The invasion of dogma

[FineLinen]

How eternal torment invaded church doctrine

https://medium.com/@BrazenChurch/how...e-7610e6b70815

[FineLinen]

The Biblical truth of universal salvation and reconciliation of all things, verses, the pagan origins and doctrines of hell within the minds of men.

During the first five centuries, there were six theological schools. Four of these; Alexandria, Antioch, Caesarea, and Edessa, or perhaps Nisibis, were Universalist.

One, referencing Ephesus, had accepted conditional mortality. And that of Another One (Carthage or Rome) taught endless punishment of the wicked. (The Schaff-Herzog Encyclopaedia of Religious Knowledge, vol. 12, page 96: Clements of Alexandria (150-215 A.D.) Origen of Alexandria (185-254 A.D.) Gregory of Nazianzus (330-390 A.D.) Gregory of Nyssa (335-390 A.D.) (known as the Greek Church Fathers; all believed in universal reconciliation.

The Nicene Creed was written in 325 A.D. and was completed in its present form in 381 A.D.

Interestingly, the Council was presided over by Gregory of Nazianzus. Also participating was Gregory of Nyssa, both appear to have met their deaths in or around 390 A.D.  However, the fact that the Second Ecumenical Council had accepted the participation of these Church leaders who believed in Universal Salvation, including one who actually presided over the Council; proves the point that belief in universal salvation was common, and accepted in the first 400 years of the history of Christianity.

It is of great importance that, unlike other Creeds; the Nicene Creed does not mention anything regarding hell.

I find it more than interesting that Augustine said, in his City of God, "This seems to have been done on no other account (the invention of endless punishment), but as it was the business of princes, out of their wisdom and civil prudence, to deceive the people in their religion; princes (emperors and priests), under the name of religion, persuaded the people to believe those things true, which they themselves knew to be idle fables; by this means, for their own ease in government, tying them the more closely to civil society." B. iV 32.

So, if Augustine truly did not believe in endless punishment and there was a significant reason for not mentioning anything regarding hell in the Nicene creed, and the Scriptures do not speak of it from the beginning of creation, then, I am compelled to ask the question: Why do you?

Death and the pagan thoughts of an underworld (hell) are cast into the Lake of Fire: "Lord, you have rescued us from the depths of Hades."

[ed]

How eternal torment invaded church doctrine

https://medium.com/@BrazenChurch/how...e-7610e6b70815

Great link, thank you.