the scholarly debate thirty years ago brings this exciting alternative viewpoint to the everyday reader in simple form. And--the story behind the book is now the subject of a feature film, ''Hell and Mr. Fudge,'' due to release in theaters in 2012 (and starring Mackenzie Astin and Keri Lynn Pratt; see hellandmrfudge.com). While relating his own personal journey in understanding the nature of hell, Fudge leads the reader through the whole Bible to see what we have missed, then through church history to understand the origin of the other two views. Here are the Life is short. Death is sure. Judgment is certain. Hell is real. And when John
189 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
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May 29, 2018
In an effort to clear out some of my to-read backlog, I dove into this semi-autobiographical synopsis of Edward Fudge's much longer and groundbreaking case for annihilationism as the biblical vision of the fate of the wicked.
Fudge is little known outside of a very small group of people interested in challenging the traditional Christian notion of hell as the home of eternal conscious torment. In the 1970s, Fudge was commissioned to spend a year researching the subject and to his surprise found that he felt the Bible taught that the souls of those condemned to hell eventually perished in the flames, thus the labels "annihilationism" or "conditional immortality." That book was The Fire That Consumes: A Biblical and Historical Study of the Doctrine of Final Punishment; Hell, A Final Word was written to coincide with the release of a biopic about Fudge's theological journey. (While you might think a film about a preacher engaging in a yearlong quest of biblical scholarship about hell would be horribly boring, it's surprisingly good! It's called Hell and Mr. Fudge, and it's worth your time if you're at all interested in the subject.)
All of that to say, if you're dissatisfied (or not!) with eternal conscious torment – either because of your own research or because of your discomfort with the nature of the God it requires you to worship – this is a good popular-level primer for how Fudge came to articulate the most comprehensive case for one of the two major alternatives.
But. As someone who holds to the second of those two alternatives – universal reconciliation, or plain ol' universalism, which says that while hell exists, its existence is temporary, and that it will end once all people condemned there have "served their time," so to speak, and are restored to God – I did not find enough evidence here to shake me of that belief.
Because Fudge, understandably, is pushing back against the more entrenched traditional view of hell, he has little to say about universalism; as a result, while the two views are allied in several respects – both rejecting the permanence of hell and the torments experienced there – universalists would argue that Fudge does not reckon deeply enough with several points, including the chronically mistranslated Greek word our translations render "eternal," the decidedly this-worldly nature of the valley of Hinnom, or Gehenna, cited by Jesus and typically translated as "hell," and the writings of Paul and others that envision the eventual reconciliation of all things to God.
Several times, in fact, it seems Fudge cannot quite break as far away from traditionalist assumptions as he believes he has. His efforts to apply Old Testament and several New Testament passages about the destruction of nations and enemies of Israel to the eschatological fate of individuals reflects his background in conservative/fundamentalist faith traditions that overlook the socio-political assumptions written into the texts. Thus the case for the annihilation, as opposed to the restoration, of the wicked is much weaker than Fudge presumes.
That said, his case for the impermanence of hell is quite strong. He does a great service to many Christians who find themselves troubled by God as the eternal torturer-in-chief by showing how this notion has its roots in Greek philosophical assumptions about the immortality of the soul, not the biblical texts. Because this is designed to sketch an overview of his own life and the journey that led him to his conclusions detailed elsewhere, Hell, A Final Word does not delve as deeply as perhaps many would like, but that's what the other book is for. This is just an appetizer, and as such, it performs that job as well as a reader can expect.
Fudge is little known outside of a very small group of people interested in challenging the traditional Christian notion of hell as the home of eternal conscious torment. In the 1970s, Fudge was commissioned to spend a year researching the subject and to his surprise found that he felt the Bible taught that the souls of those condemned to hell eventually perished in the flames, thus the labels "annihilationism" or "conditional immortality." That book was The Fire That Consumes: A Biblical and Historical Study of the Doctrine of Final Punishment; Hell, A Final Word was written to coincide with the release of a biopic about Fudge's theological journey. (While you might think a film about a preacher engaging in a yearlong quest of biblical scholarship about hell would be horribly boring, it's surprisingly good! It's called Hell and Mr. Fudge, and it's worth your time if you're at all interested in the subject.)
