Has the Word “Eternal” Been Correctly Translated?

We have been examining the claims of critics who deny the biblical teaching of eternal hell.  Often, those who deny central Christian doctrines will deny that the major English versions of Scripture are well-translated.  They must argue this way because all the conservative English translations show that the duration of punishment and torment in hell for unbelievers is the same as the duration of heaven for believers – namely eternal.  So, in this segment, we will look at Tracy’s claims that the original languages deny eternal hell.

Denying Eternal Hell

Our critic this week is Larry, who takes issue with my previous article on the reality of hell. Let’s examine Larry’s comments and see if they are defensible. Larry’s comments are in purple text, with my comments in black.

The Good News About Hell

We can hardly imagine anything worse than eternal conscious torment. And yet, there is good news about hell! Yes, the reality of hell should cause us to praise God and appreciate His righteousness, mercy, and love. But how can we reconcile the existence of hell with a loving God?