Christian-Universalism.com > Do you know the REAL Jesus Christ?

I'm in the process of figuring out hell in the New Testament. John 3:16 "shall not perish but have everlasting life" Shall not perish doesn't say perpetual life in a hot place. Blue Letter Bible http://www.blueletterbible.org/ gives the Bile in Greek and Hebrew. Try John 3:16 and follow the Greek. It might be that the word "perish" in Greek might mean everlasting punishment in other places. A favorite professor said that in Hell people had stiff arms so that when they tried to feed themselves they spilled it all over. In Heaven the people also had stiff arms, but instead of trying to feed themselves they fed the person across the table from them.


Apollumi is the Greek word used in John 3:16 for perish. Here are some word studies on whether apollumi is forever. Like so many things in the Bible it seems no two people can agree.
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLG,GGLG:2006-15,GGLG:en&q=apollumi
http://www.goodnewsaboutgod.com/studies/wicked2.htm This site gives a very good word study of whether apollumi means to destroy or to punish forever.
http://www.bibletruths.net/archives/BTARO77.htm Luther Butler


Christian-Universalism.com > Do you know the REAL Jesus Christ?: "Did Jesus Christ come to earth to warn people about a burning hell that awaits them unless they confess a particular religious creed? Did he preach that hell is eternal, a place of never-ending torture where the damned will writhe and scream in agony in the flames -- forever? Was the faith of Jesus a depressing and terrifying religion that teaches that billions of people will be condemned to everlasting torment? Hell, NO! Such ideas are unbiblical and wrong. The Jesus of 'fundamentalist' Christianity is not the real Jesus, but a religious idol. "

John Shelby Spong modern chruch

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Don Ginesi from the Internet writes:
"I have read many of your books and would like to pose a simple question. I am a chemical engineer by trade and my best friend is a Russian Orthodox minister. What do you think Jesus would think of Christianity, as it exists today? He started the process with a tightly wound ball of ideas for living a counter-cultural lifestyle in a very difficult time in history. Since then those wonderful ideas have "snowballed" for over two thousand years and are now a huge mass called the Christian Church. Some things I think Jesus would like. But other things, particularly the elitism of each sect that only they have the true "keys to the kingdom" would upset him. This scientist and priest would like to hear your answer."

Dear Don,

Neither I nor anyone else is competent to speak for Jesus. I do believe, however, it is the Church's duty to measure itself from time to time against the one it honors as its founder.
His life was powerful because he gave it away. Institutional Christianity seems obsessed with accumulating power. His love knew no limits and rejected no one. Over its history the Church has discriminated against Gentiles, women, people of color, left handed people, mentally ill people and homosexual people.

He invited all to come to him and the Church has participated in religious wars, crusades, inquisitions and anti-Semitism. The one redeeming reality of church life is that we do seem to have the power to reform ourselves from time to time. Reformation is what keeps us a living body. The need for reformation has never been greater.

-- John Shelby Spong








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Elah Valley (BiblePlaces.com)

This site has many interesting facts for both New Testament and Old Testament scholars.
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