All of that to say, if you're dissatisfied (or not!) with eternal conscious torment – either because of your own research or because of your discomfort with the nature of the God it requires you to worship – this is a good popular-level primer for how Fudge came to articulate the most comprehensive case for one of the two major alternatives.
But. As someone who holds to the second of those two alternatives – universal reconciliation, or plain ol' universalism, which says that while hell exists, its existence is temporary, and that it will end once all people condemned there have "served their time," so to speak, and are restored to God – I did not find enough evidence here to shake me of that belief.
Because Fudge, understandably, is pushing back against the more entrenched traditional view of hell, he has little to say about universalism; as a result, while the two views are allied in several respects – both rejecting the permanence of hell and the torments experienced there – universalists would argue that Fudge does not reckon deeply enough with several points, including the chronically mistranslated Greek word our translations render "eternal," the decidedly this-worldly nature of the valley of Hinnom, or Gehenna, cited by Jesus and typically translated as "hell," and the writings of Paul and others that envision the eventual reconciliation of all things to God.
Several times, in fact, it seems Fudge cannot quite break as far away from traditionalist assumptions as he believes he has. His efforts to apply Old Testament and several New Testament passages about the destruction of nations and enemies of Israel to the eschatological fate of individuals reflects his background in conservative/fundamentalist faith traditions that overlook the socio-political assumptions written into the texts. Thus the case for the annihilation, as opposed to the restoration, of the wicked is much weaker than Fudge presumes.
That said, his case for the impermanence of hell is quite strong. He does a great service to many Christians who find themselves troubled by God as the eternal torturer-in-chief by showing how this notion has its roots in Greek philosophical assumptions about the immortality of the soul, not the biblical texts. Because this is designed to sketch an overview of his own life and the journey that led him to his conclusions detailed elsewhere, Hell, A Final Word does not delve as deeply as perhaps many would like, but that's what the other book is for. This is just an appetizer, and as such, it performs that job as well as a reader can expect.
November 30, 2012
Edward Fudge believes that hell will end. The ultimate meaning of hell is total destruction. To speak of eternal punishment is to speak of an event in the age to come that will have never-ending results. This event will be final and forever, and by that Fudge means that a person will cease to exist. The second death is not eternal torment but eternally ceasing to exist.
To be sure Fudge believes hell involves suffering and that “the Bible suggests … different degrees of suffering” (105). He points to Jesus’ statement in Luke 12:47-48 that some will receive “few stripes” and others will receive “many stripes.” But the ultimate end of all those in hell is not eternal punishing (unending, conscious torment) but eternal punishment (a final, irreversible state of non-existence).
Where does Fudge get this idea? The Bible. Fudge’s approach is biblical. It is not the type of speculative theologizing one finds in a book like Rob Bell’s Love Wins. I’m not saying his is the only biblical approach or that he’s necessarily right but that his arguments are derived from a close reading of the biblical texts. He seeks to understand the historical-grammatical meaning as best he can. He seeks to let the Bible speak for itself.
Not only does he examine thoroughly the Old and New Testament teaching on the end of the wicked. He looks at what was taught in the time between the testaments and by Christians after the time of the apostles. What he finds is that there was a diversity of opinion among Jews in the time before Christ and the earliest church fathers after the apostles didn’t speak of eternal torment. This comes later, with Tertullian and his heavy emphasis on Greek philosophy.
Fudge does a great job making sense of the biblical data. His explanations are natural and make a lot of sense. Clearly, he has done his homework. This book is a summary of that homework which can be found in his much longer, more academic work The Fire That Consumes. That book is now in its third printing having been first published in 1982. The scholarship there has stood the test of time and the rigors of many challenges to its argument.
A tribute to the strength of Fudge’s argument is a statement by conservative Reformed theologian Michael Horton in his systematic theology, The Christian Faith.
Horton writes,
“The critical point to be made from Scripture with regard to eternal punishment is not its degree or duration [emphasis mine], but its horrifying reality as God’s personal judgment that is final and forever.”*
Horton is not directly responding to Fudge, but he does mention him and the responses to his position in an extended footnote. He acknowledges that Fudge has done one of the more extensive studies of the topic.
It’s rather remarkable that a conservative theologian would acknowledge the possible validity of a view that stands in contradiction to the long held, traditional view of the church. It suggests that he recognizes the substance behind the argument.
