1. Is there a hell?
Yes.
“For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell.” (Deut. 32:22)
“Whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.” (Matt. 5:22)
2. Where is hell?
Since Holy Scripture nowhere mentions this, we ought not impertinently to inquire as to the place, but, by true faith and piety, employ all diligence to escape the hellish torments.
3. What will be the nature of these torments?
This neither our understanding can properly comprehend, nor our tongue fully express. For Holy Scripture, accommodating itself to our comprehension, gives us a faint conception of the same in words and expressions taken from temporal punishments: and calls it shame and everlasting contempt, weeping and gnashing of teeth, thick darkness, a worm that never dies, a pool of fire, and by means of these and other similar characteristics, sets before our eyes these very great and exquisite torments. (Isa. 66:24; Matt. 8:12; Rev. 19:20)
4. Will these torments last forever?
Yes; for so Holy Scripture tells us.
“Their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched.” (Isa. 66:24)
“He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” (Matt. 3:12)
“Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire.” (Matt. 25:41)
“And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.” (Rev. 9:6)
On this account the Anabaptists are condemned, because they teach that devils and lost men will not suffer everlasting pain and torment. (Augsburg Confession, Art. xvii)
5. Will this fire not in the end destroy and entirely annihilate the bodies of the damned?
No; for after the resurrection the wicked, as well as the pious, have incorruptible bodies. And as this is a great glory to believers, it is so much the greater shame and contempt to the wicked, yea, it even increases their punishment, because they, although destined to everlasting torment and torture, will yet never be entirely annihilated. Add to this, the fact that this hellish fire will not be a natural fire, and therefore cannot be subject to natural annihilation, especially since the bodies of the damned will not be natural bodies.
6. Will there not be degrees of torment or punishment in hell?
Yes; according to the degree of the sins themselves, so that the more wickedly a man has lived, the more severe the torments he will have to suffer. Christ affirms this himself, when he gives the assurance, Matt. 11:22, that it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for Chorazin and Bethsaida.
“And that servant, which knew his Lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.” (Luke 12:47)
7. Are there different classes in hell, as the Papists would have us believe?
The Papists indeed divide hell as it were into four cells, of which the lowest is the abode of the damned; above this is the abode of the unbaptized infants, who fare neither well nor ill; then comes purgatory, that is the locality of those who have still to do penance for certain sins; the highest class or cell finally is the abiding-place of the sainted Fathers, in which they were kept until the coming of Christ, and to destroy which Christ descended into hell.
8. Do you believe that there is any truth in this?
I consider the prating of the Papists concerning these different classes to be vain farces and childish fables, and for these reasons:
- Holy Scripture knows of only two states of the souls, which are separated from the body: the one, the state of everlasting life; the other, of damnation or hell. Mark 16:16. “He that believeth shall be saved, but he that believeth not, shall be damned.” A third place, such as purgatory, is not known to the Scriptures.
- There are also but two classes of men: the one, the pious and believing; the other, the wicked and unbelieving. To the former, the Lord Jesus does not promise a purgatory, but everlasting life; to the latter, he likewise, in a definite, unchangeable manner, decrees no purgatory, but everlasting fire, or hell.
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” (John 5:24)
“He that believeth not is condemned already.” (John 3:18)
9. Does there not seem to be also a third class of men, namely, those who in this life have but a weak faith?
By no means; for these also belong to the first class, namely, to the pious and believing. For even weak faith is true faith, and takes hold of the merits of Christ no less than the strong. For faith does not justify in so far as it is weighed according to its quality, that is, according to its strength or weakness, but solely in so far as it takes hold on Christ, the physician of the sick, Matt. 9:12, who breaketh not the bruised reed, and quencheth not the smoking flax, Isa. 42:3, whose strength is made perfect in weakness. 2 Cor. 12:9. The thief on the cross furnishes us with an example of this. Luke 23:42.
10. Did Christ truly and really descend into hell, or the place of the damned?
Yes; in order to conquer Satan, to destroy the power of hell, to deprive the devil of all power and might over believers; that is, according to the Apostle, to triumph over the powers of hell. Col. 2:15.