Required reading
Dogmatic Theology Vol 2 by William G.T. Shedd (Available from Amazon or here) - Continue Chapter VI 'Hell' by reading up to the paragraph beginning 'The form of Universalism which is the most respectable, and therefore the most dangerous, is that which concedes the force of the Biblical and rational arguments respecting the guilt of sin...' (page 693 of my edition).
My summary
This week Shedd firstly examines the use of the Greek word aionos in the Bible. It is used to refer to:
1. The present finite and limited age;
2. The future infinite and endless age.
Secondly, Shedd teaches the falsity of the theory of annihilationism.
What grabbed me
I appreciated Shedd's arguments against annihilationism including this one: 'According to this theory, brutes are punished. In losing consciousness at death, the animal like the man incurs an everlasting loss. The Annihilationist contends that the substance of punishment is in the result, and not in its being felt or experienced. If a transgressor is put out of conscious existence, the result is an everlasting loss to him, though he does not know it. But the same thing is true of a brute. And if the former is punished, the latter is also.'
Annihilationism leads to the conclusion that animals are punished too.
Next week's reading
Continue Chapter VI 'Hell' by reading up to the heading 3. The rational argument. (page 714 of my edition).
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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