I heartily recommend this book to any person interested in the topic. I know of no other book that summarizes so well the case for the final extinction of the wicked. While I received this book free from the publisher (Leafwood Publishers) as part of their book review program, I am not required to write a positive review and make my recommendation based purely on the merits of the book.
To be sure Fudge believes hell involves suffering and that “the Bible suggests … different degrees of suffering” (105). He points to Jesus’ statement in Luke 12:47-48 that some will receive “few stripes” and others will receive “many stripes.” But the ultimate end of all those in hell is not eternal punishing (unending, conscious torment) but eternal punishment (a final, irreversible state of non-existence).
Where does Fudge get this idea? The Bible. Fudge’s approach is biblical. It is not the type of speculative theologizing one finds in a book like Rob Bell’s Love Wins. I’m not saying his is the only biblical approach or that he’s necessarily right but that his arguments are derived from a close reading of the biblical texts. He seeks to understand the historical-grammatical meaning as best he can. He seeks to let the Bible speak for itself.
Not only does he examine thoroughly the Old and New Testament teaching on the end of the wicked. He looks at what was taught in the time between the testaments and by Christians after the time of the apostles. What he finds is that there was a diversity of opinion among Jews in the time before Christ and the earliest church fathers after the apostles didn’t speak of eternal torment. This comes later, with Tertullian and his heavy emphasis on Greek philosophy.
Fudge does a great job making sense of the biblical data. His explanations are natural and make a lot of sense. Clearly, he has done his homework. This book is a summary of that homework which can be found in his much longer, more academic work The Fire That Consumes. That book is now in its third printing having been first published in 1982. The scholarship there has stood the test of time and the rigors of many challenges to its argument.
A tribute to the strength of Fudge’s argument is a statement by conservative Reformed theologian Michael Horton in his systematic theology, The Christian Faith.
Horton writes,
“The critical point to be made from Scripture with regard to eternal punishment is not its degree or duration [emphasis mine], but its horrifying reality as God’s personal judgment that is final and forever.”*
Horton is not directly responding to Fudge, but he does mention him and the responses to his position in an extended footnote. He acknowledges that Fudge has done one of the more extensive studies of the topic.
It’s rather remarkable that a conservative theologian would acknowledge the possible validity of a view that stands in contradiction to the long held, traditional view of the church. It suggests that he recognizes the substance behind the argument.
I heartily recommend this book to any person interested in the topic. I know of no other book that summarizes so well the case for the final extinction of the wicked. While I received this book free from the publisher (Leafwood Publishers) as part of their book review program, I am not required to write a positive review and make my recommendation based purely on the merits of the book.
August 15, 2012
Some books are written to be exhaustive on a subject, and others are written to be more accessible, perhaps more of an overview. Edward William Fudge writes Hell: A Final Word: The Surprising Truths I Found in the Bible, his “last book on the subject” (17) of hell, conditional immortality, and annihilationism, as the latter. Those requiring more depth are encouraged to see Fudge’s book The Fire That Consumes: A Biblical and Historical Study of the Doctrine of Final Punishment, now in its third edition. In light of Rob Bell’s controversial reigniting of a Christian universalist perspective in Love Wins, it seems appropriate that Fudge throw one last hat into the mix for the annihilationist perspective. Like others, he encourages his reader to ask, “‘Is this what the Bible teaches?’ How we might feel about hell cannot be the measure of what hell really will be” (32, emphasis original), noting the insistence many have in faithfully clinging to church tradition even when it seems contradictory to Scripture simply because it’s what we “have always believed” (98), and therefore must be right.
