Annihilation

[easternstar]

The Scripture is replete with support for the doctrine of Conditional Immortality/Annihilation.
Perhaps it is not 100% without any doubt whatsoever: But a Biblical case can easily be made for it.

There is early church support for Universalism, Annihilation and Eternal Conscious Torment.

The problem with reading the Early Church Fathers is that we tend to read into what they say our assumptions about what they mean. They don't use the Theological buzz-words we use because they didn't exist. They simply used Biblical terminology. We often make assumptions about what the ECF's meant because they are simply quoting the same passages we quote when we assert our viewpoints. We see them quote the same verse we quote and assume they mean the same thing we mean.
It is a near certainty that annihilationism was asserted in the ECF's........... (long before Arnobius of Sicca.)

Introduction to Evangelical Conditionalism: The Doctrine of Eternal Torment Was Not Universal in the Early Church | Rethinking Hell

Many people incorrectly believe that, save for a few nut jobs, cults, and liberals who don't care about the Bible, Christians of all stripes have always

rethinkinghell.com

Thanks for your post, and the link. This is one of the best articles I've read on the subject -- excellent.

 

[Some Rando]

Thanks for your post, and the link. This is one of the best articles I've read on the subject -- excellent.

Thanks, I agree it is a good article and honestly written.
The article points out that (amongst other things) both Tertullian and Augustine were making arguments against various Churchmen teaching annihilation and even Universalism. This is itself proof that the doctrine was being held by Christians in the Early Church even if we didn't have the writings themselves, it decidedly predates Arnobius. The dirty little secret is that many teachers who believe in ECT know this full well and still tell their congregations/listeners that Arnobius was the first to teach it.