FOUR VIEWS ON HELL BY WILLIAM CROCKETT

Four views on Hell by William Crockett

Four views on Hell by William Crockett

Introduction

With more than a dozen books in the Counterpoints series, Zondervan has produced books that cover the full range of biblical topics and the diverse views on each. As with the other books in the series, each author contributing to Four Views on Hell is well qualified to represent the position each subscribes to. Represented in the book are the literal, metaphorical, purgatorial, and conditional views of hell. Each contributor strives with varying degrees of success to persuade the reader of the strength of their view while also respectfully disagreeing with other views on the subject. Following each contributor, the others offer their critical responses. At times, these responses are thinly veiled attacks; at other times, there is significant agreement. At all times, the reader is left to wonder how so many differing views could possibly exist from reading the exact same text. While all four views are well represented, none of the apologists' arguments seems strong enough to change opinions already formed by their readers.

Brief Summary

Four Views on Hell is one book in the Four Views on ... series having a format in which multiple perspectives are provided on a particular issue. As the publisher points out, "in this book four professors describe in no technical language what they think the final judgment will be like, and then at the end of each chapter, they will evaluate the opinions of their colleagues." In this case, hell is the issue and the book provides a decent introductory treatment of the nature of hell through the professors' arguments. John F. Walvoord, Chancellor of Dallas Theological Seminary, presents the literal view of hell. William V. Crockett, Professor of New Testament at Alliance Theological Seminary, is the proponent of the metaphorical view. Zachary J. Hayes, who teaches theology at Catholic Theological Union, introduces the purgatorial view. Clark H. Pinnock , Professor of Theology at McMaster Divinity College , is the advocate of the conditional view. Readers will benefit from the book's multiple-view format, plain language and introductory-level content. However, readers may find the book's lack of depth and focus to be annoyances that surpass the benefits provided.

The first view examined is the Literal View represented by John Walvoord. His orthodox approach to the doctrine first affirms the inerrancy of Scripture and states that the problem is one of understanding what Scripture is actually teaching. Walvoord points out that while many have an issue with the notion of an eternal hell where the unrepentant sinner is suffers for eternity, few disagree with the idea of an eternal heaven where the redeemed commune with God and forever happy. Walvoord goes on to discuss the concept of hell in the Old Testament and though it unfolds slowly, it is most certainly there and the teaching is that there is judgment for the unsaved after this life. According to Walvoord, the New Testament more clearly defines hell, especially the teaching ...