Fudge provides his reader with a history of the traditionalist view of hell—never ending torment—originating in deuterocanonical texts and Greek philosophy, and effectively demonstrates in an accessible way his reason for believing, “The ultimate punishment common to all the lost will become a reality: they will cease to be. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible repeatedly warns that the wicked will ‘die,’ ‘perish,’ or be ‘destroyed’” (35, emphasis original). Throughout, he repeats the question as to whether Scripture “[appears] to be more consistent with a fire that torments forever, a fire that purifies, or a fire that consumes” (69), hoping the reader is eventually convinced of the latter. But what makes this book special is the interweaving of his personal journey with this particular doctrine, how and why The Fire That Consumes was researched and written and how he has been treated because of his perspective. It does appear, however, that the true purpose of its penning is to prime the reader for the aforementioned text and plug the recently released movie Hell and Mr. Fudge. Yet, though beginning and ending with a commercial, there is much good and convincing information in this book...and may make you want to read his larger work, too.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from ACU Press/Leafwood Publishers as part of their ACU Press Bookclub Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Fudge provides his reader with a history of the traditionalist view of hell—never ending torment—originating in deuterocanonical texts and Greek philosophy, and effectively demonstrates in an accessible way his reason for believing, “The ultimate punishment common to all the lost will become a reality: they will cease to be. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible repeatedly warns that the wicked will ‘die,’ ‘perish,’ or be ‘destroyed’” (35, emphasis original). Throughout, he repeats the question as to whether Scripture “[appears] to be more consistent with a fire that torments forever, a fire that purifies, or a fire that consumes” (69), hoping the reader is eventually convinced of the latter. But what makes this book special is the interweaving of his personal journey with this particular doctrine, how and why The Fire That Consumes was researched and written and how he has been treated because of his perspective. It does appear, however, that the true purpose of its penning is to prime the reader for the aforementioned text and plug the recently released movie Hell and Mr. Fudge. Yet, though beginning and ending with a commercial, there is much good and convincing information in this book...and may make you want to read his larger work, too.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from ACU Press/Leafwood Publishers as part of their ACU Press Bookclub Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
May 30, 2014
I won this book on Goodreads First Reads.
I'm not going to say much about this. I never believed in any of this stuff in the first place. When I had learned that I won this book through Goodreads, I tried to keep an open mind about it. Let me first explain why I am not going to leave a full review for this book: the sole reason is because I simply do not believe in anything the Bible has to say, therefore, I don't believe that we will be damned to hell anyways.
The book is an interesting read, and some good points were brought up. Although I do not believe, I was raised in a Christian environment, and so have a Bible in my home that I was able to reference to. After growing up hearing that I would be sentenced to a life in hell for any sins I committed through my actual living life.... this book was a nice read. Although I do not believe in the Bible, it is good to know that people are becoming more open-minded about this so-called hell.
The book was interesting at best.
I'm not going to say much about this. I never believed in any of this stuff in the first place. When I had learned that I won this book through Goodreads, I tried to keep an open mind about it. Let me first explain why I am not going to leave a full review for this book: the sole reason is because I simply do not believe in anything the Bible has to say, therefore, I don't believe that we will be damned to hell anyways.
The book is an interesting read, and some good points were brought up. Although I do not believe, I was raised in a Christian environment, and so have a Bible in my home that I was able to reference to. After growing up hearing that I would be sentenced to a life in hell for any sins I committed through my actual living life.... this book was a nice read. Although I do not believe in the Bible, it is good to know that people are becoming more open-minded about this so-called hell.
The book was interesting at best.
September 28, 2018
My men's Bible study read this book and it brought out a lot of interesting conversation. I have always assumed that those who were sent to hell were tormented and tortured forever. Fudge makes the argument that yes hell is a bad place that you don't want to be sent to but that the torture and torment will last only awhile before your soul is destroyed. He uses the Bible to back up his argument.
I had never heard of Edward Fudge and we might not have ever read this book in our group but for watching the movie "Hell and Mr. Fudge" as a group mainly because we wanted to watch a Christian movie and the title intrigued us. The movie wasn't a very good movie but it did get us to think about an issue we had never really thought of before. We had just assumed never-ending torture. I can see where this will ease the anxiety of those who have lost someone who are pretty sure they weren't a Christian. Fudge's theory also backs up a good, judicious, loving father.
Quick read despite having 51 chapters (they are short). It will make you examine hell in a different light.
I had never heard of Edward Fudge and we might not have ever read this book in our group but for watching the movie "Hell and Mr. Fudge" as a group mainly because we wanted to watch a Christian movie and the title intrigued us. The movie wasn't a very good movie but it did get us to think about an issue we had never really thought of before. We had just assumed never-ending torture. I can see where this will ease the anxiety of those who have lost someone who are pretty sure they weren't a Christian. Fudge's theory also backs up a good, judicious, loving father.
Quick read despite having 51 chapters (they are short). It will make you examine hell in a different light.
November 28, 2017
Thought-provoking!
