What the Bible Really Says About Hell: Exploring Eternal Punishment, Annihilation, and Universalism - w/ Preston Sprinkle

Jan 16, 2017

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Gain theological insight into one of Christianity's most complex and debated doctrines as Mike Erre and Tim Stafford are joined by theologian, author, and scholar Dr. Preston Sprinkle for an honest, in-depth conversation about the biblical views of hell. Drawing from his extensive study and his role as editor of the book “Four Views on Hell,” Preston breaks down how Scripture has been interpreted through church history, discusses the implications of eternal conscious torment, annihilation, and universal reconciliation, and explains how these views reflect (or conflict with) the character of God.

This episode challenges traditional assumptions and invites Christ followers—and seekers alike—to reconsider the meaning of "perish" in John 3:16, how justice and love work together, and why Jesus's own teachings on hell deserve contextual and thoughtful engagement.

Key Takeaways: • The Three Christian Views of Hell – Eternal conscious torment, conditional immortality (annihilationism), and universal reconciliation are all scripturally rooted and historically endorsed within Christian orthodoxy. • Why 'Perish' Might Actually Mean Perish – Reexamining the wording of John 3:16 and other key passages that support death and destruction over eternal torment. • Conditional Immortality Explained – Understanding how “the gift of eternal life” depends on God granting immortality, not humans inherently possessing it. • The Soul Is Not Naturally Immortal – A critique of Augustine's Platonic influence and how church tradition may have distorted biblical teaching. • Hell’s Evolution in Church History – From early church variety to Augustine’s dominance, plus medieval distortions with Dante and power structures. • The Problem of ‘Eternal Punishment’ – Interpreting key passages like Matthew 25 and 2 Thessalonians 1 with scholarly nuance and care. • Universalism's Biblical Basis – Exploring possible scriptural justification for ultimate reconciliation—yes, including Romans 5 and Revelation's open gates. • Pastoral and Evangelistic Implications – How we talk about hell matters, especially for those exploring Christianity or harmed by toxic theology.

Guest Highlight: Dr. Preston Sprinkle – A noted New Testament scholar and founder of the Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender, Dr. Sprinkle is known for his accessible and compassionate engagement on tough theological topics. He shares candidly about his interpretive journey, from co-writing “Erasing Hell” with Francis Chan to now strongly supporting the annihilationist view.

Resources Mentioned: • Four Views on Hell – Zondervan Counterpoints Series • Erasing Hell by Francis Chan & Preston Sprinkle – Link • People to Be Loved by Preston Sprinkle – Link • Theology in the Raw Podcast – Preston Sprinkle's Podcast • N.T. Wright's Surprised by Hope – Link • The Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender – centerforfaith.com

Discover how framing hell biblically rather than traditionally opens up deeper, more compassionate theology. Subscribe to the Voxology Podcast, leave us a review, and follow us on social media to join the conversation.

As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

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Learn more at the Voxology Podcast

Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify

Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon

The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio

Follow Mike on Twitter: @mikeerre

Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV.

Our Merch Store! ETSY

Learn more about the Voxology Podcast

Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify

Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon

The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio

Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre

Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy