BEFORE HELL: THE UNTOLD HISTORY OF HOW ETERNAL TORMENT BECAME CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE

BEFORE HELL The Untold History of How Eternal Torment Became Christian DoctrineWhat if one of Christianity's most accepted doctrines has a more complex history than you've been taught?In Before Hell, David and Kristi Portillo take readers on a biblical and historical investigation into the origins and development of the doctrine of hell. Beginning with the Old Testament and continuing through the teachings of Jesus, the Apostles, the Early Church Fathers, and later church history, this book carefully examines what Scripture says-and what later traditions added.Inside you'll discover: - The meaning of Sheol, Hades, Gehenna, and Tartarus - What Jesus actually taught about judgment and eternal life - The beliefs of the earliest Christians before Augustine - How Greek philosophy and later theology influenced Christian doctrine - A careful examination of the Bible's most difficult passages on hell - The Father's heart revealed through Jesus ChristWhether you agree with its conclusions or not, Before Hell invites you to search the Scriptures with fresh eyes, examine the historical evidence, and discover the hope, justice, and love revealed throughout God's redemptive plan.Truth welcomes honest investigation.Search the Scriptures. Follow the evidence. Know the Father.