Solid scholarship and a very thought-provoking position. Frankly, a very persuasive argument that I had not fully considered. A good first glance at the controversy. Didn’t answer all of my questions, as a matter of fact, it may have inspired a few more.
Solid scholarship and a very thought-provoking position. Frankly, a very persuasive argument that I had not fully considered. A good first glance at the controversy. Didn’t answer all of my questions, as a matter of fact, it may have inspired a few more.
December 30, 2021
Good short introduction to annihilationism.
March 26, 2022
Hell as a place of unending, conscious, physical torment is not a biblical view, so I got that going for me.
August 10, 2022
A good primer on annihilationism or “conditional immortality.”
June 13, 2012
For what it sets out to do, Edward Fudge’s Hell: A Final Word, is very successful. It gives a good overview of the arguments for conditional immortality and against the traditional view of Hell as a place of eternal conscious punishment. It gets just in-depth enough to where you can understand what he means and to where you can follow his reasoning, without getting specific enough to demand a much more lengthy book. This book is relatively short, and it actually reads much more like a first-person novel than a doctrinal theology book, drawing the reader in.
Now, this book is good for the interested reader to get his feet wet, but it is not a substitute for more thorough works like Fudge’s earlier book The Fire that Consumes (and Fudge definitely doesn’t let you forget it! One of the few things I didn’t like about the book was how it kind of seemed like an advertisement for The Fire that Consumes at times). If you’re looking to dive right in, I’d recommend biting the bullet and purchasing The Fire that Consumes. However, I would imagine for most lay Christians, the idea of a 500 page tome that thoroughly analyzes dozens of relevant passages and rebuts numerous opposing arguments may seem a little daunting (although for what it is worth, I found The Fire that Consumes to be surprisingly reader-friendly). Because it is short and so darn interesting, this is a good book for somebody who has first started to think about alternative views of Hell, or for that friend of yours who you keep trying to get to look into conditionalism but who hasn’t been all that interested. I could see either one coming away thinking that Fudge has given them something to consider. Now of course, more in-depth study and defense of conditionalism would be necessary to thoroughly defeat the traditional doctrine; you simply cannot address even a fraction of the possible arguments against Fudge’s view in a book this size. That is okay; this book can be used to get a lot of people to not only wonder if eternal torment is just or consistent with the God we know (which I imagine many evangelical Christians are wondering in the back of their minds), but for the first time, to consider that maybe, the Bible doesn’t teach what they have always been told it did. I can see many coming away thinking that maybe, the hard-truth they have been swallowing out of their devotion to Jesus was in fact not a truth at all.
Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received this book free from ACU Press/Leafwood Publishers as part of their ACU Press Bookclub Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising
Now, this book is good for the interested reader to get his feet wet, but it is not a substitute for more thorough works like Fudge’s earlier book The Fire that Consumes (and Fudge definitely doesn’t let you forget it! One of the few things I didn’t like about the book was how it kind of seemed like an advertisement for The Fire that Consumes at times). If you’re looking to dive right in, I’d recommend biting the bullet and purchasing The Fire that Consumes. However, I would imagine for most lay Christians, the idea of a 500 page tome that thoroughly analyzes dozens of relevant passages and rebuts numerous opposing arguments may seem a little daunting (although for what it is worth, I found The Fire that Consumes to be surprisingly reader-friendly). Because it is short and so darn interesting, this is a good book for somebody who has first started to think about alternative views of Hell, or for that friend of yours who you keep trying to get to look into conditionalism but who hasn’t been all that interested. I could see either one coming away thinking that Fudge has given them something to consider. Now of course, more in-depth study and defense of conditionalism would be necessary to thoroughly defeat the traditional doctrine; you simply cannot address even a fraction of the possible arguments against Fudge’s view in a book this size. That is okay; this book can be used to get a lot of people to not only wonder if eternal torment is just or consistent with the God we know (which I imagine many evangelical Christians are wondering in the back of their minds), but for the first time, to consider that maybe, the Bible doesn’t teach what they have always been told it did. I can see many coming away thinking that maybe, the hard-truth they have been swallowing out of their devotion to Jesus was in fact not a truth at all.
Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received this book free from ACU Press/Leafwood Publishers as part of their ACU Press Bookclub Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising
June 23, 2012
This book lacks the depth that is really needed when challenging 1000+ years of Christian thought on hell. This book suffers most from catering too much to shallow thought, many of the chapters should have been combined as they were all parts of one particular theme. Too much time is spent on the author's journey to his conclusions, especially because they really didn't focus on his wrestling with the issues, just the life events surrounding it. While the assertion that we must believe what the Bible says, not our feelings, is correct, this assertion came at the end of chapters in which the readers emotions were riled to feel like the concept of eternal punishment couldn't be right, couldn't be in the character of God so many times that it felt like an afterthought.
Key parts of the argument seem to center around redefining eternal to final/total or to saying that worms die/fires go out after the wicked are utterly consumed, ideas that seem to run contrary to plain reading unless one already assumes annihilation. A major thrust is to argue that apollymi, often translated perish or destruction, means total annihilation when used of the wickeds' final state. In chapter 24 are listed several appearances of the word in the NT to try to convince the reader of this "literal" meaning. A huge problem with that is that the word is translated many times as simply "lose" (several times in the parables in Luke 15). Also, it is used at least three times of believers, most notably in 1 Cor. 15:18, "Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished." Certainly this cannot mean dead believers have been annihilated.
A huge question never addressed in this book is, if man can-in any way, by any means, over any length of time (After some period of suffering (another thing very underdeveloped)?)-satisfy the wrath of God against them , why did Christ have to come die? This idea sounds very much like purgatory without the happy ending and that question should have been addressed.
The book read well, was interesting, but didn't do justice to the topic. Serious lay readers deserve better. There are a few errors of passage citations, normally the verse referenced can be found in the same chapter.
Key parts of the argument seem to center around redefining eternal to final/total or to saying that worms die/fires go out after the wicked are utterly consumed, ideas that seem to run contrary to plain reading unless one already assumes annihilation. A major thrust is to argue that apollymi, often translated perish or destruction, means total annihilation when used of the wickeds' final state. In chapter 24 are listed several appearances of the word in the NT to try to convince the reader of this "literal" meaning. A huge problem with that is that the word is translated many times as simply "lose" (several times in the parables in Luke 15). Also, it is used at least three times of believers, most notably in 1 Cor. 15:18, "Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished." Certainly this cannot mean dead believers have been annihilated.
A huge question never addressed in this book is, if man can-in any way, by any means, over any length of time (After some period of suffering (another thing very underdeveloped)?)-satisfy the wrath of God against them , why did Christ have to come die? This idea sounds very much like purgatory without the happy ending and that question should have been addressed.
The book read well, was interesting, but didn't do justice to the topic. Serious lay readers deserve better. There are a few errors of passage citations, normally the verse referenced can be found in the same chapter.
August 12, 2016
This is a good introductory book on the concept of hell from a "conditional immortality" perspective. I have not read the academic version (The Fire That Consumes) but if the reader is interested in getting into the meat and potatoes, I would assume that that is the better book. For the laymen, this book works really well.
I have always leaned in an annhiliationist perspective without fully understanding why or hearing a biblical defense for it.
Mr. Fudge takes the time to break down the "pillars" of the traditional view of eternal torment by showing where the ideas of annhiliationism come from in Scripture and where the ideas of eternal punishment come from outside of Scripture.
I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn more about this.
I would have given it 5 stars had it been more academic (but that was not the point of the text).
I have always leaned in an annhiliationist perspective without fully understanding why or hearing a biblical defense for it.
Mr. Fudge takes the time to break down the "pillars" of the traditional view of eternal torment by showing where the ideas of annhiliationism come from in Scripture and where the ideas of eternal punishment come from outside of Scripture.
I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn more about this.
I would have given it 5 stars had it been more academic (but that was not the point of the text).
June 14, 2012
I won this book in a Goodread's First Reads giveaway. I find non-fiction religious books fascinating, especially so if they're approached properly, and this book did exactly that. It was informative, and non confrontational, and very factual. The author was humble in his presentation, and conversational in his writing style. He presented his book as a debate, and a finding of facts, which I enjoyed because it left the reader to decide how they felt everything should be interpreted. This is definitely a book to get you thinking and to encourage the reader to do their own research and form their own opinion. I'd definitely recommend it to any of my Christian, and even non-christian, friends who wish to learn more about Hell and what it is or isn't, or what it may be.
