People Don't Go to Hell in the Bible

[orangebox21]

The Church teaches that all mankind was sentenced to hell to pay for Adam’s sin. This doctrine is both biblically and historically insupportable.

Biblical Viewpoint

It would be interesting to know why this should be when Adam was not sentenced to hell to pay for his own sin.  In Genesis 3:17-19 we are told all the terrible things that will happen to Adam.  Have you ever read this for yourself?  If so, did you notice Adam’s punishment is confined to his physical existence?  In fact, Yahweh says “until you return to dust.” So we are talking here about physical death.  The soul does not return to dust.  The body does and according to the Bible, that is the end of Adam’s punishment.  The word “until” means there’s a time limit. So from where did the Church come in and decide our punishment is to be eternal?

There is a physical punishment noted in Genesis 3:17-19 that does end with physical death.  Does that necessitate there aren't other punishments?  Your own post makes allocation for such punishments when you stated that Adam's body, not his soul returns to the dust.  So you differentiate between the body and the soul but you don't allow for a differentiation in punishment?

So from where did the Church come in and decide our punishment is to be eternal?

New Testament Scripture.

Is it not odd that in the 4,000 years between Adam and Paul, not one biblical writer says a word about anybody going to hell to pay for Adam’s sin?

No one goes to hell for Adam's sin.

Yes, you might say, but what about the rich man and Lazarus?  We see Lazarus going to Abraham’s Bosom and the rich man went to hell. I challenge any Christian to show me one instance of Abraham’s Bosom in the Old Testament.  Again, the Bible is silent about a concept large enough to deserve at least one mention. Just as Abraham’s Bosom is a construct of apocalyptic Judaism, so is the idea of humans going to hell when they die.

Are you suggesting that because the words "Abraham's Bosom" do not appear in the OT therefore hell does not exist?

At this point you might turn to the book of Revelation where we find people being cast into the lake of fire because their names were not written in the book of Life.  You are not supposed to ask yourself why their names were not written there.

Why aren't they written there?  [go back and start reading at verse 11]

The Bible does not say and where the Bible is silent, the Church feels free to add its own interpretation. They tell us it’s because they were unbelievers.  However, since nowhere else in the Bible do we see anyone going to hell for what they did or did not believe, this interpretation lacks credibility.

2 Thessalonians 1:7
when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:  Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power.

So ask yourself, what is the gospel of Jesus Christ?  Because those who obey it not "shall be punished with....."