People Don't Go to Hell in the Bible

[Rhondazvous]

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....."

1. Of course the fact that Genesis doesn’t say anything about punishment of the soul does not necessarily mean that you can’t add it if it fits your narrative. The bible tells us what happens to the spirit after the body dies

Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

I did not write this book so you’re not arguing against me.
2. You say no one goes to hell for Adam’s sin. But that is what the mainstream Church teaches. Are you being contrary just to be contrary or do you come from some persuasion other than evangelical Christianity?
3. Neither Abraham’s Bosom nor Hell as a place of torment exist in the Old Testament. They are both constructs of apocalyptic Judaism. This is not just a change in dispensation but a total restructuring of divine reality and cosmology. This cannot be permitted with a god who supposedly never changes.
4. The verse you quote from 2 Thessalonians says nothing about the Book of Life.
5. What is the gospel of Christ? The Church says we have to confess Jesus as lord. But Jesus said everybody who calls him lord will not enter his kingdom.

None of your arguments can be supported without adding something to the scriptures that isn’t there. Read the last verses of Revelations to see what will be added to you.