May 26, 2012
This book is a must read for the layperson considering what the Bible actually teaches on hell and the final end of the wicked. The full version of the author's treatment on the subject can be found in his previous work "The Fire that Consumes." Given that the longer version is over 500 pages, many will be unwilling to even start. This shorter version is the perfect answer. If you remain unconvinced by this little book (under 200 pages) then I suggest you take a look at The Fire that Consumes before you write off all together the view I find more Biblical.
This is an important subject and as such deserves your time and consideration. At least give this book a chance with an open heart and an open Bible and see if you are not convinced by the case laid out within its pages.
This is an important subject and as such deserves your time and consideration. At least give this book a chance with an open heart and an open Bible and see if you are not convinced by the case laid out within its pages.
April 20, 2013
Fudge's work “The Fire That Consumes” is the standard reference on annihilationism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annihila... ). This, his latest book on the topic, is the caffeine-free diet version, geared towards the less motivated reader.
During my formative years spent in Baptist churches, I guess I didn't fit in with others' easy acceptance of the traditional view, which I found to be unimaginably unloving and unjust. It's nice to see a careful, conservative treatment of the scriptures arrive at a convincing alternative view.
During my formative years spent in Baptist churches, I guess I didn't fit in with others' easy acceptance of the traditional view, which I found to be unimaginably unloving and unjust. It's nice to see a careful, conservative treatment of the scriptures arrive at a convincing alternative view.
June 30, 2016
An accessible yet serious examination of the biblical hell, as distinguished from the hell of popular lore. A good read for any Christian, and anyone who has had trouble reconciling how a loving God could possibly banish some of his children to a place of unending conscious torment. I also highly recommend the film "Hell and Mr. Fudge" which is about the author's struggle and study on the subject of hell.
November 20, 2023
Excellent!
June 15, 2012
I won this book on goodreads.. The title kind of scared me! Not sure still how i feel about the whole subject of heaven and hell but this book certainly opened up a lot of dialogues in my family about the subject. This book wasnt preachy at all, very factual and interesting.
November 20, 2012
Basic level explanation of the annihilationist position with some biographical info on Fudge and how he changed his position. Interesting read, but for more depth go to The Fire That Consumes or Two Views of Hell.
October 15, 2013
A great book,easy to read. It looks at what the bible actually says about judgement and what happens to those who do not choose to follow Jesus. This is the Lyman's version of this 500 page research book The Fire That Consumes. Confirmed my thoughts on ECT.
October 20, 2015
A bit basic in its style, but I know that this is the more accessible version of his longer theological work, the fire that consumes. I appreciated his loving and gentle tone. It was refreshing to hear about hell in a way that didn't make me want to scream and throw the book at the authors head.
January 2, 2016
Great Summary
Hell A Final Word is an excellent summary of Fudge's more in depth work. No claims of brevity can be made against this short work due to its predecessor's depth. I'd encourage the reader to study further with humility and an open mind.
Hell A Final Word is an excellent summary of Fudge's more in depth work. No claims of brevity can be made against this short work due to its predecessor's depth. I'd encourage the reader to study further with humility and an open mind.
July 27, 2022
Clear and simple explanation of the Biblical truth about the final state of the unrepentantly evil, namely destruction and ceasing to exist (with possibly some temporary punishment preceding it after judgement.
December 30, 2012
Very good introduction to the subject of the biblical understanding of hell. For a more extended treatment, I would recommend Fudge's A Fire That Consumes.
January 20, 2014
Great introduction nd summary of Conditional Annihilationism, providing substantial Scriptural evidence. Next stop is 'The Fire That Consumes'!
June 20, 2014
A good intro to the conversation. More autobiographical, and less exegetical than i was expecting though. In the end led me to want to read more, so thats good.
June 26, 2014
A more readable version of his scholarly 500+ page tome.
February 5, 2015
Brought forth some ideas backed by scripture that I hadn't considered before. Very well written.
April 10, 2017
As I understand it, this is a distillation of Fudge's arguments, which are presented in depth and in a more scholarly fashion in "The Fire That Consumes". It's a quick read, with quite a bit of personal reflection and history from the author, but I doubt one could find a better introduction to the topic. Toss all the biographical aspects, and what remains is a thoroughly biblical, concise, and persuasive case against the traditional doctrine of eternal conscious torment.
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