Rightglory
New member
It is biblical. Has been biblical from the beginning. There have been several false teachings regarding it, but they have all been declared heretical.The question from the beginning of this thread is "Is the doctrine of Eternal Conscious Torment biblical or not?"
The question is not "Is the doctrine of Eternal Conscious Torment what the Orthodox Church believes or not?"
As is common among all sola scripturist, they must first diminish, ignore the actual truth. For how could a false supposition stand, if the Truth says otherwise. Your statement clearly ignores history, the Gospel, even scripture as having been given by the Holy Spirit.
already coveredPlease stick to the topic, Is ECT Biblical or not. Does the Bible support ECT? Which verses support ECT the best, if you believe ECT is Biblical.
I don't disagree with your definition apart from scripture. But when you insert it incorrectly in scripture as is the example of John 6:23, then you have changed the meaning of the words, since the Biblical context says otherwise.I don't care what you believe. This is a discussion, and anyone can state their opinion. I have not changed the meaning of "death" as you claim. The definition of death is "the end of life". If you believe that death means something other than that, I am interesting in hearing your proof. I have heard people say "death means separation". I haven't seen any proof of that. You are welcome to look up death in a dictionary and see if I have changed the meaning of death. Let me know what you find.
As to texts I have already given them. All the way from the purpose of man's creation, Christ's reconciliation of all things, to the immortality of all men through Christ's resurrection. I have cited specific texts that show that those appointed to hell will suffer, everlastingly, or from ages to ages. You read them and appropriately denied their meaning in scripture.
Since you are relying on only opinion, which is the only foundation all sola scripturist operate from, I will change my facts to opinion. Now we have come to a point where my opinion has the same weight as your opinion. What you say is as true as what I say. So, both meanings are biblical. So, now what?
You go your way with your interpretation, and I go my way with my interpretation and scripture has yet produced at least two more doctrines, even though opposite.
For all we know, scripture might actually have a different meaning, but we both have disagreed with it.
Just to give you some examples, within the same realm of this topic. we have such teachings as Universalism, soul sleep, the two under discussion, annhilationism, and conditional immortality all are based on scripture.
On the basis of the sola scriptura principle, they are all biblical, thus all of equal weight.
You are trying to establish what scripture means by a method that has no authority except ones opinion. Using your method, you could not possibly refute any of the above theories.
Historically within the sola scriptura milieu all of these opinions resulted in another denomination or group which is based on a particular theory/interpretation.
The best you can muster is to say this is my interpretation and is what I believe. What scripture actually means is of no relevance.