Terminology

There is always a danger when evaluating or rebutting theological arguments with which we disagree to entirely misrepresent those positions. Annihilationism is a frequent victim of this misrepresentation. Because of this, it may be helpful to define some terms here.

Conditionalism

Most annihilationists prefer the label “conditionalist.” Conditionalism is short for “conditional immortality,” the teaching that humans are inherently mortal and that immortality is the gift of God given through the gospel. The Statement on Evangelical Conditionalism puts it this way:

Annihilation(ism)

Annihilationism can best be understood as a sub-category of conditionalism. Conditionalism teaches that humans are not inherently immortal; annihilation is the process by which unrepentant sinners will be destroyed by God. The Bible teaches that God will one day actively inflict punishment upon those who reject the gospel. That penalty is death. Annihilation is used as a synonym for death.

Annihilation does not mean that God merely snaps his fingers to reduce the unrepentant to nothingness. Annihilation is the painful process by which God kills those who have not obeyed the gospel. The most pervasive picture of the annihilation process is consumption by fire.

Death

Evangelicals all agree that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), but there is disagreement over the definition of death. At root, this the core difference between annihilationists and traditionalists: the nature of death.

For the annihilationist, death is the cessation of life, when a living body becomes a corpse. Traditionalists tend to define death in terms of separation rather than cessation: separation of body from soul, and of the sinner from God.

Traditionalism

“Traditionalism,” as it is used on this website, is the term used to describe what has, for at least the last 1,500, years been the popular understanding of hell: that it is a place of eternal, conscious suffering.

This term has two major weaknesses.

First, it is difficult to know with certainty what is required for something to be considered the “traditional” view of any given theology. How long must a doctrine hold the floor before it becomes tradition? How many people must affirm it?

Second, the term may sound somewhat pejorative, as if traditionalists hold the view simply out of tradition. As it is used here, that is not what is implied. Traditionalists argue for their understanding of hell exegetically. They believe that it is what the Bible teaches and do not hold the position out of adherence to empty tradition.

The term is simplest to use, however, for at least two reasons: First, it is the term most commonly used in the debate over personal eschatology; and second, a better, more succinct term has not been suggested. “Eternal, conscious tormentism” may be ore descriptive, but “traditionalism” is more succinct. It is, therefore, the term that will be used throughout this website.

Universalism

Universalism is the teaching that every person who has ever lived will ultimately be reconciled to God. It is also known as Universal Reconciliation. The ecumenical vision of universalism teaches that all faiths ultimately lead to God, and everyone will be received by God regardless of faith in Christ. Evangelical universalists teach that everybody will ultimately be reconciled to God through Christ. Those who do not believe the gospel in this life will be given opportunity to do so in the afterlife, and eventually all will come to God in Christ. Universalism will not be a major focus of this website.