Annihilationism (Conditional Immortality)
What if the lost simply cease to be, rather than burn forever
Annihilationism, or conditional immortality, holds that the unsaved finally cease to exist rather than endure eternal conscious torment. Echoes appear early in Arnobius, and various modern proponents have revived it. Traditions differ: it is a minority view held by some across denominations, while the historic majority of Christian teaching has affirmed everlasting conscious punishment. It remains a contested position rather than a settled consensus.
How it traveled
- Fifteen Sermons. On Various SubjectsNorthampton, Massachusetts · c. 1758 CEchallenges
Key passages(10)
Each passage is tagged by what it does with the idea: explains it, applies it in practice, redefines it with a new meaning, or challenges it. Relevance shows how directly the passage is about this idea.
Fifteen Sermons. On Various Subjects · Jonathan Edwards
Whence it follows, that if it be suitable that there should be infinite hatred of sin in God, as I have shown it is, it is suitable that he should execute an infinite punishment on it; and so the perf
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Fifteen Sermons. On Various Subjects · Jonathan Edwards
The spirits of ungodly men before the resurrection are not in a state of annihilation, but in a state of misery; they are spirits in prison, as the apostle saith of them that were drowned in the flood
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Fifteen Sermons. On Various Subjects · Jonathan Edwards
MATT. xxv. 46. These shall go away into everlasting punishment. IN this chapter we have the most particular description of the day of judgment, of any in the whole Bible. Christ here declares, that
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The Enchiridion · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 112.—There is No Ground in Scripture for the Opinion of Those Who Deny the Eternity of Future Punishments. It is in vain, then, that some, indeed very many, make moan over the eternal punishm
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The Letters of St. Jerome · Jerome
15. The following passage is a convincing proof that he holds the transmigration of souls and annihilation of bodies. “If it can be shewn that an incorporeal and reasonable being has life in itself in
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Fifteen Sermons. On Various Subjects · Jonathan Edwards
God saith in the text, “and will do it;” which leaves no room to doubt of the actual fulfilment of the threatening in its utmost extent. Some have flattered themselves, that although God hath threaten
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Fifteen Sermons. On Various Subjects · Jonathan Edwards
Thus you see it among young and old. Multitudes of youth lead a careless life, taking little care about their salvation. So you may see it among persons of middle age; and with many advanced in years,
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City of God · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 17.—Of Those Who Fancy that No Men Shall Be Punished Eternally. I must now, I see, enter the lists of amicable controversy with those tender-hearted Christians who decline to believe that any
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City of God · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 12.—Whether the Fire that Came Down Out of Heaven and Devoured Them Refers to the Last Punishment of the Wicked. The words, “And fire came down out of heaven and devoured them,” are not to be
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Seventeen Occasional Sermons · Jonathan Edwards
2. Here the souls of wicked men shall suffer extreme and amazing misery in a separate state, until the resurrection. This misery is not indeed their full punishment; nor is the happiness of the saints
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