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The concept of hell is often considered to be a rather simple one: a place of eternal punishment for sinners or those who reject God. In Christian theology, it is viewed as the destination for those who refuse salvation through Jesus, where suffering is a never-ending consequence for such bad behavior. But despite our views of hell as a clear-cut concept with a concrete term, the Bible has very little information pertaining to this topic. In fact, the Bible actually doesn’t mention it at all.
So where did the idea of hell come from? Why do people think of it as a fiery pit wherein sinners would burn for all eternity? And where, exactly, is it? Click through this gallery to find out.
The modern idea of hell is a millennia-old amalgamation of concepts from the Old and New Testament, which includes Sheol, Gehenna, and the Lake of Fire.
Interestingly, this modern idea also mixes in some concepts from Greek mythology, including Tartarus and Hades. All of these were translated from the Old Norse term “Hel,” representing an underworld realm.
Interestingly, the original concept of Greek mythology’s Hel was actually a realm of cold and ice located in the far north. This is starkly contrasted against the modern understanding of hell as a world of fire.
The image of hell also evolved over time through various influences, including Catholic councils, Dante’s 'Divine Comedy,' medieval art, and modern pop culture. These sources have created a perception of hell, but this certainly doesn’t answer some of the heavier questions.
The Bible offers no definitive description of hell. It is sometimes depicted as a grave, an underground cave, or simply a state of being separated from God. Over time, these ideas merged into a multifaceted concept that remains unclear.
In the Old Testament, Sheol is described as "the grave," a place where the dead go without much detail about their fate. It is considered a shadowy, faint place rather than the fiery pit we associate with hell today.
Sheol was actually part of the Jewish cosmology, and the only description of the afterlife provided by the Torah speaks about people being buried in the ground after they died.
As time passed, Sheol was reinterpreted to include elements of the supernatural. By the time of the New Testament, hell was often depicted as a place of punishment, though flames are only mentioned with the Lake of Fire in the Book of Revelation.
The most explicit description of a fiery afterlife in the Bible comes from the Book of Revelation, where Lucifer, fallen angels, and the unredeemed will be thrown into a Lake of Fire after Jesus' Second Coming.
Popular culture has also had a hand in the creation of hell as a concept, by exaggerating certain aspects over time. Ideas like fire and demons have created a more concrete and terrifying image of hell.
Traditionally, hell is thought of as a place, often imagined as underground. This idea came from biblical references to Sheol and Greek mythological terms like Hades and Tartarus, which early Christians used to describe the afterlife.
The Greek concepts of Hades and Tartarus were borrowed by New Testament writers to explain Christian views on the afterlife. Hades was a gloomy underworld for human spirits, while Tartarus was a deep pit for fallen angels.
In 1999, Pope John Paul II stated that hell should be viewed not as a physical place but as a state of being, where individuals are separated from God due to their free will and choices during life.
In the Bible, Gehenna is often used to describe a place of punishment, but it originally referred to a physical location outside Jerusalem. Over time, however, Gehenna became associated with the concept of hell as a place of eternal damnation.
Though terms like Hades and Tartarus describe underworld realms, the Bible doesn’t specify a location for hell. Even in Revelation, the Lake of Fire's location is unknown, leaving theologians and believers to speculate.
Other afterlife locations described in the Bible (like Sheol, Hades, and Tartarus) are considered temporary waiting areas before the final judgment and the Lake of Fire, where the unrighteous are ultimately cast.
If we consider hell to be the Lake of Fire, it doesn’t actually house any souls at the moment. According to the Book of Revelation, hell will only exist after the Second Coming, when it becomes the final destination for the damned.
Due to the lack of biblical reference, hell is either a place that already exists or it has yet to be created. Or, it is actually nothing more than an umbrella concept that signifies the removal from God’s presence after one dies.
The timeline of hell and its existence is complex due also to evolving theological interpretations. The Early Church Fathers (spanning through St. Augustine in the late 4th century CE) developed much of the doctrine regarding hell centuries after the Bible was written.
Theologically, if hell exists, God must have created it, since everything in heaven and earth was made by God, according to the Book of Colossians 1. This includes hell, even if it was created for fallen angels rather than humans.
Many theologians have questioned how a supposedly all-loving deity would create a place of undying torment, but biblical writings circumvent this by stating that hell was originally fashioned for a different reason.
Initially, hell (or Tartarus) was created as a place of punishment for Lucifer and the fallen angels who rebelled against God. However, over time, this place also became associated with the punishment of unrepentant souls from Earth.
Some interpretations argue that hell wasn’t explicitly created by God but is instead a state brought into existence by people who freely reject God’s grace. In this view, hell is the natural consequence of a life lived in separation from God.
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The Book of Proverbs supports the idea that hell serves a divine purpose, stating that God has “worked out everything to its proper end—even the wicked for a day of disaster.” This implies that hell is part of a broader divine plan.
The ultimate question of who goes to hell is constantly being debated. While the Book of John suggests that belief in Jesus leads to eternal life, the Bible also includes references to actions and deeds being factors in determining one’s fate.
Revelation explains that the dead are judged based on their deeds. Those not found in the “book of life” are cast into the Lake of Fire. This certainly raises questions about the role of both faith and actions in determining one’s afterlife.
There is a theological divide between Catholicism and Protestantism regarding who goes to hell. Catholics emphasize that while faith is essential, good deeds also play a role, whereas Protestants focus solely on faith for salvation.
Dante’s ‘Divine Comedy’ had an enormous influence on shaping modern perceptions of hell. His vivid descriptions of the inferno, with its layers of torment, became a powerful visualization of hell that still resonates in popular culture today.
Dante Alighieri’s ‘Divine Comedy,’ written in the early 14th century, vividly describes a hierarchical vision of the afterlife that has influenced Renaissance and Christian art, literature, and theology for centuries.
Sources: (Grunge) (Britannica) (BBC) (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy) (Christian History Institute) (Big Think)
See also: Miracles and a temper? Experts investigate Jesus' childhood
Exploring unsolved mysteries about hell in the Bible
Some questions cannot be answered by Scripture
LIFESTYLE Religion
The concept of hell is often considered to be a rather simple one: a place of eternal punishment for sinners or those who reject God. In Christian theology, it is viewed as the destination for those who refuse salvation through Jesus, where suffering is a never-ending consequence for such bad behavior. But despite our views of hell as a clear-cut concept with a concrete term, the Bible has very little information pertaining to this topic. In fact, the Bible actually doesn’t mention it at all.
So where did the idea of hell come from? Why do people think of it as a fiery pit wherein sinners would burn for all eternity? And where, exactly, is it? Click through this gallery to find out.