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Jesus Wept
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Take the challenge and follow the argument to its logical conclusion. This is the only way to find out if a view is true or has inherent flaws.
'"See where it leads to", St. Augustine advised in dealing with falsehood. Follow it out to "the absolute ruddy end," C.S. Lewis remarked with characteristic Englishness. Push them to "the logic of their presuppositions," Francis Schaeffer used to say' (Os Guinness, 2000, Time for Truth).
This might be a good place to start.
What does the Bible teach about eternal punishment?
See also
William Barclay on-line.
If you have read what Barclay has written about eternity, consider this important rule of grammar.
In the study of grammar, it is an indisputable law that an adjective can have no different or greater meaning than the noun from which it is derived. For example, the adjective "monthly" could only be derived from the noun "month," not "hour," "day," or "week." Aeonios life can only mean a life pertaining to an age or ages of time (Heb.1:3 Ampl.) because "aeonios" is derived from "aeon." (source)
Now it is reasonable
to say that "an age" could be an eternal age or limited. So both
translations of the word can be correct. However, given the way the word
"all" is used in the New Testament as well as the nature of God whose
love is eternal, a limited age and not the word eternal is the appropriate
translation for aeonios in many passages (see New Testament Words by William Barclay).
Further Reading
Anything by George MacDonald
"I have never concealed the fact that I regarded him [MacDonald] as my master; indeed I fancy I have never written a book in which I did not quote from him."--C.S. Lewis
Lewis expressed disappointment that so few people read MacDonald. I feel the same way. My own experience is similar to that of the following book reviewer. Book review
The Princess and the Goblin and The Princess and Curdie
What does the Bible really teach about eternal punishment?
The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard
Is it just that the innocent should suffer for the guilty?
If you come to the conclusion that God's love is eternal and that He will never stop loving anyone then you will find that you have much in common with some of the great saints of the early Church (Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Saint Gregory of Nyassa, Ambrose and Chrysostom). And you can find like minded people in the following forum.
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